February/2014
 AlabamaGermany Partnership   500 Beacon Parkway West   Birmingham   AL 35209

                   205-943-4772         www.AlabamaGermany.org           E-mail                              
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In This Issue
AGP's 16th Annual Celebration Dinner
How to Build a Championship Team
German Company Visit: Borbet Alabama Inc.
Kemmerich USA L.P. Breaks Ground in Auburn
Board Member Profile
Energen Art Show
Honorary Consul General's Corner
 
Dankesch�n to our PATRON Members:
 
Alagasco  
Mercedes
    
 
Roedl & Partner
 
 
Dankesch�n to our SUSTAINING Members:
 
     BLG
 
 
 
 
 Lufthansa  
 
Siemens  
 
TUVRheinland     
 
  
It's Time to Renew

Thank you to all our 2013 members for your support that made it possible for AGP to bring events, business seminars, plant tours, and German dinners; and sponsor German cultural events in different parts of Alabama and support the Alabama Chapter of American Association of Teachers of German. 
 
We are ready for 2014 and hope you will continue your support of AGP's program and renew your membership. If you are not currently a member we would love to have you! 
 

 

German Word 
of the Month

Erbsenz�hler

Germans have a very specific word that describes someone who is nitpicky, obsessed with details and a control freak: an Erbsenz�hler. 

 

In German, the word Erbsen means "peas" and Z�hler means counter - as in, someone who is keeping a numerical record. 

 

Thus, an Erbsenz�hler literally describes someone who counts peas - you know, the kind of peas you might find on your dinner plate. 

 

How Not to Embarrass 
Yourself in Germany
 
Suit Jackets
Don't remove your suit jacket unless your host does. 
 
New AGP Members

Corporation / Regular

Tom Brinkley
Attorney and Shareholder
 Maynard, Cooper & Gale

Mark Stevens
Account Representative
Metro Alloys Inc.


Corporation / Associate

Matthew Fitzgerald
Owner/ V.P.
Fitz-Thors Engineering Inc.

AGP Member News 

Latest News From:





German companies: please send us your news link to [email protected]

German Quote

"Formel meines Gl�cks: ein Ja, ein Nein, eine gerade Linie, ein Ziel."

 Formula of my happiness: a Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal.
 
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher

Save the Dates

March 2, 2014
First Presbyterian Church,Tuscaloosa

March 6, 2014
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Tuscaloosa

March 7, 2014
Tuscaloosa

April 11, 2014
Culinary German Dinner
Brock's, Hoover

April 3 to April 30, 2014
Rosa Park Museum, Montgomery

AGP
Executive Committee

Chairman

Bryan Winter

Lewis, Smyth & Winter, PC


Vice Chair/Chair Elect

Warren McCullars

Alagasco  

 

VP Education

Dr. Anne-Katrin Gramberg

Auburn University

 

VP Business Development

Brian Hilson

Birmingham Business Alliance

 

VP Communication

Devin Dolive

Burr & Forman LLP

 

VP Culture

Dr. Thomas Fox

University of Alabama


VP Membership

Claudia Zimmermann

Alabama Power Company


Secretary

Judy Benson

Johnson Controls


Treasurer

Arnold Servo

R�dl & Partner


Immediate Past Chair

Arndt Siepmann

City of Auburn

 

AGP Affiliates

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
Christoph Sander
Marquis Two Tower
Suite 901
285 Peachtree Ctr Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 659-4760

Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for the 
State of Alabama
Michael Johnson
Butler Snow LLP
Phone: (205) 297-2200
 
German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern 
United States
Martina Stellmaszek
1170 Howell Mill Road
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: (404) 586-6800


Contact Us

Office
205-943-4772

Join Our List
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AGP's 16th Annual Celebration Dinner


This year's Annual Celebration Dinner will take place on March 6th, followed by business forum on March 7th. We will be celebrating APG's 16th annual dinner at the Zone North at the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. 

 

  

Guest speaker Scott Cochran, director of strength and conditioning for the University of Alabama football team will entertain with his intense high energy personality. The program will furthermore include the Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany Christoph Sander, Special Recognition's, Dr. Barbara Fisher Award, Rainer Bauer Award, and New & Expanding German Companies Awards.
  

 AGP reserved limited rooms at Hotel Capstone, 320 Paul W. Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 at special price of $109 per night. Please call 800-477-2262 and ask for the AlabamaGermany Partnership discount.

 

 Be ready for Kick-Off and get your tickets today! 

 

Please register here. 

 

More information about sponsorship.

 


Please join us for the Business Forum: 

 

"How to Build a Championship Team"

 

Friday, March 7, 2014

 

7:30 am to 12:30 pm 

 

The Recruiting Room 
Bryant-Denny Stadium

 

 

Program:

  • Breakfast & Networking
  • Consul General of Germany Christoph Sander
  • Presentation by BLG Logistics and Tuscaloosa County Schools
  • Presentation by Tuscaloosa City Schools
  • Special Guest: 
  • Coach Joe Pannunzio, Operations and Logistics of Football
  • Walking Tour Behind the Scenes of Bryant-Denny Stadium
  • Presentation by Shelton State on Megatronics and Lapp program
  • Lunch with Charles Karr, Dean of University of Alabama Engineering School
 

 

 

German Company Visit: Borbet Alabama Inc.
By Tine Hoffmeister 
 

I had the pleasure of meeting with Ulf Kranz, President and CEO of Borbet in Auburn, and their plant manager Marty Stroer in January. That day I got to see wheels, lots and lots of wheels!

 

 

 From left: Ulf Kranz, President/CEO, Tine Hoffmeister, AGP, Marty Stoer, Plant Manager

  

Borbet Group was originally founded in 1881 as a brass foundry in the German province of Westphalia by Gustav Borbet. The foundry began sand casting aluminum in 1928. The modern company was born in 1962 when Peter Wilhelm Borbet started sand casting, die casting and low-pressure casting of various aluminum parts and components. Then the next step was in 1977 when the production of alloy wheels began. Borbet was one of the first companies to cast aluminum wheels. Today, the company employs about 3,700 people in the main plant at Hallenberg-Hesborn, Germany, as well as facilities across Germany, South Africa, Austria and the United States. The family is still represented on the board by Mr. Borbet, age 77.

 

Borbet is considered the preferred supplier of aluminum wheels for Europe's automotive industry. They offer a product line of approximately 2,000 different types of light alloy wheels. The company designs and manufactures products for Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Volkswagen, and many others.
 
 
 

Kemmerich USA L.P. Breaks Ground in Auburn

Reprinted from City of Auburn

Governor Robert Bentley, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham, Jr. and the Kemmerich Group was proud to announce the location of Kemmerich USA L.P. in Auburn, Alabama. Kemmerich broke ground on a new 60,000 square foot facility on Wednesday, February 5th in Auburn Technology Park West. Governor Bentley and Mayor Ham attended the groundbreaking.

 

 

 

"Automotive manufacturing is one of the targeted sectors for growth in Accelerate Alabama, and Kemmerich's announcement today is proof that the industry is continuing to grow," Governor Robert Bentley said. "The jobs at Kemmerich will provide a good opportunity for the people in Lee County, and I appreciate the company's commitment to Alabama."

Kemmerich plans to invest approximately $16 million in the new facility, which could provide up to 160 jobs locally within the next five years. The Auburn location is an important milestone in a globalization strategy for Kemmerich, which already employs over 1,000 people in Europe.  Kemmerich underwent an intensive site selection process, considering several states in the southeast before selecting Auburn, Alabama for their new US headquarters and manufacturing facility. 

 

"We now understand when people told us that Alabama makes a difference," said Thomas Bergen, CEO of Gebrueder Kemmerich GmbH, thanking the economic development teams of both the State of Alabama and the City of Auburn for their support. "All of us at Kemmerich are looking forward to becoming a part of the Auburn family."

 

For full story...

 

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE
Article Subheading

Brian Hilson

President and CEO
Birmingham Business Alliance

  

Brian Hilson is responsible for all areas of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), including economic development, public policy, communications and other programs designed to grow and diversify the Birmingham regional economy and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

  

He has been involved in economic development in Alabama since 1980. Prior to his joining the BBA in 2011, Brian was President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. He joined the Chamber in 1992 as Senior Vice President of Economic Development and was named its President in 1997. Previously, he was a Vice President of the Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board and has held economic development positions with the Birmingham and Mobile Chambers of Commerce.


For full story...

 

"The Alabama Germany Partnership plays an important role in serving the many business, educational and cultural interests of those who have ties between Alabama and Germany", says Brian Hilson and continues, "With as much business investment as we have in Alabama from Germany, and with many German foreign nationals living here, it is essential that we have an organization that is responsive to their needs and interests.  In fact, it isn't just convenient for us to have the AGP, it actually makes Alabama more attractive and competitive for additional job and investment growth from Germany." 

 

Brian Hilson currently serves on AGP's Executive Committee as VP of Business Development.

 

Energen Art Show
 


 

Join us for Energen Art Show:

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Energen Plaza, Birmingham 

 

Members of AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) is invited to the yearly Energen Art Show hosted by AGP member Alagasco. It will be a great evening featuring several hundred pieces of Alabama Art by Alabama Artists. You will have the opportunity to enjoy good food and beverages while you enjoy the show. The art will be for sale. A portion of the 2014 competition proceeds will benefit Red Mountain Theatre Company. 

 

Please pre-register for this event. 

Free of charge for AGP members. 

 

 

 
HONORARY CONSUL GENERAL'S CORNER
By Michael Johnson
  

The 2014 Olympic Games kicked off earlier this month in Sochi, Russia. The German National Team consists of 152 athletes, 77 women and 75 men. A German team member will be participating in every event at the Sochi Olympic Games.  In the 2010, the Winter Olympic team took home 30 medals, including ten gold. The teams was ranked second overall in terms of medal count. This year, the team hopes to top that number with their exciting mix of veteran athletes and Olympics newcomers.

 

Check here for the latest medal count throughout the Olympic Games!