| A Newsletter from SACC Washington DC | Volume 26, July 2011 |
Dear Members and Friends,
An eventful spring has come to an end and summer is upon us. In Sweden the big holiday of Midsommar has passed and many people are now on their customary long holiday, enjoying the short period of nice weather that is offered. Hopefully, you have been able to attend one or more of the networking events that have been held by the Chamber during the spring and that such events were productive and enjoyable.
We were especially proud to host our newest corporate member, Volvo Car Corporation, for their seminar Innovations towards Zero on June 9th. Approximately 150 people came to listen to Volvo Cars' President and CEO Stefan Jacoby as well as several other impressive speakers. I would like to express a heartfelt thanks to Volvo Car Corporation for sponsoring this event and for choosing to partner with SACC-DC to put it together. The success of the Innovations towards Zero was also due in large measure to the sustained and dedicated efforts from our Executive Director, Maja Persson in the months leading up to the event.
SACC-USA is the midst of planning this year's Entrepreneurial Days (E-Days) that will take place in Växjö and Karlskrona this year focusing on CleanTech and Telecom. E-Days is the largest trade and networking event between the U.S. and Sweden gathering approximately 300 participants each year for a program including matchmaking and stellar speakers. This year the event will start on September 14th in Växjö and then split up between Karlskrona with a telecom focus and Växjö with a cleantech focus during September 15-16. I highly recommend you to attend if you are seeking valuable business contacts in Sweden. Please click here to learn more. If you haven't seen it already I can highly recommend reading the article recently published in The Washington Post picturing Sweden as the "Rockstar of the Recovery." The newspaper article states that Sweden has accomplished what the United States, Britain and Japan can only dream of doing: Growing rapidly, creating jobs and gaining a competitive edge. The banks are lending, the housing market booming and the national budget is balanced. To be fully informed, please read the article, please follow this link. You will soon receive the Membership Directory for 2011-2012. If you have not already paid your membership dues for this year, I would like to strongly recommend that you take care of this matter in order to ensure that you are included in the valuable printed directory. We appreciate your continued support of the Chamber and are working hard to return your investment with interesting programs and networking opportunities. SACC Washington DC will take a short summer break from the busy events calendar but is already planning for the fall and some of our annual signature events such as the crayfish reception and golf tournament. You can read more about those upcoming events below. Finally I would like to wish you all a wonderful and safe summer. Best regards, Bradley J. Olson Chairman SACC Washington DC |
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Please Welcome Our New Individual and Young Professional Members:
Erik M. Bohn
Natalie Bushhousen
Kristina Butler
John Dillman Ann Ivarsson
Nicolina Nelson Miller
Hanna Nilsson
Walid Robert Norris Henriette Persson
Anders Persson
Raymond Young
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SACC Washington DC
Board of Directors
Click name to send an email.
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PLANTAGON's mission is functional and ecological food directly to consumers. To bring this about we introduce the Plantagon vertical greenhouse that will dramatically change the way we produce food. It allows us to produce ecological food with clean air and water inside urban environments, cutting costs and environmental damage by eliminating transportation and deliver directly to consumers.
PLANTAGON integrates our mission, our promises and our values into the organization's whole structure; from our Articles of Association to how we organize our ownership to ascertain our stakeholders' influence and power over our actions. This may be the first time in the business sector that social responsibility, transparency and sharing are demonstrably valued at the same level as financial engagement.
Winner of 2009 Globe Forum "Innovator's Idol Award" and 2011 Red Herring Top 100 Europe. Learn more at www.plantagon.com. |
Annual Crayfish Reception
Wednesday, 14th of September, 2011
Join us for this annual favorite! We will start the evening with a cocktail on the House of Sweden rooftop terrace followed by traditional crayfish dinner in Anna Lindh Hall with open windows towards the Potomac. Tickets will be on sale in August. Monitor your email for an invitation and make sure to act fast since this event usually sells out.
Main Sponsor:
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Entrepreneurial Days
14th - 16th of September, 2011
The Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days is the largest trade and networking event between the U.S. and Sweden. Since 1997, the Entrepreneurial Days has enabled small, medium, and large companies to connect and develop new business relations. This year's program offers matchmaking along with a stellar speaker program focusing on cleantech, telecom, IT and sustainability. Learn more about the event here. |
Swedish Embassy Open
Thursday, 13th of October, 2011
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Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club |
Make sure to mark your calendars for this annual signature event. This year we will play at the Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club just outside Leesburg, VA, approximately one hour from DC.Click the image for more details about this new venue.
Invitations and registration details will be sent out in August. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Maja Persson.
Platinum Sponsor 2011:
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Urban Agriculture - how do we feed people
in the urban era?
Wednesday, 16th of November, 2011
Join Swedish cleantech and American know-how in a half-day seminar at House of Sweden on how to use urban agriculture technologies to create a more sustainable city of tomorrow. A city where consumers will have access to healthy and nutritious food in their neighbourhood, regardless of income level and where they live.
Host: Embassy of Sweden
Organizer: Plantagon International
Partners: Swedish Trade Council, s.a.g.a. Swedish American Green Alliance, SymbioCity, Sweco Group, Environmental Working Group, SACC |
Happy Hour
On June 29th a group of members and friends met at 18th St. Lounge to enjoy some after-work drinks and networking on this
gorgeous summer evening in DC. |
Green Technologies - The Defining Opportunity for Transatlantic Cooperation
 | | Juan Verde with the Executive Directors of the Swedish, French and British bilateral trade associations of Washington, DC. From the left: Maja Persson (SACC-DC), Juan Verde, Carla deChassy (FACCWDC), Pat Karhuse (BABA) |
On June 14th 80 people gathered at the Maison Francaise to enjoy a keynote address by Juan Verde, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe and Eurasia (ITA). Mr. Verde's remarks and his powerpoint presentation provided sound evidence of the potential growth in green technologies and the key role of the US-EU relationship in developing clean energy standards, technology and distribution.
The event was presented by the French-American Chamber of Commerce together with SACC Washington DC, the British-American Business Association, the German American Business Council, the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, La Maison Francaise and the Wharton Club DC. |
Innovations towards Zero
 
Stefan Jacoby and Bradley J. Olson Panel discussion led by Dr. Runge
Photo credit: Elite-Images by Alan Schlaifer
SACC Washington DC was proud to present the event Innovations towards Zero together with Volvo Car Corporation on June 9th, 2011. 150 guests gathered to participate in a morning seminar focused on car electrification and safety. The title of the seminar refers to Volvo Cars two goals of reaching zero fatalities in new Volvo cars and creating cars with zero emissions.
"This is why we exist, to be a platform for business connections and discussions," said Bradley J. Olson, Chairman of SACC Washington DC in his welcoming remarks. He went on to thank Ambassador Hafström for hosting a dinner at his residence in conjunction with the event and introduced the moderator for the day, Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, Principal, The Chertoff Group and former National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator.
Mr. Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, described the many innovative technological solutions that will help the company reach their "zero-goals." The new C30 Electric, which was on display in House of Sweden is one of them. The V60 diesel plug-in hybrid is another vehicle where the driver can electively switch between three modes; hybrid, pure electric or pure power (diesel).
The impressive list of speakers also included former Senator Byron Dorgan who gave an inspirational speech which you can watch in its entirety via this link, Mr. Charles Gassenheimer, CEO of Ener1, Inc. and Lennart Stegland, President, Volvo Car Special Vehicles gave interesting presentations about the technical challenges that electric vehicles pose. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made it clear that they are investing heavily in pushing the development of electric cars forward according to President Obama's strategic plan.
Click here to view a gallery of photos from the event. Photos by Elite-Images by Alan Schlaifer.
Links that will give you more information about the event:
This event was sponsored by:
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National Day of Sweden
On June 6th over 200 people celebrated the National Day of Sweden with a picnic on the lawn of Ambassador Hafström's Residence. Ms. Frida Johansson, Chef of the Swedish Residence, had baked traditional Swedish strawberry cakes for everybody and the gorgeous weather made for a wonderful evening. |
Energy as Design
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Photo credit: Linda Tocchini-Valentini |
On May 17 the Embassy of Sweden, SACC Washington DC and Deloitte arranged a seminar with focus on corporate responsibility and energy as design. The seminar was part of the Embassy program "Fabric of Life," and attracted 60+ participants to House of Sweden in Washington, DC. Mr. Gunnar Oom, State Secretary to Sweden's Minister for Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs provided the keynote address and discussed how Swedish companies work efficiently with Corporate Responsibility.
A panel consisting of Ms. Rebecca Ranich, Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Ms. Tracey Kelly, Corporate Communication Manager, IKEA US and Ms. Elizabeth J. Heider, Senior Vice President, Skanska USA Building and Chair-Elect of U.S. Green Building Council, participated in the event and was moderated by the Honorable Michael M. Wood, Former Ambassador of the United States to Sweden. The panel discussed the future of energy and how their companies work with Corporate Responsibility and energy as design. To read more about this event, please click here.
Sponsors:
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Mentor Foundation USA invites corporate partners for a school mentoring program in Washington, DC Mentor Foundation USA, an international non-profit organization founded by HM Queen Silvia and World Health Organization, has implemented over 90 youth development and drug prevention programs in the world. It has recently set up its USA Headquarters in Washington DC.
The first US programs will be implemented in some of DC's most vulnerable areas through a partnership with Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy in Washington D.C. The pilot program involves mentoring 30 students at two of the school's campuses. The mentors will be corporate professionals who give three hours of their time per month during the 2011-2012 school year to encourage and inspire their young mentees to make healthy and productive life choices.
Mentor Foundation USA is currently looking for mentors for this mentoring program in the Washington D.C. area. If you are interested in participating in this program or want more information, please contact Jamila Sams, jamila@mentorfoundation.org or 202/536-1595.
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Next Issue of SACCess
 We welcome members to submit articles for the newsletter. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to contribute to the next issue which is scheduled for early fall, 2011. |
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