"Connections"
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"Connections" is the theme of our 2021 Summit. Connections drive our economic development and trade, and are one of the most-powerful of human emotions.
Indeed, our Hybrid-format Summit (InPerson and online via Hopin) connects top North American companies investing in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) with top CEE companies, cities, countries, and associations. And globally-ambitious CEE companies expanding into the United States and Canada. What past attendees said:
"It was a great event and I found it very interesting to hear about others' experiences in CEE." - Global Director of midwest manufacturing firm with location in Hungary. "There were many seasoned veterans highlighting their lessons learned. In thinking about our own client base, we know there are folks who are only beginning this journey and this type of event could be quite valuable for them."- Global Head of East Coast banking firm with location in Poland. |
Venue Partner: Elektrownie Powisle
(VIP entrance at corner of ul. Lesczcyńska and Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie in Warsaw) 
"We discussed how beneficial this would have been to us in the early days of our establishment of our Krakow office and believe others would feel the same." - Global Process Owner from blue-chip Financial Services firm with location in Poland.
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Agenda:
All times are Central European Time Zone.
We have carefully crafted the Agenda to optimize attendance from N. America time zones.
All times are Central European Time Zone.
We have carefully crafted the Agenda to optimize attendance from N. America time zones.
8:00 - 9:00 Pre-opening coffees, and 1-on-1 Video meetings and Networking among delegates, Speakers and VIP Guests. (InPerson and via the Hopin platform).
9:05 - 9:15 Welcome and Overview of the Agenda, Thom Barnhardt, CEE Business Media, organizer.
9:05 - 9:15 Welcome and Overview of the Agenda, Thom Barnhardt, CEE Business Media, organizer.
9:15 - 10:10:
Main Stage: Expansion to North America - Case Studies:
How CEE-based companies have expanded successfully to United States or Canada.
Main Stage: Expansion to North America - Case Studies:
How CEE-based companies have expanded successfully to United States or Canada.
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Panelists and Case-Studies:
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10:15 - 11:00:
Main Stage: Expansion to North America - Connections & Advice:
Panelists:
Main Stage: Expansion to North America - Connections & Advice:
Panelists:
- Select USA. Neil Pickett, US Department of Commerce. SelectUSA works closely with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to promote business investment in the U.S. with in-market services and on-the-ground expertise throughout the United States.
- Canada Polish Chamber of Commerce, Bernhard Otterstein, President
- Council of American States in Europe (CASE), Sergio Domingues, President
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11:00 - 11:20 Coffees and Networking
11:20 - 12:00 Financing options from CEE to fuel your N. American expansion. Panelists and Case-Studies (2): Bank financing, and VCs backing global expansion.
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12:00 - 13:00 VIP Luncheon and 1-on-1 Meetings:
(InPerson or via Hopin Video meetings)
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Main Stage Presentation:
13:00 - 13:30 Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund: The Three Seas Fund's objective is to invest in transport (road, rail, ports, airports), energy and digital infrastructure on the north-south axis in the Three Seas countries, and drive additional private capital to the region. Opportunities across the region for N. American companies. How cross-border Inter-connectivity drives further investment and efficiencies. Update about the fund's latest new investments, included in Greenergy - Joseph Philipsz, London-based Director at Amber Infrastructure Ltd. (the exclusive Advisor to the 3SIIF). Moderator: Natko Vlahovic, Vlahovic Group (Zagreb, Croatia) |
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13:30 - 13:45 Political Briefing of the CEE region: CEC Group's Marek Matraszek
A brief update of key flashpoints in CEE in the coming 18-24 months.
A brief update of key flashpoints in CEE in the coming 18-24 months.
Afternoon Stages plus Roundtables:
14:00 - 17:00
We have 2 thematic stages (analogue and digital!) in the afternoon, so that executives can pick-and-choose the topic of their choice. All Sessions are followed by Roundtables - highly-interactive - and attendees will be on-screen and encouraged to exchange opinions with other attendees and the Roundtable moderator.
14:00 - 17:00
We have 2 thematic stages (analogue and digital!) in the afternoon, so that executives can pick-and-choose the topic of their choice. All Sessions are followed by Roundtables - highly-interactive - and attendees will be on-screen and encouraged to exchange opinions with other attendees and the Roundtable moderator.
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Stage 1: Infrastructure: Seaports and Energy
14:00- 15:00:
Seaports: How CEE seaports (Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas) are challenging W.European ports, and offering competitive advantages to N. American exporters. Presentation:
15:00- 15:45:
Energy - Renewables and low-carbon: The CEE region is rapidly shifting its energy-mix to Wind, Solar, and low-carbon gas. Opportunities for mid-sized US companies.
Topics:
Aleksander Ujazdowski, CEC Group
Wojciech Sztuba, Managing Director, TPA Poland 16:00- 17:00:
Locations - USA and CEE: 3 Top locations for cross-border expansion. #1 - Country of Moldova and Moldova IT Park, Natalia Dontu; and George Teodorescu, Mixbook. #2 - City of Charlotte (North Carolina), Alexis Gordon, International Business Manager; and Emily Cantrell, Business Recruitment and Retention. #3 - City of Lodz (Poland), Adam Pustelnik, Vice Mayor. #4 - Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lori Odom.
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Stage 2: Digital and Business Services
14:00 - 15:00:
2 Shared Services Centres from the United States share their experiences of setting up and operating SSCs in CEE: Panelists:
15:30- 15:45:
CEE Digital Solutions Showcases: A Tech/IT/SoftDev company showcases their solutions to a business problem (8 min presentation, 2 min Q&A): Screaming Box (San Francisco HQ with teams in Hungary and Romania) 16:15- 16:45:
High-Potential CEE-based companies. 2 Showcases: CEE-born StartUps and ScaleUps with "HighPotential" for success in US market (keen to meet Partners, Clients or Investors) (8 min presentation, 2 min Q&A): #1 - ActiveGraf. This North Carolina-based SaaS was founded by Laszlo Balassy, and is backed by a VC in Hungary. All SoftDev work is done out of Hungary. #2 - InvestSuite. Chris Eichhorn. With development offices in Bucharest and Warsaw, this disruptive FinTech is expanding rapidly in the U.S.
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16:45 - 18:00 "Roundtables": Meet N. American City Business Leaders.
4 Roundtables (Hopin online and InPerson) with 8-10 key business leaders from N. American regions.
4 Roundtables (Hopin online and InPerson) with 8-10 key business leaders from N. American regions.
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Roundtable Attendees from Texas include: Zuzanna Kobrzynski, PAIH Polish Investment Agency (Houston); Harrison Blair, CEO of Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce; Ben Ramirez, World Affairs Council Austin; Gabor Markocsany, Vice-Consulate of Hungary in Houston.
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Roundtable Attendees from Nevada include: Moderator: Pawel Pietrasinski, Diversify Nevada; Daniel Sahl, Director, Center for Gaming Innovation, UNLV; Piotr Zwierzyk, Co-founder, Reality Unit (gaming); Ryan Comstock, CEO, AGT Slots, Danny deLaveaga, COO, Ioterra; Daniel Price, CEO, Ioterra; Matt Westfield, Serial Entrepreneur; Deniz Bayramoglu, Bayramogle Law offices; Bo Bernhard, Blackfire Innovation (gaming-tech incubator); Sam Cline, Governor's Office of Economic Development; John Petkus, Honorary Consul of Poland to Nevada.
Attendees: Lori Odom,Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Adam Breeze, State of Tennessee, Lisa Ferrelli, Bank of America.
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Moderators: Alexis Gordon and Emily Cantrell (City of Charlotte) and John Galles (Carolina World Trade Association); Chris Domeny, Bank of America and Honorary Consulate Republic of Hungary; Tariq Bokhari, Carolina FinTech Hub; Dan Roselli, Packard Place; Jasmine Boyce, Program Manager, RevTech Labs; Alina MacNichol, Charlotte Sister Cities Association’s Wroclaw Committee; Johnelle Causwell, Citizen Diplomacy Program Director.
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18:30 - 19:15
N. America - CEE Investment Awards Ceremony - 13 Awards Categories
(InPerson and Hopin online)
19:15 - 22:30
post-Awards Dinner and Networking.
Dinner Keynote Speaker: Brian Patterson
Mr. Patterson will tell us his personal story of building real estate empire in CEE, lessons learned, war stories, and some crystal-ball views of opportunities in Poland and CEE for the next decade+. Based in Poland since 1992, Mr. Patterson helped found White Star Real Estate in 1997, later serving as Managing Partner of White Star Real Estate Russia, White Star Real Estate Polska, and White Star Real Estate Europe. Since White Star Real Estate’s founding, Brian has helped the company amass a diverse development portfolio of over 50 properties and 2.5 million m2, and a property management portfolio exceeding 60 properties and 1.6 million m2. Brian is a graduate of Stanford Business School in California.
N. America - CEE Investment Awards Ceremony - 13 Awards Categories
(InPerson and Hopin online)
19:15 - 22:30
post-Awards Dinner and Networking.
Dinner Keynote Speaker: Brian Patterson
Mr. Patterson will tell us his personal story of building real estate empire in CEE, lessons learned, war stories, and some crystal-ball views of opportunities in Poland and CEE for the next decade+. Based in Poland since 1992, Mr. Patterson helped found White Star Real Estate in 1997, later serving as Managing Partner of White Star Real Estate Russia, White Star Real Estate Polska, and White Star Real Estate Europe. Since White Star Real Estate’s founding, Brian has helped the company amass a diverse development portfolio of over 50 properties and 2.5 million m2, and a property management portfolio exceeding 60 properties and 1.6 million m2. Brian is a graduate of Stanford Business School in California.
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Throughout the evening, we'll be tasting top Polish summer wines, with opening comments by American winemaker Mike Whitney, who founded Adoria Vineyards after moving to Poland in 1995.
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