February 2009 E-Newsletter

The FACC actively promotes investment and trade with France and presents programs of importance to our members, including networking mixers and events featuring experts in French-American business.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the FACC, please feel free to contact us.

In our monthly e-newsletter, you will find the latest news of the Chamber. Please, feel free to forward this email to a colleague or friend.

Interview with a Professional : Greg Dean

Greg Dean is a licensed attorney, admitted to practice law in the state and federal court of Colorado and in the United States Tax Court. Aiding clients on intricate estate plans, donning advice on taxation, coordinating foreign client's assets and businesses in the United States and providing counsel on contract drafting and negotiation make up a large part of his practice. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Denver, teaching a course on international business law. In addition, Mr. Dean is Vice President of the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Rocky-Mountain Chapter. Due to his dual citizenship in the United States and France, he is equipped with unique experience in business and social settings that has lead him to a successful career.

HC: What are some of the challenges you face in practicing law on the international context?

GD: There is no international law, so the first thing you have to do is understand local law and business relationships. [For example] in more complicated wills - usually meaning that you have foreign assets - your will is going to be controlled by your place of residence, which is your primary jurisdiction. [Having] other assets outside your residence, you have to coordinate the wills or the other tools of estate planning to make sure that these assets are going to be treated in the right manner by the jurisdiction where they sit.

HC: Describe some of the challenges you face when working for foreign clients.

GD: [Some of my work] is cultural, some of it is translation: [working out] misunderstandings, and some of it is negotiating to get a better deal. There is definitely a different way that you do business in France versus the States especially when it comes to leases and things of that nature. The States is still very much of a "cowboy" country. There's still this notion of freedom of contract - that it's perfectly legal to make a really bad deal. And in France there tends to be [...] many more rules that establish what a contract is; [in France] there must be a lot more structure to [a contract] for it to be binding [than in the United States].

HC: What kind of advice do you have to young people interested in your type of work?

GD: My advice is you have to pick something and become good at it - on your local level. There is no such thing as international business; we talk about it a lot but it doesn't exist outside the parameters of specific things. Are you importing and exporting timber? [...] Is it services? You have to develop a set of skills that are industry specific and then try to then fit into an international context. [However,] without the fundamental skills to start off with - there is no international business, per se.

Interview conducted by Hilary Crawford, FACC Volunteer.

Welcome to our New Member

Small Business Member

Pierre Michel French Bakery

Our menu features a variety of classic favorites. Whether you're visiting us for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you're sure to find something to please everyone in your party!
303-471-4828 www.pierremichel.org

Member Company Profile: DISH Network Corporation

DISH Network Corporation, a leading U.S. satellite-TV service provider, offers more than 140 International channels in more than 25 different languages. DISH Network is the only satellite provider to offer 24 hours of French television. The channel lineup includes five 100 percent digital stations offering live sporting events, talk shows, news programs, movies and more!

With the French Bouquet, DISH Network offers the most French channels at the best value - five French stations for only $19.99/mo! Four of the channels can also be purchased a la carte, allowing the subscriber to select his or her favorite French programming options!

French Bouquet: 3A TELESUD, EUROCHANNEL,

EURONEWS, TRACE TV, TV5MONDE

A La Carte Offerings: Radio France International ($1.00/mo),TV5MONDE ($9.99/mo), EUROCHANNEL ($9.99/mo) and 3A TELESUD ($14.99/mo).

TV5MONDE: A multitude of television programs from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec, Canada. TV5MONDE offers live soccer matches directly from France, variety shows, the latest newscasts, current affairs programs, sports, blockbuster movies with English subtitles and cultural entertainment.

EUROCHANNEL:
The best of European cinema, series, music and documentaries, from countries such as France, Germany, Italy and more in their original language with English subtitles, with a minimum of 50 percent of the films from France.

3A TELESUD/AFROTAINMENT: For the audience of African and West Indies descent and the African Diaspora, 3A TELESUD offers a variety of programming including news, talk-shows, magazines, documentaries, music videos, live concerts and festivals, and much more. And now with Afrotainment, watch hit series and award winning movies from Nollywood.

EURONEWS: Covers world news from a European perspective providing live breaking news, and constantly updated bulletins on the hour and half hour. EuroNews also brings a wide range of sports, business, European affairs, current affairs and lifestyle features to viewers.

TRACE TV: music video channel broadcast from Paris, France. TRACE TV offers a variety of music programming, including awards shows and other special programs, while airing about 700 different music videos per week. Radio France International: Twenty-four hours of French music, talk shows, news and cultural discussions available as an add-on to any package for only $1.00/mo.

For more information contact www.dishnetwork.com or 1-800-333-DISH

Upcoming Events

Euro Networking at The Wine Loft

Thursday, February 5
6:00-8:00pm

Join the British-American, French-American, German-American & Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce for an animated evening of networking. Don't forget to bring your business cards!

Where: The Wine Loft, 1527 Wazee St., Denver, 80202

Cost: $12 members, $18 non-members. Appetizers included. There will be a cash bar.
RSVP to 303-695-7818 or online by Monday, February 2.

Celebrate Diversity!
A Recipe for Success in Your Daily Life

Tuesday, February 24
11:30-1:00pm

Join us for an enlivening, interactive session where we will explore:

What is diversity? (What does it mean to you?)
Interactive exercise--express your own and listen to others' experiences with Diversity
7-Step Process for successfully managing Diversity in your day-to-day life experiences

Presenters From Right Management: Edith Samouillet, VP Organizational Consulting & Kathy Pennell

Where: Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant St., Denver, 80203
Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members. Includes lunch entree, dessert, coffee & tea.
RSVP by Friday, February 20 to 303-831-0304 or online.

This event is sponsored by Right Management, the world's leading provider of integrated human capital consulting solutions across the employment lifecycle.

Small Business Roundtable

Increase Your Bottom Line Profits - The 5-Way Formula

Wednesday, March 11
8:30-10:30am

Join us for an interactive discussion facilitated by Yolanda Duperret with ActionCoach. Yolanda began business coaching by applying the financial, marketing, sales and team-building skills acquired from 12 years of experience working as an international banker.

Where: Alliance Francaise, 571 Galapago St., Denver 80204

Cost: This event is FREE for FACC Small Business Members. This event is currently only open to FACC members.
RSVP: You must RSVP by Friday, March 6 to 303-695-7818 or online.

This event is sponsored by Katherine's French Bakery, Cafe & Catering - Where Good Taste is Always in Style!

Save the Date!
Labor & Employment Law in the US & France:

Practical Tips for US & French Businesses

Thursday, April 9

4:00-6:00pm

Join the FACC and Davis, Graham & Stubbs at an informative and practical presentation highlighting some of the differences and similarities between labor and employment law in the United States and Europe, particularly France. Sybil Kisken, an experienced labor/employment lawyer and Treasurer of the FACC will share some legal insights during a late afternoon presentation. Light hors d'ouevres and cocktails will be served.

Check our website for more details on this event soon!

Economic News

Researchers Receive "Oscar of Invention" for Microscope

A tabletop microscope developed by a team of Colorado State and Berkeley researchers has been recognized by R&D Magazine as one of the Top 100 most significant technological advances for 2008. The microscope uses light beams of wavelength 10 times shorter than visible light - known as extreme ultraviolet light - to "see" objects 1,000 times smaller than a human hair.

The researchers received the R&D 100 award in October at a ceremony dubbed "the Oscars of Invention" by the Chicago Tribune. Led by CSU electrical and computer engineering professor Carmen Menoni, the collaborative innovation incorporates an extreme ultraviolet laser invented at CSU, specialized lenses created at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and mirrors developed at the Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow.

The research was conducted at the CSU-based National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology and supported by a $4 million annual grant from the NSF. The center combines the complementary expertise of researchers at Colorado State, Berkeley, and the University of Colorado-Boulder, who are among the world leaders in developing compact extreme ultraviolet coherent light sources and optical systems for nanoscience and nanotechnology applications. Several of the nation's largest computer chip manufacturers and laser, optics, and nanotechnology companies are industrial members of the center.

The extreme ultraviolet microscope uses its laser for "stop-action" image capture on the time scale of a billionth of a second (one nanosecond). Unlike electron microscopes, it allows imaging of objects in the midst of applied electromagnetic fields. No other compact imaging instrument allows these capabilities at comparable resolutions.

From The Competitive Edge, a publication of Colorado State University

Members' Corner

Export Fundamentals: Stepping into the Global Arena

Tuesday, February 3

12:30-4:30pm

The World Trade Center Denver, 1625 Broadway, Suite 820

The Basics of Exporting Series. An introductory seminar that will familiarize you with global trade opportunities and resources while examining a wide variety of concepts and issues critical to your success in the international marketplace. At this first class in our four course Exporting & Importing Series, you will learn the fundamental drivers of export success from local experts. Discounts available when registering for three or more of our Basics of Exporting Series. Contact the WTC for more information.

Cost: $55 WTC Denver members, $70 non-WTC members

To register for this or any of our other programs download a registration form or visit www.wtcdenver.com.

France Welcomes Expatriates

Invest in France Agency has issued a document outlining several benefits of being an expatriate in France. Click here to view the full document.

2nd Annual Conference on Nanotechnology Law,
Regulation & Policy

February 18-19
L'Enfant Plaza Hotel , Washington DC

While the overall economy may be faltering, nanotechnology continues on the upswing. In the next five years, the nanotechnology market is expected to grow to almost $3 trillion. Nanotechnology products are found in all sectors of the food and drug industry, including pharmaceuticals, devices, sunscreens, cosmetics, supplements and food.

Agenda, Hotel Info & Registration Fees

Senior French Executive to Keynote CORE Sustainability Conference

Bob Snyder and RMFACC were instrumental in arranging for Claude Graff, Executive VP, Renewable Energy for the giant French Schneider Group in Paris to make a keynote speech at CORE's 2009 Sustainable Opportunities Summit at the CO Convention Center, March 17 -19, 2009. CORE expects 900 attendees at the Summit, which is co-hosted by the City of Denver. 65 experts from around the world will discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with creating a more responsible and sustainable global economy. More information: www.summit.org.

Special Offer for FACC Members - 10% discount off Kompass!

Kompass helps you grow your business through two services: our database and our advertising system

Contact potential customers through our reliable and in-depth database.

Kompass is a comprehensive in-depth B-2-B database, with more than 2.4 million International and domestic companies listed, which link buyers and sellers worldwide. Save your prospecting time! Contact potential customers! An effective tool for creating sales leads and executing your sales and marketing programs:

Identify new business sources and locate suppliers and partners.
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Increase your information on specific companies and update your customers' database.
Enhance your telemarketing and direct marketing activities.

Be contacted by buyers searching for your products.

Promote your activities on Kompass and reach domestic and international buyers searching for your specific products or services. Every month, more than 4.5
Cost effective method to reach domestic and international buyers
Easy links to your email address, catalog, and website
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You will enjoy a 10% discount if you subscribe through the FACC Rocky Mountain, start today!