Greetings from the GABC President

Transcription

1 Greetings from the GABC President Dear Members, Friends, Looking in the general direction 'North' these days, I am sure we all appreciate having the kind of winter weather we usually have here in South Florida. I hope you had a great break, could recharge your batteries and had an excellent start into In the meantime we had on January 16 our first time ever 'GABC New Year Reception' and those in attendance will agree, it was a beautiful event, well attended and we look forward to continuing this way also in future. On January 2 our new Executive Director, Mrs. Ellen Becker, took over and we look forward to continuing with her on our proven path, i.e. creating interesting events with fellow European Chambers here in Miami and also reaching out to the companies and members located in Broward. Talks with the Broward Alliance and also other European Chambers in Ft. Lauderdale are promising and you will see a lot more frequent activities 'up North'. Of course, all the events we offer in both Broward and Dade are open for all Members, wherever they reside. Your German American Business Chamber was founded more than 26 years ago by a group of business men to provide a platform for all business people in South Florida and those interested in relocating here, or expanding into the German market. We are self-funded through membership fees and our explicit goal is to create meaningful events which always also include networking events where our members can meet one-on-one to discuss mutual business opportunities. I truly believe a membership in the GABC is worth the expense, and our membership is growing every year. Whatever we do is absolutely not hammered in stone and so I am inviting all of you to actively participate in our events and please feel also welcome to come up with your ideas on how we can get better, or what we can additionally do to make your membership a good experience. Here is hoping you have a great and successful Year 2015! Michael Claus President Page 011

2 Greetings from the German Consul General GENERALKONSUL Dear Friends and Members of GABC, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a great start into I m looking forward to developing fresh ideas with you! Many things are already in full swing:, Our Tampa Bay Skills Initiative has just been launched as the American Manufacturing Skills Initiative, AMSKILL ( This program is taking the German IHK international gold standards in apprenticeship training to America and creates a unique opportunity for young people to pursue a successful career other than a classical college degree. $2.35 Mio of State and County funds are going to support 5 training centers offering 48 apprenticeship training programs related to advanced manufacturing. With four year apprenticeship program and adult education, the regional training centers plan to serve 1000 students within 3 years. Currently, we work very actively on the expansion towards Miami, particularly in the fields of logistics and hospitality. We hope to win a growing number of interested companies joining us. Please stay in touch for more information about our initiative! The Miami Cruise Shipping is going to take place from 16 to19 March with 22 German companies and participating German port cities. The German Pavilion will again be a big attraction on this high class fair. Last but not least, I am looking forward to further intensifying the collaboration between GABC and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance to the benefits of both Broward and Miami Dade County. Join us at our many events throughout the year. Details can be found in our newsletter which you can sign up for by sending your contact details to ku-100@miam.diplo.de. Cordially yours, Jürgen Borsch Page 01 2

3 Greetings from our new GABC Executive Director Ellen Becker Dear All: It is with great pleasure that I bring to a close my first month as your new Executive Director. It is an honor to be a part of this great organization, and have the chance to work closely with such a wonderful group of professionals. Our goals for 2015 include expanding our reach into Ft. Lauderdale/Broward county, where we hope to integrate more new members, while increasing exposure and opportunity for our existing members. Also during this transitional time for the chamber, we are interested in your feedback! Expect a membership survey to go out in March, where we would like to hear how we are doing and where we could improve. After all, our purpose is to function as a resource, service, and conduit for German businesses and individuals; while promoting trade, commerce, culture and art between the USA, Germany, and the rest of the world! Again, it is a pleasure to be on board and I am looking forward to working together in Ellen Becker Executive Director Page 01 3

4 New Private Individual Member: Mr. Leo Alexander Page 4

5 Past GABC Events German American Business Chamber of South Florida CONTEXT Art Miami, December 4th, 2014 The contemporary art fair CONTEXT Art Miami took place from December 2 to 7, 2014, in a free -standing 45,000 square foot pavilion in Midtown Miami. Same as last year, CONTEXT hosted ART FROM BERLIN, a special exhibition and a platform to introduce Berlin s vibrant art scene to international art markets. The German American Business Chamber of South Florida hosted a member exclusive VIP preview on December 4, 2014, that kicked off with a speech by both the German Consul General Mr.Jürgen Borsch and Mr.Tom Baur, GABC Vice President. GABC members enjoyed an eclectic evening devoted to current art trends from Berlin. Page 5

6 European Breakfast Seminar Dr. Rudolph Moise, DO, MDA, JD Ambassador for investment in Haiti On February 4th, 2015 the European Chambers in MIiami organized this year s first Breakfast Seminar, again, at Greenberg Traurig. This months presentation was held by Dr. Rudolph Moise, ambassador for investment in Haiti on Haiti s promising future - Information on investment opportunities in Haiti. The presentation was very well attended by around 60 guests. Page 6

7 German American Business Chamber of South Florida GABC New Year s Reception Our annual Christmas Gala was substituted by a New Year s Reception this year, and took place on January 16th, 2015 at the Setai Hotel Courtyard in South Beach. With almost 70 GABC members and guests, we were very pleased with the turnout, and received overall very positive feedback on the location, food, and atmosphere. The Setai Hotel offered a delicious three-course meal buffet-style featuring German and International inspired selections with a complimentary glass of wine included. Page 7

8 Upcoming GACC South Events Georgia Skills Road Show: Discussions on Successful Apprenticeship The GACC South Vice President, Stefanie Jehlitschka will be speaking at the event. Monday, February 9, 2015, 10:00am Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, Fayetteville, GA Business Seminar: The Present and Future of US Immigration & Employment The Present and Future of US Immigration & Employment - what business needs to know about Employment Compliance, Visa Processing, and President Obama's Executive Order Tuesday, February 10, 2015, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP in Atlanta, GA Business Seminar: Complexity Manager How to translate customer needs into product features Thursday, February 19, 2015, GACC South in Atlanta, GA Kuehne + Nagel "Port of Charleston" Tour The GACC South - South Carolina Chapter invites their members and friends to a "Port of Charleston" tour. Thursday, March 12, 2015, Port of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, SC German Mittelstand Southern SME Forum Early Bird Rate until Friday, February 13, Southeast s Forum for German Small & Medium Sized Enterprises Monday, April 13, 2015 Omni Charlotte Hotel Charlotte, NC Page 028

9 Other Upcoming Events RSVP to the panel discussion at following link: Page 029

10 Get the 2014/2015 German American Chambers National Membership Directory! The hard copy directory is published once a year and contains all member companies of all German American Chambers of Commerce in the US including all chapters and affiliates. Navigate through 2,500 member companies linked to our offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and the GABC Miami using our index of industries. The directory's structure is based on industry categories, closely resembling the Yellow Pages, enabling you to find your contacts quickly and efficiently. Employee-specific contact details give you phone, fax, , street address and website. An index organizes firms by industry. Over 6,000 key decision-makers in government and industry across the U.S. and Germany will use the Membership Directory throughout the year. Issues are available at the GABC office now. Page 03 10

11 GABC & GACC Offering Virtual Business Representation Services The GACC South is now able to offer business representation services in Florida through its cooperation with the GABC Miami. The GACC South s business representation services establish a gateway between companies in Germany and the U.S. to support German businesses with their activities in the U.S. market. The GACC South creates business presences by offering clients an official address and a dedicated telephone number, as well as the GACC South s full-time consulting staff serving as the primary point of contact. Depending on the specific industry focus of clients, members are afforded these extensive resources in Atlanta, Houston, or the newly added location in Miami. The German company Müller Messebau, a manufacturer of trade show booths, was one of the first clients taking advantage of the services offered by the GACC South in cooperation with the GABC in Florida: As a trade show booth builder, we were looking for a location in the Southeastern United States, since the trade show market is noticeably shifting to this area. One of the main reasons we chose Florida as a location were fiscal considerations. For this undertaking, we found an experienced partner with the GACC South, who can provide us with expertise in many fields above and beyond the business representation services, and can support us with its network. For more information please contact the GABC office. Take Advantage of GABC Member Benefits GABC Members receive great discounts while dining, traveling, shopping and much more. We are pleased to announce that the benefits list is continuing to expand. The German American Business Chamber shares all member discounts with other European Chambers in Miami including: the Italian American Chamber of Commerce, the Spanish-US Chamber of Commerce, the French-American Chamber of Commerce, the Dutch Miami Chamber of Commerce, and the British-American Business Council Miami. Thus, the list of benefits has grown tremendously. The list of member discounts for all businesses is available for members in the member login area at Make sure to check out the updated list of benefits on our website! Page 11

12 Extra Benefits Service & Discounts Listings & Directories Networking Corporate Exposure German American Business Chamber of South Florida GABC Membership Fees: Valid as of October 1st, 2013 Membership Levels / Benefits PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL ($150) BASIC ($300) (1-5 employees) CORPORATE ($500) (6 and more employees) TRUSTEE ($750) Company logo featured on print and electronic media Company logo displayed on GABC homepage with link to your own website Exposure on GABC social media sites Complimentary or discounted entry to events Allowed number of individuals entitled to complimentary entry or discounted entry at GABC events 1 1* 3 5 Opportunity to host a seminar or "After Hours" networking event Company listing in the German American Chamber of Commerce national Member Directory Company listing and access to the GABC online membership directory Maximum number of contacts listed in GABC online membership directory Electronic newsletter advertising discounts Complimentary company introduction in the electronic GABC newsletter Purchase German American Chamber of Commerce national Member Directory and Directory of German Subsidiaries in the US at reduced prices Access to exclusive discounts at local businesses including discounts offered by other European Chambers in Miami One vote at the GABC Board of Directors election Access to member exclusive events Complimentary job posting on GABC website Page 07 12

13 New Edition of German American Trade Available Now! The newest issue of GAT is now available on the GABC website. GAT is a joint publication of the GACC and Representative of Germany + Industry (RGIT). It spotlights members as well as other economic, cultural, and political news stories. GABC Career Services The GABC offers complimentary job postings and internship assistance to business members. For more information on fees for non-members or to have your job posting published, please contact the GABC through miami@gabc.us or by telephone: Web links to German American Associations and Clubs: GIPA: German International Parents Association An Affiliate of: German Consulate General Miami de/03 Konsulate/Miami/00/ Start.html GASC: German American Social Club Miami The GABC of South Florida is an official affiliate of the GACC South. Find more information on the GACC: German Ministry in Coral Gables Page 13

14 GABC Official Platinum Sponsor GABC Trustee Members Page 14