User:Robert Hebert Visvakarma dasa

Robert Hebert, Visvakarma dasa disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Born St. John New Brunswick Sept 19th, 1947

Mohawk College 2 Years Business Administration

University of Guelph 2 years Political Science and Economics

First Initiation 1971 Detroit, Brahman Initiation 1972 New York City personally conducted by his beloved Gurudeva.

Robert’s professional work experience over the last 40 years has provided him with the many diverse skills necessary to lead the current growth of the Premier’s tea brand in the North American Marketplace.

Robert first began earning money and fame in the early 60’s in his hometown of Hamilton Ontario as a founding member of the legendary Jameson Roberts Blues Band with Ron Marinelli and Russ Weil. The band was voted Hamilton’s Number One Band in 1967 by the Hamilton Spectator’s reader’s poll. Bobby is a highly respected electric bass player and band leader with a history of 100's of crowd pleasing shows. In 2004 Bobby promoted and performed at the sold out reunion show to fans from around the country that returned to relive those glorious days in the Hammer. The concert was coproduced and recorded by him for future release.

In 1971 Robert joined the International Society of Krishna Consciousness as a student of Bhakti Yoga and by 1975 was appointed President of ISKCON Toronto. During his 10-year tenure he achieved many milestones for the advancement of the SKP movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an Avatar who appeared in West Bengal during the 15th century.

Visvakarma dasa organized the purchase of the Temple at Avenue and Roxborough Streets in Toronto. The building is located on a main thoroughfare just north of the Parliament Buildings. The Founder of Iskcon Srila Prabhupada hailed Robert’s purchase as a top most triumph in that global movement. The building is currently worth 15 million dollars.

From 1977- 1980 he opened and managed Govinda’s Restaurant in the Yorkville district in Toronto. Visvakarma was also appointed as Chairman of the Global temple Presidents in 1978. He was also Chairman of the North American Temple Presidents in 1978, 79 and helped to stabilize the organization after the demise of the Founder.

Dasa took a leading role as President in the organization of Traveling Rathayatra Festivals across North America which have been attended by millions of people over the last 30 years. Robert was in charge of legal affairs for the Canadian Zone and developed extensive knowledge in charitable corporate affairs.

From 1975 to 1979 he appeared as a guest 5 times on the Toronto City TV show the Morton Schulman file. Canadian media icon Barbara Frumm also interviewed Robert for an hour on CBC radio in1979.

He hosted and coproduced 18 - 1:1/2 hour TV shows for Cable Vision Toronto in 1981.

As President he delivered thousands of public lectures in the temple and all the major Universities in Ontario on the Science of Bhakti Yoga to tens of thousands of spectators.

He has led in the staging of 100’s of special events, which have included the distribution of thousands of plates of nutritious free food to the needy and hungry.

He pioneered a traveling bus program with 6 members for 2 years across Canada and the Southern States of America, which helped to shape his leadership skills.

He was instrumental in the organizing of the fundraising programs, which included the manufacturing, and distribution of candles and incense and the importation and distribution of millions of magazines and books. He also organized the manufacture and sale of 400,000 record albums for fund raising drives.

He organized a radio telethon in 1980 that raised $75,000 in 4 hours.

In 1980 Dasa was appointed Regional Director for Eastern Canada and was in charge of 300 people within the organization and a greater membership of 4000.

He has traveled to India 10 times in his life on various business and spiritual matters. From 1985 to 1991 Robert worked as a real estate investor and purchased, managed and sold real estate worth 15 million dollars.

From 1991 to 1993 he worked as Vice President of Marketing and Franchise Sales for Hamilton based 24 Carrot Juice Company.

1993 to 1994 he was appointed Business Development And Leasing Manager Circle M Flea Market - 300 Vendors. 80 Acre Park Venue

1995 – 1998 – New Car Salesman BMW, Audi, VW – Received Top Salesman Awards.

1996, 1997, 1998 - Promoted Jammers From the Juno Concert series featuring Prakash John and the Lincolns, Doug Riley, Earl Seymour, Burton Cummings and Jeff Healey.

1998 – 2000 - King William Studio – Partner and Managing Director he helped to establish this current Hamilton cultural centre.

1999 – Produced and recorded acclaimed Hamilton blues recording Blues From the Hammer.

2000 – Produced John Burns Album Out at Kensington Sound Toronto

2000 – 2003 – performed over 1000 gigs with his band the bobby Hebert Experience in the famed Hamilton Hess Village district.

2003 – Founded the Hamilton Gore Park Music Festival

2004 to present – Founder and Festival Director for the Burlington Jazz’n Blues Festival the voice of live Jazz’n Blues in Canada.

2007 – Cofounded International Child Welfare Foundation and is current Global President and CEO.

2008 – PTNAL, President CEO.

Robert through his lifetime of diverse work experience has the perfect background and skill sets to help lead the growth of India’s number one gourmet tea brand into the North American Marketplace. He is also keen to expand the work of the International Child Welfare Foundation as global President/CEO.