Captain of industry: Raj Soin leaves indelible imprint on Dayton business, philanthropic communities

Rajesh Soin knew almost from the beginning that he wanted to be an engineer.

"My father was an engineer, and from childhood, I was very interested in what he did," recalls Soin, who was born in New Delhi in 1947. "As I grew, it just became natural that my personal interest in the field developed."

He couldn't have known, however, how far that interest would take him. He couldn't have known that he would travel halfway around the world, launch a career in another country and rise into the rarified air of industrial and philanthropic leadership.

Soin began, as most ambitious entrepreneurs do, with a college education, earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Delhi University in 1969. Soon afterward, he moved to the United States to continue his education. He earned a masters degree in industrial engineering from Bradley University in 1971, and took a job at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company as an industrial engineer.

He later served as manager of corporate systems for Williams International, a Michigan-based world leader in the development, manufacture and support of small gas turbine engines. All the while, Soin continued post-graduate studies in business and finance at Illinois State University, Harvard University and the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.  

Those business and finance classes would pay off down the road.

Entrepreneurship in the fast lane

Soin and his wife Indu became American citizens in 1978. They moved to Dayton, and in 1984 -- with $1,700 in cash, a handful of credit cards and a dream -- officially became entrepreneurs.

The couple established Modern Technologies Corporation (MTC), a consulting service offering engineering, management and technical services for the U.S. Defense Department.

"The obvious prime location for a defense consulting services business was Washington, D.C., with Dayton being a reasonable second choice," Soin explains. "I personally prefer a smaller city, and Dayton's Wright Patterson Air Force base and community with a Midwest culture and values were the main attraction for moving here. Over the years, I've realized that it was one of the best choices I've ever made."

MTC quickly took off and was hailed as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States by Inc. magazine for four consecutive years. It was listed on NASDAQ in 2002 with an initial public offering. The Soins grew the company to approximately $500 million in revenue, becoming Ohio's largest defense contractor, before it was acquired by a large multi-national corporation in 2008.

Busines diversity and a creative, familial environment for entrepreneurs

In 1998, he founded Soin International, a multinational holding company that today includes a host of diverse subsidiaries. The companies provide a wide range of products and services, including customized software; compression molded items; custom parts, assemblies and machines for manufacturing; and real estate.

Soin is a big believer in fostering a creative, familial environment for entrepreneurs, in which they -- and their employees -- can flourish and grow. To further that vision, Soin International has acted as an incubator for new businesses over the past 25 years, and he has invested in numerous entrepreneurs -- from the Miami Valley, where Dayton is located, to Silicon Valley and around the globe.

Soin has financed a minority interest in many businesses, also offering valuable guidance and experience. To encourage entrepreneurship, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce established the Soin Award for Innovation in his name.

Dad as hero

As Soin considered each endeavor, he says, the first thing he did was basic to any business.

"First, make sure there's a true need for what you want to do," he says. "Once you make sure of that, then I always considered having the right team of people as the most important thing before moving forward. We have been very blessed that, most of the time, we have had exceptional people who have helped us make our ventures a success."

When asked if there's anything he would have done differently as an entrepreneur, Soin replies, "I have had a number of failures and setbacks in my life, but those all provided strong learning and experience."

Soin had a significant role model for his life.

"My real hero in life is my dad," he notes. "I found him to be an extremely focused, caring and hardworking person with strong principles in leading his life. I credit a lot of what I am today to be the result of being around him and just observing how he led his life."

Soin adds that he received his best advice from his dad.

"His advice was to have full confidence, believe in personal capabilities and stay with your principles in any circumstances."

Business success is only part of the story

No mention of Raj Soin's impressive accomplishments would be complete without mentioning his numerous charitable activities.

"Community work is my passion," says Soin, who serves on many boards in west central Ohio and provides guidance, direction and funding for several organizations. His philanthropy has taken a special focus in two areas -- education and health care. 

Soin was a founding trustee and the first president of the Ohio-India Project. One example of local programs of the Ohio-India Project is Ghandi House, a transitional house for women in need. Another program is the Annual Day of Caring, which started as a local Dayton event and is now conducted in several states and anticipated to become national.

Today, the Soin name is well known in both Dayton and India.

In 2000, the business college of Dayton's Wright State University was renamed the Raj Soin College of Business in honor of his accomplishments and support of the university.

Dayton's Kettering Health Network named its new hospital the Indu and Raj Soin Medical Center for their service and assistance to the institution.

This is not the first hospital to bear the Soin name, however. Raj Soin is the main contributor to the Sukhdev Raj Soin Hospital, built in India in memory of his late father. In addition, Children's Medical Center of Dayton has the Soin Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center.

Soin was the 2003 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his exceptional leadership and humanitarian work, a distinction he shares with notables, including Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger.

It's a family thing

Beyond Soin's tremendous business success and worldwide community service and recognition, however, he is proudest of his family.

"Family is very important to me," he remarks. "I am now able to spend more time with my wife, and the proudest moments of my life are to watch the success of both of our children -- Vishal and Amol."

Vishal is president of Soin International, and Amol is founder and medical director of the Ohio Pain Clinic, with four offices in southwestern Ohio.

The bottom line for Soin is having a dream toward which to strive.

"Have big dreams and never give up trying to achieve them," he states.