CityView Professional Business Profile
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"Pavan Patel — a devoted family man, business owner, and community advocate — has made significant contributions through various leadership roles on multiple county, city, and nonprofit boards and committees.
Patel was born in New York City but has called Fayetteville, NC home since 1996 when he started kindergarten at Alma Easom Elementary. A graduate of Terry Sanford High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Babson’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. He shares his life with his wife of eight years, Dr. Amruta Bahekar, and their two dogs, Mika and Copper.
Patel began his real estate career during his undergraduate years, purchasing a rental property in Cumberland County and obtaining his brokerage license. In 2013, he launched Willow Group Investments, where he serves as owner and CEO. His portfolio includes leadership roles in the hospitality industry with Hilton and Marriott hotels, as well as ownership of five Tropical Smoothie Cafes in the region and strong investment and development in the commercial real estate space —creating over 100 jobs in Cumberland County.
In 2020, Patel launched Willow Equity, a boutique investment and consulting firm which operates in the tech, finance, healthcare, and real estate sectors.
A track record of servant leadership is evident in Patel’s accomplishments, such as earning the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and being named to The Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40 list at age 30.
Patel’s commitment to community service has been steadfast since his youth. He has served on the Methodist University Foundation Board, chaired the board for Spring Lake United, and participated in the Fayetteville Millennial Commission (now Fayetteville NEXT). He has also been a member of the City of Fayetteville’s Zoning Commission for three years, currently serving as its chair for the second consecutive year.
Additionally, Patel is vice chair of the Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority and is an active member of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County’sboard of trustees, where he serves on the Executive Committee and as the organization’s treasurer. Patel’s cultural heritage is a priority, and he proudly serves as president of the Southeastern North Carolina Asian Indian Association (SENCAIA).
Looking ahead, Patel states, “I feel a lifelong commitment to responsible servant leadership and sustainable community development, and I’m always eager to bring young entrepreneur’s talents to the table to continue investing in our county’s future.”