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March 17, 2014
In This Issue
- Featured Events: Israel Logistics Reception (Atlanta), CrowdFunding (Memphis)
- SEMDA to Receive "Community Partner Award
- Programs: SyntecMedia, Cardio Videoconference, South Carolina Celebration
- Tom Glaser blogging for The Times of Israel
- From the Leadership: AICC Strategic Planning
- Members' Corner: Sheila Dalmat, Key Bridges
- Inaugural AICC Golf Tournament

 
 
Invite you to a reception for the
Israel Logistics Delegation

Please join us for a reception to welcome Israeli logistics companies visiting

Memphis and Atlanta for the Georgia Logistics Summit

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

6:00 - 7:30 PM

 
Hosted by

Grant Thornton

1100 Peachtree Street, 2nd Floor Reception Hall

Atlanta, GA 30309 ( Map)

 $15 - Members of AICC and Organizational Co-Sponsors, $25 - Non Members

 

 
Featured Israeli Companies 
      
 For additional information about the delegation click here

      
CrowdFunding: Changing the Investment Scene in Israel
Medved
Jon Medved
Founder & CEO

Jon Medved is, according to the Washington Post, "one of Israel's leading high tech venture capitalists." In the September 2008 NY Times supplement, "Israel at 60," Medved was named one of the top 10 most influential Americans who have impacted Israel. Medved has invested in over 100 Israeli startup companies, helping 12 of them to get to valuations in excess of $100 million dollars. 
Thursday, March 27, 2014
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
 
Memphis Jewish Community Center Art Gallery 
6560 Poplar Avenue, 
Memphis, TN 38138  

$15 per person including luncheon (dietary laws observed)

 


SEMDA to Receive "Community Partner Award
The Southeastern Medical Device Association has been selected as the 2014 recipient of the Eagle Star Community Partner Award. The Award is given in recognition of the achievements of an organization, agency and/or institution that has served as an exemplary strategic partner with AICC and demonstrated inspirational and strong leadership to further the cause of U.S.-Israel business and economic relationships. "I was pleased to accept this gracious recognition of our partnership on behalf of SEMDA, and we look forward to participating in your Eagle Star Awards Gala on June 11th" said Robert L. Crutchfield, SEMDA President. ....   Read More
 
Structural Heart / Fluid Mechanics Video Conference
Cardio VideoConference - 2/25
The AICC Medical Connector, Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), and The Center for Innovative Cardiovascular Technologies (CICT) at Georgia Tech met via videoconference to present research and commercialization assets in the Southeast available for Israeli companies. The Israel participants were hosted by Greenberg Traurig's Israel office.
     Read More
 
Zucker Honored at Celebration of
S.C. - Israel Collaboration
Charleston 2-18
South Carolinians from throughout the state joined together in Charleston  to celebrate the accomplishments of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration, now in its fourth year. Highlighting the celebration was a special presentation made to Collaboration Chairperson, Jonathan Zucker, in appreciation of his dedication and hard work from the Collaboration's inception until today. 
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Israel's SintecMedia Featured in AICC/JFGA Program
SyntecMedia's Bradley Reznik addressing attentive crowd in Atlanta
Over 60 business and professional leaders attended a networking event co-sponsored by AICC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. The program was hosted by Nelson Mullins and featured Bradley Reznik, AICCSE Board Member and Director of Client Services at SintecMedia, a Jerusalem-based provider of media business management solutions and software.
     Read More
 
AICC at AIPAC (DC) and Israel Dealmakers Summit (NY)
OurCrowd's Jon Medved moderating a panel at the Israel Dealmakers Summit
AICC was well represented at two recent Israel focused conferences as part of a move to increase the organization's profile in Israel and in the US.  Barry Swartz attended the 2014 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC. Guy Tessler traveled to the Israel Dealmakers Summit in NY with AICC members from Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Many new connections were made and existing ones strengthened to benefit AICC as we move forward.  
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Business & Economic News From Israel
Trendlines Labs signs a collaboration agreement with Charleston, South Carolina's Roper St. Francis to develop new medical devices and lower-cost solutions for known clinical problems. The two entities met through the South Carolina - Israel Collaboration and its business delegations to Israel. (press release). 

Tel Aviv-based PhysiHome was invited by Georgia's Mercer University to demonstrate their solution in a Movement Screening Seminar that will take place on March 27th in Macon, GA (invitation).  PhysiHome joined AICC following their participation in the Flashpoint accelerator program at Georgia Tech.

Tom Glaser, retired AICC President, has begun to write a blog column in The Times of Israel, an online media resource that recently began a specialty focus on the Israeli business scene through Start Up Israel. His posts can be read here.

Israel's Tech-Investment Edge Over Silicon Valley says Yoav Andrew Leitersdorf of YL Ventures. When U.S.-based investors put the right amount of money into a capital-efficient Israeli tech startup early, their dollars go further than they would have in Silicon Valley. (article).
 
Global Atlanta highlights AICC role in Georgia and Southeast Job-Creation (article)
 
Israeli companies buying each other:  Israeli web authoring platform, Wix.com, is expanding its mobile platform. Wix announced it was acquiring another Israeli start-up, Tel Aviv-based Appixia, which has developed a no-coding authoring platform for mobile devices. The acquisition was Wix's first big move since going public last November (article).
 
Israel water experts headed by Danny Lacker of the Israel Water Authority and, Nili Shalev, Israel's Economic Minister to North America, visit West Virginia to advise on water issues following massive water contamination. (article)
 
Priceline, the online travel giant, has purchased Ramat Gan-based advertising technology start-up Qlika. Media reports said that Priceline paid around $3 million cash for the company (article).

From the Leadership
Shai Robkin
President & CEO
Joel Neuman  
Chairman

 

Starting with the first Board of Directors meeting that took place under our leadership this past August, the AICC has been engaged in the process of reexamining its mission and the strategies and tactics designed to support that mission. That process resulted in the creation of a Strategic Planning Committee chaired by former AICC chairman, Andre Schnabl. Over the course of the past month, members of the committee have been reaching out to various AICC stakeholders, requesting their feedback on a number of strategies and initiatives that have been identified to move the organization forward. These stakeholders include: economic development agencies with which the AICC partners, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, leaders of Jewish and pro-Israel community organizations, members of the AICC's Israel Advisory Board, philanthropic supporters of the organization and most importantly, our membership and Board of Directors.


We have learned a great deal over the course of the past months. What we have discovered is that there is, across the board, a great deal of respect and appreciation for the accomplishments of the AICC over its 22 year history. At the same time, there is a clear recognition that the world has changed dramatically during that time and Israel has been among those places in the world that has changed the most. When the Chamber was founded, the term "Start-Up Nation" certainly didn't exist and very few, if any, would have put Israel at the top of the list of places to look for game changing innovation. Because you are reading this newsletter, chances are that you know where Israel stands today.

The fundamental underpinning of our new strategic direction is the building and nurturing of long term sustainable relationships supported by the understanding that everything that the organization does must be viewed through the lens of brand management in the same way that any company would relate to one of its brands. A brand succeeds based on making good on the promises it makes to its stakeholders. Later this week, the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Committee will be presented to AICC's Executive Committee for its approval. Should it be approved, those recommendations will then be presented the following week to our Board of Directors.

We write all this to let you know that we are listening and we're prepared to change based on what we hear. The result, we feel confident, is an organization that offers growing value to all of stakeholders.

 

Sponsor Message

Peachtree Planning has a stellar reputation for over 25 years as one of Georgia's leading financial services firms. The company's unique and holistic approach helps clients to achieve better and more efficient long term results.

Orna Nahor advises her clients on a variety of financial matters including retirement planning, tax sheltering strategies, business exit strategies, investment analyses and risk management. Orna acts as her clients private CFO helping her busy clients to move forward with business and financial decisions. 

 

Orna, fluent in English and Hebrew, is well versed with financial matters in the USA and Israel.  

 

For more information please contact Orna Nahor by email or 914-924-8642.

 

Members' Corner
Sheila Dalmat
Key Bridges

 

To me, American-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) means quality, talent, connections, growth and partners here and in Israel. AICC is a gem with intrinsic value and the opportunity to shine.

As a member of the AICC for over fifteen years, I am proud to share how my participation has weathered the test of time and continues to provide value. Initially I was one of a number of representatives from a large Fortune technology company which engaged in business with Israeli partner companies. In the large corporate environment, I enjoyed working with talent while providing solutions to my clients. In 2002, when I launched Key Bridges, a consulting practice that serves as partners in revenue growth, attracting funds and operational excellence for small/medium businesses, I discovered the AICC was my partner as well! As a new entrepreneur, I met extremely talented people at AICC who represent a range of disciplines and skills. Through these relationships, I continue to partner and access talent and resources needed to serve my clients.

As the expression goes, "I get more out the relationship than I give". Over the years, I learned from others by serving on the Eagle Star steering committee, High Tech Connector (formerly Telecommunications Committee), Marketing Committee and the Board. I am honored to have had a voice in marketing strategy and planning. As chairperson of an upcoming High Tech Connector I3 (Israel, Innovation and Impact) event in partnership with Google planned for later in 2014, I am thrilled to start the conversation of how the "Start Up Nation" is vibrant and significant to our professional life. AICC is the gateway to that conversation and the facilitator of growth - here and in Israel. We need each other.

 

Israeli Companies Contacting Us
Wound Healing Ramat Gan-based medical device company developed a breakthrough, non-invasive, wound healing technology for the medical treatment of chronic, hard to heal diabetic, vascular-insufficiency, and pressure wounds. Seeking introductions to strategic partners to bring product to US....... Read More

Organic Foods Ra'anana-based manufacturer and distributor of organic products and provider of various products for the private label market. Company is interested to increase their range of products and categories by sourcing from more partners/producers in the US that have organic products ...... Read More

Printing Solutions Ein Harod Meuhad-based company that develops advanced, tailor-made paper and printing solutions from specialized coatings and markings to thermal paper manufacturing. Seeking introductions to clients in the parking, transportation, healthcare, banking, gaming and leisure industries...... Read More

Medical E-commerce Ya'ad-based platform for sale of medical products. It helps manage purchasing, and is an open and transparent marketplace. Seeking introductions to privately owned ambulatory surgery centers, physician groups, and physicians.

For additional information on these companies, please contact Guy Tessler.

Interns Needed
AICC interns benefit from an exciting learning and networking opportunity. Click here for more information and to see what graduating interns have to say.

Interns Available
AICC always gets requests for internships with Israeli companies in Israel and in the US. Companies with internship opportunities are encouraged to contact barry@aiccse.org 
Calendar of Events
  

3/16-20

  
  
  
3/19
4:00 pm

  
3/19
6:00 pm

 
3/25
7:30 am
  

3/27

12:00 pm
  
4/7
5:00 pm
  

6/11

6:00 pm
Welcome New Members

Vikki Lisec
Data Logger Solutions LLC
Directory Listing

Ernest Strickland
Greater Memphis Chamber
Directory Listing

Elad Halperin
Marketing Analytics
Directory Listing

Michael Piha
SasaSoftWare
Directory Listing

Sam Bierstock
The Global Medical Microtechnology Association (GMMA)
Directory Listing

Michael Garber
Directory Listing

Thanks to 
Renewing Members

a2b Fulfillment

Arnall Golden Gregory

Atlanta Gas Light

Bank Hapoalim

Berman Fink Van Horn P.C.

BioPharma Connex, LLC

CardioMEMS

Delek US Holdings

Elliott Davis, LLC

EndoChoice Inc.

Friedman, Dever & Merlin, LLC

GPV Processes Analysis & Solutions Ltd.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc

McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP

R & D Electronics, Inc. 

 

Surgical Theater LLC

Sutherland

The Syverson Group

UBS Financial Services Inc.

Williams Benator & Libby LLP

Beverly Beren

Mitchell Kaye

Mark Kopkin

Cary Rosenthal

Stanley Schwartz

Jan Williams

Save the Date
Inaugural AICC Golf Tournament
Monday, November 3, 2014
Jan Williams 
AXA Advisors
AICC will host its inaugural golf tournament at The Standard Club in John's Creek, GA. Please mark the date on your calendar. Jan Williams of AXA Advisors will chair the event. Members interested in serving on the planning committee or those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Barry Swartz (404-915-1354 or barry@aiccse.org).


Community Events
June 15-23, 2014 Click for information
     
AICC members and southeast organizations are welcome to submit their events for promotion in this section to barry@aiccse.org.  
AICC reserves the right to select which programs to include.