|
Welcome to our
New Members!
Everything Provence,Inc
Mrs. & Mr. Chuck Dushek
FP Bois Inc,
Jenny Partouche
Arc International
Francois Delcourt
Cardinal
Alexandre Bollengier
Abbvie
Thomas Petit
Walter USA
Tom Gorr
Hormann LLC
Frank Weber
To learn more about FACC-Chicago membership, visit our Membership Page.
|
|
FACC-Chicago Upcoming Events
| |
Tuesday, April 8th
Monthly Members Luncheon
Professionals Networking with GACC Midwest,
BABC, IACC,DAC & SACC
|
|
MERCI
to our Benefactor Members:
| |
|
Privacy by SafeSubscribe
|
FACC-Chicago is proud to be a member of:
 | Read
|
|
|
As Chicago is finally blessed with spring-temperatures, we are also celebrating a new season at the FACC with a wonderful, enthusiastic and creative new team.
Some of you have had the pleasure to meet our new - and for the first time French - Office Manager, Ms. B�atrice Bourgogne, it gives me now great pleasure to also introduce Ms. Barbara Hennessy as our new FACC Deputy Director.
Simultaneously, as most of you have heard I hope: we are launching a Chicago French Innovation Week from May 9 to May 16. I therefore want to recognize the work of our fantastic FACC team of French Innovation Week Volunteers:
Ms. Laure Courbebaisse for the French Innovation Week March� to be held at Ogilvie Station from May 9 (Official Kick-Off date and location) to May 16 : a few spots are still available!
Ms. S�gol�ne de Marolles, our FACC Press and PR contact - in collaboration with Ms. St�phanie Goldina - for the social media coverage - who created our new Facebook pages for the Chicago French Innovation Week and French Innovation Restaurant Week both from May 9 to May 16:
https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoFrenchWeek
https://www.facebook.com/pages/French-Innovation-Restaurant-Week/298199493638182
And Mr. Oscar Salgado - the graphic designer of our beautiful new Logos: the Generic French Innovation Week Logo and the French Innovation Restaurant Week Logo.
We have also much benefited from the valuable observing capacity of Mr. Jerome Leygues as the new Chicago Business Booster (previously known as the "Forum de l'Implantation) is taking shape under the leadership of our FACC committee chaired by Mr. Georges Culioli of New Starts Partners. The Chicago Business Booster is to be held during the French Innovation Week from May 12 to May 14.
The event was originally created by the San Francisco FACC and is now duplicated in Chicago.
Finally, just arrived from Paris, we are welcoming our new intern, Ms. Capucine Forbin, who is already helping us with the Annual Gala organization and the Normandy-Auction lots. Capucine will stay at the FACC until the end of August.
This is a very exciting spring at the FACC and I sincerely hope to see all of you as you will be meeting the NEW FACC staff at our next Members' Luncheon on April 8 and at the subsequent events in May!
  
Barbara Hennessy B�atrice Bourgogne Capucine Forbin
Vive le Printemps!
Bien amicalement,
Emmanu�le van Houdenhoven
|
|
A Message from our New FACC Deputy Director:
I am delighted to join the FACC team as Deputy Director. I bring with me a diverse set of skills and international experiences. I have lived in Greece, France, the United Kingdom and all across the United States. Most recently I worked with a small non-profit on fundraising, development and event planning. I am a former practicing attorney with a specialty in Maritime Law. I directed and taught the American Law Program at the Universit� d'Auvergne - Facult� de Droit for three years. I attended my first Passport to France in 1996, rather accidentally, and I have always been impressed by the commitment of the French-American community in Chicago. I am looking forward to an exciting time at the FACC and working together as we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy region and the 30th Annual Passport to France.
Barbara Hennessy
Deputy Director
French-American Chamber of Commerce - Chicago Chapter
|
 2.FACC Activity
|
SAVE THE DATE!
FACC Gala
"La Nuit des Etoiles"
May 16, 2014 Normandy-Chicago
1944-2014At the  20 East Chestnut St
Downtown 60611 CHICAGO,
United States
Tel: (+1)3123244000 
|
|
FACC PROFESSIONALS NETWORKING EVENT
April 16th,20145.30pm-7.30pmat the
140 East Walton Place Chicago,IL 60611 |
|
A French Week "March�" during the NEW Chicago French Week ,May 9th-16th
Photos from the Concourse at Ogilvie-Metra Station during Christmas
 
As you know, Chicago FACC will organize its first "French Week", from May 9th to May 16th. The concept is to showcase French Innovation. Many events will be held all week long, dedicated to Sciences, Technologies, Business, and Culture of France.
Among these events, we will be opening a "French Week March�" in the concourse of the Ogilvie-Metra Station in the Loop (about 50,000 commuters every day during the week) to show France, its products and its innovation capabilities to a wider public. About 15 stands are available to French brands and French products.
For more information, please feel free to contact us at 312-578-0444 or at [email protected]or [email protected]
|
Chicago Business Booster May 12-14, during the French Innovation Week
|
3. Illinois Economic Breaking News
|
|
DCEO Reporter
February,28.2014
February was a time of excitement and vibrancy, with eye-catching headlines about Illinois
manufacturing investments, the launch of new industry incubators, and new business
investment in the state. Illinois' Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
DCEO, has been an integral part of all of this - working hard to create jobs and economic
growth throughout the state.
Some of our highlights include:
- U.S. Defense Department awarding $70 million to UI Labs of Chicago, along with
$16 million in state and other funding, to form the Digital Manufacturing and Design
Innovation (DMDI) Institute - a first-of-its-kind digital hub with the capability to
transform American manufacturing
-
A new study ranking Illinois 3rd among the 50 states in growth of business
establishments. Total establishments in Illinois rose by 18,000, or 5 percent, to
383,103, and Illinois accounted for 14 percent of all new net business
establishments in the country, from 2009 to 2012
Learn More
|
Venture capital funding fuels Chicago's diverse economy
Venture capital activity is a crucial component of Illinois' innovation ecosystem and a key indicator of investment trends for start-ups and entrepreneurs. As reported in the Q1 2013 quarterly Index report, the Chicago region has gained a reputation among start-ups and entrepreneurs as a hub where innovation-based companies can gain access to the capital needed to develop their business. This trend continued in 2013: in terms of early-stage investments into digital start-ups, Built In Chicago's recent report
found that 214 such companies were established in Chicago last year and received more than $1 billion in venture funding-a 169 percent increase over the previous year.
This month, the Index examines how Chicago compares with other leading U.S. metropolitan regions on venture funding in terms of total investment, concentration of funding by industry, and funding sources. Overall, Chicago's venture funding performance is improving. Funding rounds for companies that had previously received at least one round of venture funding has risen by 122 percent-from 36 in 2009 to 80 in 2013. However, Chicago is trailing San Francisco, New York, Boston, and other major U.S. metro regions in this measure.
|
Chicago Named "Top Metro" in North America for Corporate Relocation and ExpansionsMarch 3, 2014
World Business Chicago  Chicago was ranked the "Top Metro" in the U.S. for corporate investment in a report released this week by Site Selection magazine, considered the "industry scoreboard for corporate investment and relocation professionals." The publication recognized that the Chicago region was home to more new or expanded corporate facilities than any other metropolitan area in the nation in 2013, with 373 new and expanding companies, generating approximately 10,000 new jobs and $2.8 billion in investment...
"I'm pleased to see Site Selection recognize what businesses - both large and small - are noticing: Chicago is a premier location to grow and thrive," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Our city has access to the world via our unique transportation system and central location, and we also have an unrivaled talent pool, fueled by our extensive higher education institutions. People and companies alike want to be in Chicago." Learn More
|
Business Climate
World Business Chicago 
Centrally located, Chicago provides easy access to the world. The city has 1,400 daily departures to more than 200 cities worldwide, and serves as a hub for six of the nation's seven Class I North American railroads, as well as six major U.S. Interstates.
Chicago is a leader in a number of key industries including: Business & Financial Services, Manufacturing, Information Technology, Health Services, and Transportation & Distribution, and is a global leader in options, futures, and derivatives trading.
This combination of market access and economic diversity provides the resources a company needs to flourish. Alongside Chicago's pro-business environment, support services, and unique opportunities for growth, the city also offers a vibrant mix of cultural, educational, and social amenities.
Learn More
|
Digital Lab for Manufacturing February 23, 2014 World business Chicago  President Obama recently announced that Chicago has been awarded a $70 million federal grant to build a Digital Lab for Manufacturing in the city, in addition to $250 million in public-private matching funds that will support our city's winning bid. "This is clearly, without a doubt, one of the most significant things to secure Chicago's long-term economic future," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Lab will have an immense impact on Chicago and is a huge accomplishment for Mayor Emanuel's Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, which World Business Chicago (WBC) is currently implementing.
Background of the Bid
The Mayor's Office, along with UI LABS and WBC's Plan team collaborated to build an unprecedented consortium of 40 industry partners, more than 30 academia, government, and community partners and more than 500 companies and organizations.
In 2012, the Mayor's Office and WBC began convening a core group every two weeks and hosted additional roundtables with local industry partners to identify focus areas that would deliver the most value from a public-private research institute. When President Obama committed to investing in three new institutes in his 2013 State of the Union address, the group began focusing on bringing one of these institutes to Chicago.
|
Hyatt Moves More Than 60 Information Technology Jobs to Downtown ChicagoFebruary 26, 2014 World Business Chicago  Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Hyatt Hotels Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Hoplamazian announced today that the global hospitality company, which is headquartered in Chicago, will relocate more than 60 Information Technology (IT) positions from a suburban location to downtown Chicago. The move will bring more than 60 positions held by both Hyatt associates and its IT vendors to the company's 200 West Monroe location. These positions range from application support to development.
"We welcome Hyatt's decision to move these technology positions to downtown Chicago, and we look forward to watching the company continue to grow here," said Mayor Emanuel. "By increasing the number of IT positions in Chicago, Hyatt continues to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. With its headquarters in Chicago, this move reinforces the company's commitment to building and growing careers in a city that is known for its strength in information technology and E-Commerce, two critical areas of growth as our economy evolves." Learn more
|
Gender Disparities In Tech Flare Up Again: A Reading GuideMarch 20th NPR  We are three weeks deep into an through our midday show, Tell Me More. Host Michel Martin has led some really thoughtful conversations about the dearth of women in tech and the areas of notable improvement. Online, women leaders in the field have been tweeting a day in their lives since March 1, archived here if you want to check back. It certainly wasn't planned, but over whether progress is happening fast enough for women in these fields flared up again this week with two notable events: The first female developer hired at GitHub, a programming network, . The company has since suspended a male co-founder and is investigating. In the digital journalism arena, data journalist Nate Silver's much-anticipated new news organization launched at amid criticism that it - and other journalism startup darlings - are perpetuating a clubhouse, male-dominated newsroom culture that has existed for ages. Learn More
|
Primary Election Day in IllinoisMarch 19NBC  llinois voters head to the polling places Tuesday to narrow the field of candidates for a number of statewide offices.
The biggest prize: governor of Illinois.
Republicans are trying to win back the office in a race that already has drawn intense interest from labor unions worried that the leading candidate could weaken them in the same way GOP governors have in other states across the Midwest.
At the front of the four-person pack is Bruce Rauner, a multimillionaire venture capitalist who has said he would model his governorship after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Rauner faces three longtime lawmakers for the nomination: state Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford.
Learn More
|
Why the Illinois GOP Might Be Considering a Name Change to the Grand 'New' PartyHuffington PostMarch 20th  Over the last couple years, Illinois' Grand Old Party has been receiving messages from its voter base letting them know that their rusty, old machine was in need of replacement parts. This week's primary results delivered a response back from the GOP to its voter base, letting them know they've been heard. The unveiling of the Grand NEW Party's state-of-the-art machine is the answer that mainstreamers have been hoping for. The decision to ditch the antiquated '50s-style vehicle the GOP was driving and replace it with a sleek and aerodynamic model, one equipped with comfortable seats and room for more voters, has seen a formerly apathetic voting block lining up for a ride. The prototype was taken for a test drive last fall in Illinois, when three out of 47 Illinois Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of same-sex marriage. While the measure passed, the true test of the new vehicle's roadworthiness wouldn't be seen until the results of this week's Illinois primaries. Learn More
|
Chicago River Dyed Green Ahead Of St. Patrick's DayMarch 16
Huffington Post  CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago River is glowing a bright emerald green Saturday as the city kicks off its St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
Thousands of cheering onlookers clustered along downtown bridges as members of Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Local 130 began dumping containers of dye into the river from motorboats Saturday morning. The annual tradition began at 9:30 a.m. and immediately precedes the St. Patrick's Day parade. The union has done the dyeing since 1962. Organizers had feared that large chunks of ice would impede the process, but recent warm temperatures kept the river clear. The hue typically lasts about six to 12 hours.
|
|
L'exportation:
Le choix �vident d'un d�veloppement moderne.
Des secteurs traditionnellement exportateurs
Les secteurs fortement exportateur, tels que la sid�rurgie, vont profiter � plein du red�marrage de l'activit� dans les pays �trangers. Alors que la demande d'acier en France devrait progresser de seulement 1,5% en 2014, l'Eurofer, la f�d�ration au niveau europ�en, table sur une croissance de la demande de 3 % sur le Vieux Continent.
Learn More
|
4. Events and Ads |
|
Pattishall McAuliffe Again Selected for Gold Band
in Prestigious WTR 1000 U.S. Rankings
According to the 2014 World Trademark Review 1000 survey, "Prestigious brands-focused boutique Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson is 'a terrific outfit with a scarcely rivaled pool of expertise.' This depth and dexterity ensure that it can serve a diverse clientele, from individuals to large corporations. The 'innovative, nimble and easy to work with' team undertakes brand planning, assessments and audits alongside enforcement and litigation suits."
Gold firms are those "that attract the most positive comments from sources." WTR has identified them "as the cr�me de la cr�me; their success hinges on reputations established over lengthy periods of time, something which enables them to secure the most high profile, big-ticket work from the most prestigious of clients."
|
|
Appointment Notice  Laurent Verney Executive Vice-President, North America Operations
Schneider Electric is pleased to announce that Laurent Vernerey has been named Executive Vice President of North America Operations, with responsibility for the company's operations in the US, Canada and Mexico. Laurent has spent over two decades leading Schneider Electric's business strategy in the US and abroad, most recently as Executive Vice President of the company's End User Business. Prior to that, he led the company's IT Business, including the company's successful acquisition of IT business-leader APC, based in West Kingston, RI. Laurent takes over from Chris Curtis, who will continue to represent Schneider Electric and its mission as Chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
|
Press Contact:
VP, Public Relations
Schneider Electric
Martin Hanna
Phone: 1-847-925-3482
[email protected]
|
Press Contact:
Strategic Ampersand for
Schneider Electric
Jennifer Rideout
Phone: 416-961-5595 [email protected]
| |
|
|
DELPHINE PONTVIEUX UNVEILED HER NEW JEWELRY COLLECTION ON MARCH 20TH, 2014 AT THE GREEN GODDESS BOUTIQUE ON MICHIGAN AVENUE IN CHICAGO.
|
|
World Premiere: The Jewels
Based on the short story by Guy de Maupassant
Adapted and Directed by Kirk Anderson
TUTA Theatre Chicago
at the Storefront Theatre, 66 E. Washington, Chicago
The Jewels is a mysterious and surprising love story, seen through the eyes of a middle aged Parisian man. Based on a short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant, the play examines the life of two lovers, one older and one younger, through love, marriage, death, and all of the secrets that can lie between two people. TUTA loosely sets the production in Paris in the 1920's, and uses poetic text and a high level of physicality to deeply explore the universal topics of love, money, and greed.
This production is co-produced with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Special Offer for FACC Members - $10 tickets for any night
To redeem your special Offer please contact our Office at (312) 578-0444
Or at [email protected]
|
|
Special Offer for FACC Members- 25% off the price of all tickets
To redeem your special Offer please contact our Office at (312) 578-0444
Or at
|
|
|
|
|
