August 18, 2014
In This Issue
- Integrating Arab Israelis Into the Start-Up Nation
- Israel's Energiya Global Brings Electricity to Africa
- conexx Moves to a New Office
- The Israel Innovation Impact in South Carolina
- Calendar of Events
- Welcome New Members
- Thanks to Renewing Members
- Partner Programs: The Women Series, TAG Excalbar Awards, The Israel Conference
Integrating Arab Israelis Into the Start-Up Nation
Reem Younis
Co-Founder, Alpha Omega Engineering
Reem Younis, co-founder of Alpha Omega Engineering, recognized in 2012 as Israeli Company of the Year by conexx (then American-Israel Chamber of Commerce), is a role model for entrepreneurial success in Israel, and now works to support Arab Israeli citizens to follow in her footsteps.

In 1993 Reem and her husband Imad co-founded a neurotechnolgy equipment company, developing products that today can be found in the most advanced hospitals, universities, and research institutions across the globe. Alpha Omega's recording and stimulation tools are used by neuroscientists in the lab to understand more about the human brain, and by neurosurgeons for treating patients with a variety of neural disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dystonia (Read Tom Glaser's article in Times of Israel). 

Israel, the "Start Up Nation," has a thriving high tech industry that is driving the country's economic growth. The near absence of Arab citizens (as well as other under-represented sectors) in the industry, garners recognition as a major social and economic issue. Of the close to 100,000 professional positions in Israel's high tech sector, under 2% are Arab professionals, and only a small percentage of Arab engineers are employed in their field of study. 

Over the past several years, a number of initiatives were established by government, private investors and philanthropists to overcome challenges of integrating Arab citizens into the advanced job market. Through these initiatives, Arab professionals are placed in high tech companies, and high tech hubs are established in Arab localities. These include President Peres' Maantech Initiative; the inauguration of a Hitech Industrial Park in Nazareth initiated by Stef Wertheimer with AMDOX's new development center; organizations such as MEET, Tsofen, and Kav Mashe, and a thriving, albeit nascent, Arab start-up scene.

Reem Younis is working with business, civil society and government to create opportunities for this important part of Israeli society. conexx and the JDC's Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues, will host a program featuring Reem to discuss what are the challenges to integration of Arab citizens in the high-tech workforce and what are some of the most innovative and successful models for advancing high-tech in Arab society. The program is hosted by the law firm of Nelson Mullins and supported by the American Jewish Committee - Atlanta. Please register and join us for this program.

conexx Professional & Business Seminar
Enhancing US - Israel Connections Through Innovation and Expertise  
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Keynote Speakers

   

Yosef Abramowitz

 President & Co-Founder

EnergiyaGlobal

 

Kobi Rasner

 President

Synergy Overseas Ltd.
Author of the book "Doing Business in America: How to Sell a Horse to a Cowboy" and an expert on helping Israeli companies enter the US market.

Also on the program:
  • Incubators in Israel - The Bridge by Coca-Cola 
  • New Opportunities with US-Israel Investor Visas
  • Professionals as Agents of Economic Development 
   

      

 

 

 

 


BIRD Foundation Call for Proposals - Deadline September 16
To be considered, a project proposal should include: 
  • R&D cooperation between two, unrelated companies, one registered in the U.S. and the other in Israel. The companies should jointly apply for BIRD support 
  • Research and development topics within the scope of this call include, but are not limited to: Agrotechnology, Cleantech and Environment, Communications, Electronics, FinTech, Gas, Homeland Security and Cyber Security, Life Sciences, Software, etc. 
  • The jointly developed technology or product(s) must have considerable innovation 
  • Significant commercial potential 
BIRD funds up to 50% of the R&D costs associated with the joint project. The maximum conditional grant per project is up to $1 million. 

Timetable and deadlines: 
Executive Summaries (using BIRD's template) - September 16, 2014 
Full Proposals (following BIRD's detailed instructions) - October 22, 2014 
Decisions - December 16, 2014 
Please refer to BIRD's website for submission details - www.birdf.com 

For further inquiries please contact Guy Tessler.


conexx 1st Annual Golf Tournament
Clean on the Greens
Highlighting Israel's Green Technology Industry


The Standard Club
Monday, November 3, 2014
Save 10% with Early Bird Registration* 

Foursome - $900
Individual - $250
 

   All net proceeds benefit
conexx: America Israel Business Connector 
Connecting Israelis and Americans through Businesss

*Early Bird Registration through October 3, 2014.  Sign up to be a sponsor by August 19 and be a sponsor of the Professional and Business Seminar at a special discount rate.  Click on the sponsorship link below for details.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Presenting Sponsor 
Tournament Corporate Sponsor - $5,000
Dinner/Reception Sponsor - $5,000
Registration Area Sponsor - $3,600
Golf Shirt Sponsor - $3,600
Driving Range Sponsor - $1,800
Putting Green Sponsor - $1,800
Hole-in-One Sponsor - $1,800
Lunch Sponsor - $1,800
Inaugural (Foursome-Hole) Sponsor - $1,260
Hole Sponsor - $500
Beverage Cart Sponsors (2) - $350
Multiple Foursome Sponsor - $810 / Foursome

Special joint Professional Seminar - Golf Tournament Sponsorship packages are available.


For sponsorships contact:
Barry Swartz  - [email protected]
(404) 843-9426, ext. 106


conexx Moves to a New Office

As part of conexx's newly adopted strategic plan, which calls for growth on a number of fronts, the organization moved at the beginning of this month into a larger space in the same building where it has been located for the past five years. "This new space and the systems upgrade that we have made in conjunction with it, will allow us to accommodate the organization's anticipated growth, expand our marketing and outreach capabilities along with our Virtual Office for more Israeli companies, and allow for additional student volunteers" states Shai Robkin, conexx President & CEO. The address and phone numbers all remain the same

conexx
400 Northridge Road, Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30350
(404) 843-9426

A special thank you to conexx members David Rubenstein, Cresa; Karl Altmann, Office Furniture Expo; Marc Goldberg, Alscan; Roy Wagner, Bestforless; Shaul Aaroni, MDL Design & Planning; Judy Robkin; the Minnen Family and our student volunteers for their contributions to a smooth transition.



Participate in
on LinkedIn

 




 
Sponsor Message


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(404) 843-9426

 



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Members' Corner
Adrienne Figur
  Ernst & Young
Atlanta, GA

I am a Partner with Ernst & Young (EY) within the Business Tax Services Group. I serve both private and public global clients. I had the pleasure of becoming a member of conexx (fka AICC) in 2007. At that time, my company, EY was a sponsor of and participant in many events. 

By attending numerous seminars offered by conexx, it allowed me to enhance my professional network across borders. 

After relocating to Raleigh, NC, I was not able to participate in the same manner. I recently returned to Atlanta. Upon my return, I reconnected with conexx. I was ecstatic to see that their focus broadened in industry scope and geography. This change of focus enables more members and companies to benefit from the resources connexx offers. 

I am currently involved in the medical connector and have been invited to participate in many events with broad reach to our clients and targets!
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Economic Development 
in South Carolina: 
The Israel Innovation Impac

Join Shai Robkin, President & CEO of conexx, and Ann Liebschutz, Executive Director of the US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, on their tour of South Carolina August 26 - 27

Ann will share the findings of the most recent study that measured the impact of Israeli innovation on the US economy.

Shai will share the latest developments of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration, chaired by Jonathan Zucker, President of The InterTech Group, and discuss the exciting plans for this year's business mission to Israel December 6-11, featuring a "GreenTech Track" in addition to the business and research track.

 No cost to attend the events but 

advanced registration is required!

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Greenville: Tuesday, August 26

12:00 - 1:30 PM 
with complimentary lunch
 

Clemson University

One North Main Street, 5th Floor

Greenville, SC 29601


 

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Columbia: Tuesday, August 26

5:30 - 7:00 PM  with complimentary hors d'oeuvres
 

Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

930 Richland Street

Columbia SC, 29201

 

Sponsored by

and the annual sponsors of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration 

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Charleston: Wednesday, August 27

8:00 - 9:30 AM  with complimentary breakfast
 

SCRA Applied Research Center

5300 International Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29418

 

Sponsored by 


 

and the annual sponsors of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration 

Calendar of Events


8/21
7:30 am
  
          
8/25
5:30 pm
  
8/26
11:30 am
  
8/26
5:30 pm
  
8/27
8:00 am
  
9/1
  
11/3
9:00 am
  

 

12/6-11
12/6-11
          
Welcome New Members

Dana Bentata
Bentata Abogados
Directory Listing

Cindy Thompson
Boundless Impact
Directory Listing

Shaul Aaroni
MDL Design & Planning
Directory Listing

Thanks to 
Renewing Members

Alliancesphere

Arkin Consulting Group LLC

CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services

Consensus Energy

Deutsche Bank

Flex HR, Inc.

Global Center for Medical Innovation

SintecMedia Inc.

Jeffrey Snow

Partner and Community Programs
conexx, FACC and GACC present
August 27, 2014




October 24, 2014


conexx Discount Code:
AISE53
October 30-31, 2014


Members, partners, and Southeast organizations are welcome to submit 
their events for promotion in this section to
We reserve the right to select which programs to include.