Sanjay Meshri is admired and respected for his selfless support of philanthropic projects in northeast Oklahoma. His contributions to enhance civic organizations and community initiatives mirror the success he has experienced as an executive at Advance Research Chemicals in Catoosa. But Meshri’s giving heart is not dictated by accomplishments in the chemical manufacturing industry. He embodies a strong sense of civic responsibility because he learned it firsthand as a student at The University of Tulsa.
As a senior, Meshri remembers chemistry Professor Thomas Harris arranging an opportunity for students to visit an underserved school in the community. “We got to work with children who had a $1 budget for their entire science fair project,” Meshri said. “You start taking the to-go packages from the cafeteria and Student Union to make things that help these children feel successful with their projects. That really stuck with me — as a science major, we were thinking about others and helping people who needed it.”
Meshri’s journey to a chemistry degree included a couple of years at Southern Methodist University and the University of Oklahoma before transferring to TU as a junior. His parents wanted him to attend a university that was “more academic,” and he quickly discovered how much he could benefit from TU's personal approach to learning. His previous chemistry classes had filled auditoriums with hundreds of students, but at TU, many of his science classes involved fewer than 30.
“In a big state school, you have a number you take your test with, and you don't ask questions because the class is so big that you don’t want to stand out,” Meshri explained. “At TU, they know your name, what you’ve done that summer, what you’re studying – they know more about the whole person.”
Meshri enjoyed the flexibility TU offered to take business and marketing courses while working toward a degree in the sciences. He joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in TU’s chapter of the American Chemical Society. Each summer, he worked at Amoco, and after his graduation from TU in 1992, Meshri lined up a job to work at a polypropylene plant in Louisiana. He was excited to begin his first job, but when he was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Tulsa, he became the sixth employee at his father’s company, Advance Research Chemicals (ARC). Meshri proved himself, working double shifts and weekends. Later that same year, the company had some luck when General Motors awarded it a large contract to produce a new coating for radiators. ARC doubled in size and began building a factory for fabrication.
“At 22 years old they turned that project over to me, and it was great experience,” Meshri said. “The company started growing very fast. We got the next contract and the next, and almost 30 years later, it’s about 400 times its size from when I started.”
ARC is a global distributor of specialty chemicals produced at facilities in the United States, Mexico and India. The company serves the industries of military defense, semiconductors, battery materials, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive components, textiles, agricultural solutions and more. As ARC continues to grow, the core values Meshri inherited from his family and alma mater guide his leadership style and business decisions. “I try to stay very focused, listen carefully, always tell the truth. Your reward for doing a good job is you get another job,” he explained. “Even in the bad times you learn.”
As executive vice president and managing director, Meshri is pleased to watch the company operate debt-free in his hometown. “I’m most proud of the team I work with,” he said. “We’ve gotten to do some really incredible projects; we make chemicals that power pacemakers and defibrillators. Working with people from all different disciplines with a lot of diversity is one of the things I’m most grateful for.”
Meshri is honored to serve on the many community boards and leadership teams he devotes time to in Tulsa, including the TU Board of Trustees. He is a member of the TU President’s Council, Circle Society and Golden Hurricane Club. He chaired the Alumni Association’s annual TU Uncorked fundraiser in 2017 and helped establish the Dr. Indu Meshri Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Geosciences in 2007 to honor his late mother. She earned a doctorate in geosciences from TU in 1981. Meshri’s father, Dayal, is ARC’s founder, president and CEO and is also a generous TU supporter.
Meshri is a founding member of the Patriot Golf Club and serves on the board of directors for Saint Francis Health System. He was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame by the Tulsa Historical Society in 2017. Other board involvement includes the Philbrook Museum of Art, Oklahoma Innovation Institute, Tulsa Area United Way, Tulsa Zoo Management Inc., Folds of Honor Foundation, Tulsa Community Foundation and Monte Cassino School. He has contributed to a lengthy list of community organizations such as the Tulsa Children’s Museum, Mental Health Association, River Parks Authority, the Little Light House, Youth Services of Tulsa and Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma.
“It’s a wonderful honor to be called to serve on boards, give and be part of the community,” Meshri said. “Time, talent, treasure — all three are equal, so we try to stay with that philosophy.”
When TU broke the news to Meshri that he was a 2019 Distinguished Alumnus, he was completely surprised but grateful for the award. The friendships built on campus are sacred, and he supports the university’s efforts to put students first and ensure its existence for another 125 years.
“We learn much more from the things that are difficult,” he said. “TU is looking at best practices not just for today but for tomorrow.”
At 49 years old, the sky is the limit for Meshri. His ARC leadership, philanthropic endeavors and TU alumni recognition hold enormous potential to positively impact people around the world — a job he does not take lightly. “It makes me want to do even more and try and make everyone proud,” he said.