Zaheer Faruqi, a resident of Peachtree City, was one of 50 honorees recognized as an “Influential Georgia Muslims” at the first gala sponsored by the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) of Atlanta.

The awards were presented in eight categories and were introduced by key Georgia leaders.

The honorees represented fields as varied as education, arts, medicine, sports, community activism and philanthropy, and were selected by an independent panel of judges.

 Faruqi is the founder and president of Aventure Aviation, a world-class aviation logistics company headquartered in Atlanta. The company provides fleet management for customers around the globe, including privately-owned operator, commercial airlines and allied military forces.

Aventure Aviation has been honored the Small Business Administration Exporter of the Year award for Georgia and the Southeast and ranks as one of America’s fastest growing private companies in the past three years according to Inc. 500-5000.

The ISB, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, apolitical educational organization, promotes awareness and understanding of the Islamic faith between communities across the state of Georgia.

As part of the organization’s mission, in March the ISB called for nominations for “100 Influential Georgia Muslims” to recognize and honor certain leaders who have had an extraordinary impact on their community, who positively challenge those around them and who instill passion, conviction and confidence in others.

A complete list of honorees is available online at www.100gamuslims.com/index.php/2014-honorees.

“It was a wonderful evening and a privilege to honor these outstanding Georgia residents, Muslims men and women who have contributed so much to their communities and to our state,” said ISB founder and executive director Soumaya Khalifa. “They exemplify our ongoing effort to ‘Continue the Legacy and Change the Narrative of Muslims in America.’”

For more information visit http://www.100gamuslims.com/index.php/2014-honorees, or find the gala on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/100gamuslims/timeline). Follow the conversation with #100GAMuslims, #isbatlanta.