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 Trustee members: 
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Newsletter Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida
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Issue 9
Volume 6
September 2014
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Greetings!
Finns have been in South Florida for decades, however we have managed often to fly under the radar and not make much noise about us, but that has changed! In the past five (5) years FACC has been the voice for Finnish-American businesses in the region and we are seen as a significant player in the community. Now, we are happy to be able to take even more visible role in our own community by providing sponsorship to our members to participate in a powerful Leadership program.
We are also thrilled to see many of our members making headline news, such as HUDstar that we shared with you in our last newsletter and now WYNCODE. Well done!
We will keep working for you! Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
At your service,
Lena Hartikainen
FACC-FL President
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FACC sponsoring Leadership Palm Beach
FOCUS program to a motivated member!!
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 FACC Florida is sponsoring the 2,5 day FOCUS program to one lucky member. The program dates are January 22, 29 and 30, 2015.
We are delighted to sponsor a member that will in return be willing to use some of the knowledge to better FACC's role in the community.
Please submit your motivational letter explaining how you will use the information for FACC's benefit to the board of directors as soon as possible, as the program normally sells out by early October.
FOCUS is a 2 ½ day program for executives and other key individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors who want to deepen their knowledge of Palm Beach County and establish civic relationships.
This program is well-suited for professionals whose schedules do not permit the Leadership Program's nine-month commitment, as well as executives who are new to the area or who are looking for an introduction to Leadership Palm Beach County.
Even if you think you know Palm Beach County, we guarantee this program will add value and broader your perspective on what opportunities there are for you and your business.
The value of this program is $500.00 plus all the life time friends and connections that you can make.
We want to be part of building a stronger local business community, one step at a time!
More about Leadership Palm Beach County and FOCUS program here.
Mail your motivation letter to info@facc-fl.com with ATTN: FOCUS
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Members making headlines
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CODERS IN DEMAND
WYNCODE is making news in the trendy Miami's WYNWOOD art district area with its successful coding boot camp. Wynwood area has been in the news lately with its role in captivating many new tech start ups to the area.
WYNCODE offers nine-week development boot camp for ambitious individuals in and inspiring and yet demanding learning environment. The 14 graduates from the first class were all working after few weeks of graduation. The third boot camp will start in October and it is almost filled up.
Read more about what WYNCODE is doing here or listen the video interview here.
Do you have interesting news to share?
Let us know and we will spread the word! faccflorda@gmail.com or call us at 561-582-2335
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cp
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HappyOrNot is hiring!
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 On of our newest member HappyOrNot is hiring a Service Support Specialist in Florida! Check out the ad here.
HappyOrNot provides easy and affordable solution for continuous customer satisfaction.
Is your company looking for more professionals to join your team? Let us know and we will spread the word! faccflorda@gmail.com or call us at 561-582-2335
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cp
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Join a Committee or Apply for board position
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FACC is currently accepting applications for board member positions for 2015. If you have leadership skills and want to have an influence not only on your business, but to the local business community. Preferably candidates have experience in conducting meetings. We are looking for "go getters" who not only have ideas but are also willing to make things happen.
We have a fun, supportive and professional board and would love to have you join us!
Please email your application to info@facc-fl.com
Also, please consider joining one of the following committees: - membership recruitment - finance - marketing/PR - event (chair needed!)
We need leaders like you!! |
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Breakfast Networking Seminar with SACC
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To register for this event click HERE. |
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Internship opportunity at
FACC and the Honorary Consulate
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FACC and Honorary Consulate of Finland in Lake Worth have already provided 7 internship opportunities over the years. Now the position is open again and application are being review. The position is a shared position with these two organization and will last 6 months. Please read more about this great opportunity to improve your international business skills here.
Application maybe sent directly to info@facc-fl.com
You may also read about the experience from a past intern here.
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News from Florida
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State economists say Florida on pace for $1 billion surplus
Economists slightly lowered their forecast of tax dollars flowing into the state but still project lawmakers to be on track to have at least a $1 billion surplus for the next budget. Members of the Revenue Estimating Conference lowered their outlook, due in part to changes in revenues such as corporate-income taxes, real-estate taxes and highway-safety fees.
Forbes magazine has named West Palm Beach as the top city in Florida for business and careers.
West Palm Beach was listed above all other South Florida cities on a Forbesranking of best places for business and careers in the U.S.
West Palm Beach ranked No. 54, having also made Forbes lists for one of the best places for education (No. 55), job growth (No. 105) and the cost of doing business (No. 142). More here.
Record number of visitor in Florida
A record setting 24 million people visited Florida last spring.
That's a three percent jump in the second quarter compared to a year ago.
Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing arm, estimates that the record number includes 2.8 million visitors from overseas and 1 million Canadians.
Fast train between Miami and Orlando - plans moving forward
Preliminary work has begun for construction of a $2.5 billion express passenger train between Miami and Orlando. All Aboard Florida, as the project is called, is expected to begin operations in two phases: first between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2016 and then between West Palm Beach and Orlando in 2017. Source
U.S. manufacturing grows at fastest pace in three years
Manufacturing expanded in August at the fastest pace in three years as orders grew by the most in a decade, showing U.S. factories will help power the economy into the third quarter. Full story here.
Florida export create 275,000 new jobs
Goods exported from Florida created more than 275,000 jobs in 2013, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is the first time the Commerce department has released such data, intended to highlight jobs created by the $2.3 trillion in goods exported from the United States in 2013. Read more from the Palm Beach Post.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/26/3960951/um-researchers-make-small-but.html#storylink=cp
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News from Finland
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Kone ranked 42nd out of the top 100 most innovative companies by Forbes magazine
Out of all European companies listed this year, Kone was ranked sixth.
Kone was the only Finnish and also only elevator and escalator company featured on Forbes' list this year.Kone's latest innovation is new high-rise elevator hoisting technology, Kone Ultra Rope, enabling future elevator travel heights of one kilometer, which is twice the distance currently feasible. The list of most innovative companies can be viewed here.
Quick solution to reconstruction of cities
The Finnish architect Marco Casagrande has come up with a new innovation - a city structure made from laminated wood called Paracity. It can be used to quickly construct flats and even entire cities.
The Paracity modules, consisting of 6-cubic-metre blocks, can be combined and stacked, and flats and infrastructure built inside them. This enables people to build their own cities. Full story here.
Faster way to to diagnose malaria
A Finnish-Swedish research group at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, and Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, says it has developed a new system for diagnosing malaria infection.
The method is based on computer vision algorithms similar to those used in facial recognition systems combined with visualization of only the diagnostically most relevant areas. Tablet computers can be used to view the images. Full story here.
Helsinki the 8th most livable city in the world
Helsinki ranks the 8th most liveable city in the world according to the Economist intelligence Unit's yearly liveability survey. Melbourne tops the index and Vienna and Vancouver follow as second and third. Comparing to last year's index, the top four cities managed to hold on to their positions as well as Helsinki.
Finnair starting a seasonal service to Miami
Finnair will begin a new direct route between Helsinki and Miami, Florida. The new seasonal service will be operated three times a week with an Airbus A340 aircraft. Flights will start 16 December 2014 with two weekly frequencies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The third weekly frequency will be operated on Saturdays from 3 January 2015 onward. All three weekly flights will continue until 21 March 2015.
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FACC Upcoming events
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- October Meet the members - event
- Come and learn what FACC can do for you and your business.
- Learn what you can do in FACC and how you can participate and receive more out of your membership
- A great possibility to meet old and new members and to network
- Location TBA
- Speaker: Mr Eero Lehti, Member of the Finnish Parliament and Honorary Doctor of Economics
- Location: M-Trading (FACC Trustee member), Lantana, FL
- Come and celebrate the end of the year with the chamber, its members and others!
- Location TBA
- February VIP Polo Event
 - Come and enjoy a nice day with Polo and networking!
- Location: International Polo Club Palm Beach
- A great networking opportunity together with the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce and the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce.
- More information to be released soon, stay tuned.
- Come and get to know one of the FACC members even better!
- A great speaker and a great location (This could be your company!)
- More information soon, stay tuned
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The World Strategic Forum is presented by the International
 Economic Forum of the Americas to address the major governance challenges of the new world economic order, focusing on the central role of the Americas in the global economy. -
Phenomenal world class speakers and global leaders gather at these events to discuss the future.
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Location Biltmore Hotel, Miami
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Curious? Read more on the event website or on the FACC blog about the previous event from April 2014.
Do you want your business to receive more awareness? Do you want to invite FACC members and others to get to know your business and organize or co-host an event? Do not hesitate to contact through email faccflorida@gmail.com or call +1 561-582-2335
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Other events | |
September 8 , 3:30 -6:00 pm
Gallery 501, 501 Fern St, West Palm Beach
Businesses & Commercial Property Owners as well as Non-Profits within the
City of West Palm Beach or businesses that do business in the City will
benefit from attending this event!
Don't miss out on the launch of our Green Business Challenge and learn more
about the Better Buildings Challenge and Property Assessed Clean Energy and
how they can SAVE you money!
City of West Palm Beach - Office of Sustainability
The Private Wealth Latin America & The Caribbean Forum
October 23-24
Miami, Florida
The Private Wealth Latin America & The Caribbean Forum is a pan-regional wealth management, wealth planning and investment management international meeting for private banks, HNWIs, wealth managers, and family offices. The Forum brings together 500+ industry leaders from Latin American and Caribbean Private Wealth Management field for a two day conference discussing strategies to protect, preserve and grow wealth. The forum provides direct and unique access to the growing private wealth management community. Attendees include 100+ private bank delegates, 75+ family office delegates and 100+ wealth protection strategists and gatekeepers from around the world. Register here.
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We hope you find this newsletter useful and we love to get feedback and suggestions how we can make it better. We also have many volunteer opportunities within the chamber so let us know how you want to be involved.
Sincerely,
Lena Hartikainen
Finnish American Chamber of Commerce
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