CAA’s Life Time Achievement Award Bestowed Upon
Ramana Murty Yedavalli

by Jatinder Singh Bedi, Chief Editor, Hello NRI

CHICAGO – Chicago’s top engineer Mr Ramana Murty Yedavalli has been bestowed upon with CAA’s Life Time Achievement Award. The Award was presented on 29 April 2023 at CAA’s 7th Anuual Day where Chairperson Sujatha Appalaneni, President Gowrishankar Addanki, and Vice President Swetha Kottapalli led the Telugu Community to the glittering award presentation ceremony. Over 1000 guests attended.

Since its inception in the year 2016, the CAA has become a household name amongst the Telugu community residing in Midwest. CAA focuses on serving the community in varied ways both in India and United States.

As per the CAA tradition this award is given to an individual who has made outstanding tangible contributions to the society. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to an eminent engineer Ramana Murty Yedavalli. In an illustrious career spanning over 6 decades, Mr. Yedavalli joined the City of Chicago’s Public Works Department in 1968 serving as its Chief Engineer from 1986-1991; and, as the Deputy Commissioner of Highways and Bridges from 1991-92.

After retiring from the City of Chicago, Ramana Murty Yedavalli started DuSABLE Inc., an engineering construction management company and completed over 240 projects until he finally retired in 2022. His name appears on 26 official plaques on bridges, libraries, and buildings all over the city of Chicago. He constructed and completed the O’Hare airport’s 13,500 cars parking garage, international terminal 5, and 2 runways.

Mr. Yedavalli is also actively involved in various Telugu and Indian community associations like, TANA, ATA, FIA, SAPNA, TAGC, and CAA and was felicitated on numerous occasions by many organizations for his services and contributions and bestowed with several titles.

Earlier, the program started with the organization’s president, trustees, and the board directors lighting a ceremonial lamp. The program comprised a fine mix of classical Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam choreographies, folk and modern filmy dances, skits, and monoacts.

Radhika Addanki presented a dance ballet commemorating legendary Telugu movie director Kalatapaswi Sri K. Viswanath. It showcased some of his popular works and highlighted his contribution to the film industry.

President Gowrishankar Addanki, and Vice President Swetha Kottapalli recognized the sponsors on the stage and thanked them for supporting the organization. CAA’s service wing, Chicago Andhra Foundation’s service and charity initiatives were presented by the foundation’s executive director Savitha Munaga and assistant executive director Suchitra Tellapragada.

Cultural programs were well-coordinated by the cultural team of Anusha Bestha, Soujanya Rallabandi, Harini Meda and ably supported by Srinivasamurthy Padyala, Srujana Mannedu, and Shilpa Ramisetty. Event registrations and memberships were handled by Anuradha Gampala, Prabhakar Mallampalli, Hemant Talapaneni, Nedhi Panse, Lakshmi Anumulasetty, Kiranmayi Vankayalapati, Srikrishna Matukumalli, Chandu Gampala, Vaishavi Kottamasu, Mayukha Reddivari which was made easier by the use of QR codes provided by Murali Reddivari.

Serving a sumptuous traditional dinner made by ‘Bawarchi’ restaurant in Aurora-Naperville areas for the attendees was handled by Suresh Inapudi, Narasimharao Veerapaneni, Hemant Talapaneni who were helped by Sundaravalli Malladi, Vijay Korapati, Vishnuvardhan Peddamaru, Chandu Gampala, Satish Devella, Sriharsha Garikapati, Vijay Dendukuri, Srikanth Kanadibhatla, Bose Kottapalli, Krishnamohan Pittala, Siva Pasumarti, Satish Pasupuleti, Raghava Jatla, Sunil Akula, Venkata Yadavalli, Srikrishna Matukumalli, Padmakar Damaraju, Lohitha Gampala, Dhruthi Sistla, Geetika Inapudi, Yuva Katakam, Smaran Tadepalli, Sujith Peddeti, Jay Aniket Medaboyne, Vrishnak Korapati, Nikhil Yadavalli, Asrith Kottapalli, Kalyan Kottapalli, Mayukha Reddivari, Gayatri Goli, Sreekshitha Peddamaru, Roshan Pasumarti, Vaishavi Kottamasu, Sriya Konchada and many more volunteers.

Eminent engineer Ramana Murty Yedavalli’s illustrious career spanned over 6 decades. He joined the City of Chicago’s Public Works Department in 1968 and  served as its Chief Engineer from 1986-1991; and, as the Deputy Commissioner of ‘Highways and Bridges’ from 1991-92. Post retirement, his engineering construction management company and completed over 240 projects until he finally retired in 2022. His name appears on 26 official plaques on bridges, libraries, and buildings all over the city of Chicago. He constructed and completed the O’Hare airport’s 13,500 cars parking garage, international terminal 5, and 2 runways.

Decorations of a Butterfly photo booth and hall decorations done by Ravi Tokala and Anvitha Panchagnula and team was a major attraction of the venue. Girirao Kottamasu and Ramarao Kottamasu handled the event logistics, while promos were handled by Lakshminaag Suribhotla and Mythri Addanki and involved many youth volunteers. Photography and videography coverage was provided by Nagesh Kandregula of Swadesh Media USA, and Surya Datla of Cosmos Digital Solutions.

The evening featured a music program by popular movie playback singers, Anjana Sowmya and Renukumar joined by Mani Tellapragada and Shreya Addanki who entertained the audience by belting out popular filmi tunes making the audience get up from the seats and start dancing.

President Gowrishankar Addanki thanked the sponsors, members, artists, and well-wishers. Vote of thanks was given by secretary Ramarao Kottamasu. The program concluded with the singing of the national anthems.