about

Executive Leadership

Kumar Bhavanasi

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Kumar Bhavanasi has a passion for driving efficiency and developing synergies among employees, clients, and vendors. He continually strives to understand what will make his clients and people successful, then collaboratively develops the long-term strategic vision and an efficient tactical plan and motivates his team to get results. He is the driving force behind First Tek’s success since its founding and guardian of the company’s loyalty and dedication to its clients and employees.

A veteran of the IT services arena, Kumar specializes in strategic planning, executive client relationships, driving revenue, and extending the overall business model through strategic partnerships. Kumar’s accomplishments include building enterprise systems for Fleet Bank, ADP Brokerage and Morgan Stanley and establishing strategic alliances with many of First Tek’s clients.

Kumar earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) in India. He also earned a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of South Florida and Entrepreneur Certification at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on several boards in advisory roles.

Executive Leadership

Kumar Bhavanasi Ashok Shetty
Dominick Puma Doreen Villaverde
Lavanya Kotha
Mariam Faisal

Ashok Shetty

Director of Business Development

Ashok Shetty brings more than a decade of sales, management and business development experience to First Tek. Ashok has extensive experience in managing the sales and operations of IT staffing, and with the help of a dedicated team, he has been part of the rapid growth of First Tek’s IT staffing business.

Ashok Shetty holds a PhD in Chemistry from Mumbai University and an MBA in Operations from University of Cincinnati, where he minored in Sales and Marketing.

Dominick Puma

Director of Recruitment

Dominick Puma has more than 30 years of experience in IT technical recruitment, sales, and administration. Dominick works collaboratively across First Tek to build excellent recruitment teams, strong talent acquisition strategies, and creative sourcing plans to ensure First Tek delivers the top technical professionals to clients. He also serves as a trusted partner to niche clients.

To ensure customer success, Dominic draws on vast experience supporting major Wall Street banking and brokerage firms, pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms, and government agencies to manage client relationships, as well as his professional standards, self-discipline, and flexibility.

Dominick holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from The College of Staten Island, Emerson Hill Campus.

Doreen Villaverde

Director of Immigration

Doreen Villaverde provides strategic leadership for all Immigration functions at First Tek Inc. She also manages internal and international communications, employee relations and strategic planning. Doreen brings multiple years of experience working in the IT environment in HR leadership roles with increasing responsibility.

Lavanya Kotha

Chief Financial Officer

Lavanya Kotha brings strong analytical and financial management experience to First Tek, Inc. She oversees the financial performance of the firm, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting. Lavanya holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science.

Mariam Faisal

Director of HR and Operations