EACC Behind the Scenes: EACC Holds First Quarter 2023 Board Meeting
NKY Tri-ED and Board Member Kimberly Rossetti hosted the Board of Directors of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) for our first meeting of 2023 at the NKY Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, January 25. New Board President Nelly Bonniol welcomed all, thanking her newly installed fellow Board Officers (Vice President Antonio Pagano, Treasurer Mike Dektas and Secretary Cierra Clymer before introducing new board members Joren Knockaert (Deceuninck), Steve Melink
Meet New EACC Board President and Board Vice President
At our annual general meeting on November 17, 2022, the EACC membership elected Nelly Bonniol and Antonio Pagano to serve as the President and Vice President (respectively) of our Board of Directors. Their two-year terms run through the end of 2024. We asked each of them to introduce themselves to you, our members.Meet Nelly Bonniol, VP Assignment Operations, EssilorLuxottica I started my professional journey in my native country, France, and spent the first 17 years of my career in the aviation industry
EACC Behind the Scenes: 2023 EACC Board of Directors Elected at Annual General Meeting
As required by our Code of Regulations, the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce held its Annual General Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 17 in the Caprice Room of the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. In addition to a review of our performance over the past two years and highlighting our top goals for 2023, the primary order of business was electing our new Board of Directors for 2023. Below is the final slate of Board Members who will lead the EACC next
EACC & UC Partner to Host Exclusive Job Fair
On Thursday, November 3, the University of Cincinnati (UC) hosted its first EACC-Exclusive Job Fair at the Tangemann University Center at the center of UC’s main campus. This event marked the first tangible product of our new collaboration with UC to help EACC members better access the vast resources of knowledge and talent UC provides to our region. (See recap of our 10/19 ‘Kickoff Event’ here) The University of Cincinnati marketed this event to students as an opportunity to connect with employers
EACC Behind the Scenes: All Chapter Meeting of EACC Network
On Monday, October 24, EACC Cincinnati hosted an online meeting of the EACC network Board Presidents and Executive Directors. This was the first time we had met formally as a group since Cincinnati last hosted a similar in-person event in May 2018. In addition to renewing acquaintances and welcoming some new faces (note that since 2018 we’ve added chapters in the Netherlands, Florida and Texas, as well as welcoming a new Executive Director at the Carolinas chapter), each chapter highlighted a meaningful
EACC & University of Cincinnati Launch New Talent Partnership
On October 19, the EACC launched a new partnership with the University of Cincinnati (UC) that will give our members unique access to the breadth of talent, research and expertise that UC generates for our region. University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Valerio Ferme attended, as did Ryan Hays (UC’s new Chief Innovation Officer), the Deans and senior staff of the colleges of Engineering, business, and Experiential Learning and Design & Art, as well a number of student leaders. And the EACC was
EACC Hosts Special Edition of CEO & CFO Roundtables in Partnership with the Federal Reserve
On October 10, the EACC convened a combined “special edition” of our CEO and CFO Roundtables to host Richard Kagic, Vice President and Senior Regional Officer of the Cincinnati Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. We had organized the meeting for Kagic to brief our manufacturing leaders on the current state of the economy and on the monetary policies the Fed is implementing to address inflation. But more importantly, as Kagic explained, the Fed bases most of its decisions on data that is
EACC Behind the Scenes: 2023 Membership Renewal Cycle
With the start of fall comes the start of our annual membership renewal cycle. As in the past, current EACC member companies will receive communication detailing the timeline of the renewal process. Key dates in the renewal process are noted below: Memberships will renew on January 1, 2023.2023 EACC membership invoices will be emailed the week of November 7, 2022Payment will be due by Friday, December 30, 2022Companies that wish to pay their 2023 invoice after the first of the year, must inform the EACC no
EACC Behind the Scenes: Fall 2022 Events
It’s hard to believe September is just days away and the start of fall is on the horizon. There’s no doubt 2022 has been a busy year for the EACC with our new membership structure, the launch of our Coffee & Commerce series, Stammtisch on the Road in Hamilton and Mason, our Annual Gala at Music Hall, function-specific roundtables, and so much more! And there’s more come before year’s end! We know schedules fill up quickly and we want to take every opportunity to ensure our members are aware of upcoming
EACC Behind the Scenes: Membership Update
2022 has been an important year for the EACC. In 2021 we launched our new membership structure which promised expanded benefits and value for members across the board. And for the first seven months of this year we’ve focused on delivering that promised value with new programs like EACC TRANSFORM, our executive roundtables, CXO Dinners, ‘Coffee & Commerce’ events and international travel, as well as maintaining and updating our steadfast programs like our Stammtisch (with our Stammtisch on the Road) and the
EACC Behind the Scenes: ChamberMaster Training
In early June, EACC Director Events & Projects Claudia Schroeder and I traveled to Mt. Vernon, Ohio for two days to attend a ChamberMaster training session. ChamberMaster is the EACC’s association/chamber management software and we use it to manage membership, events, various email communications (Todd’s TLDR), the EACC website and more! As the software is continually changing and being updated, this training program was a unique opportunity to work directly with ChamberMaster to see how we can better
EACC Business Development Trip to Italy: June 10-18, 2022
A delegation from the Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce traveled to Italy June 10-18 with three goals in mind: Build new and stronger connections between EACC members on the tripRaise the profile of the Cincinnati region as a destination for Italian businessesLay the groundwork to launch a new EACC chapter in Italy We made remarkable progress on each of these three targets, while also enjoying the sights (and tastes!) of Italy. We hope this quick overview (see link below)
EACC Hosts April 2022 Board Meeting
The EACC Board of Directors held its second meeting of 2022 on Thursday, April 28 at Fueled Collective in Rookwood (our first in person Board meeting since January 2020!). After reviewing and approving the minutes from its previous meeting, the board turned to a review of our financial position. Board Treasurer Chris Flaig pointed out that, supported by our new membership fee structure, the EACC is in a much more solid cash position than in the past two years. There was some discussion about the impact
EACC Welcomes New Member Scanreco
The EACC is delighted to welcome new Consul member Scanreco US, Inc. For nearly four decades, Scanreco has empowered companies of all sizes to boost safety and efficiency while driving down operating costs. Through the thoughtful design and manufacture of rugged radio remote-control systems, Scanreco allows operators of mission-critical heavy machinery to work smarter. From ergonomic, hand-held remotes to larger, intuitive control packs with full color screens and multiple joysticks, Scanreco’s line of
EACC Annual Conference and Gala Dinner Sponsorship Opportunities
The EACC is delighted to formally announce the plans for our 2022 Annual Conference and Gala Dinner. Our Annual Conference will take place May 24-25 on the theme The New Business Case for Sustainable Manufacturing. Organized in partnership with Business Sweden (and a delegation of Swedish Business leaders), the event will allow attendees to network, share experiences and inspiration while exploring real business cases in the Cincinnati region’s manufacturing ecosystem. The conference will also include a
EACC Behind the Scenes: 2022 Events
I am so excited to have taken on the role as Director of Events & Projects for the EACC and would like to take this opportunity to give you an insight into what we have prepared and also ask for your feedback. Our goal is to provide a broad range of programs that are accessible, engaging, and that add value to your business. Over the past weeks we have been busy planning our 2022 events calendar and adding new events and features. Just last week we had our inaugural “Coffee & Commerce” breakfast meeting
EACC Executive Roundtables Update
Manufacturers and Operating companies are the heart of the EACC: if we lose them as members, then the banks and law firms and other service providers that support them will have no reason to join the EACC. So, when manufacturers told us that they were looking for forums where their top executives could connect, grow their networks and share best practices, we launched our new Executive Roundtable series. Roundtable groups for CEOs, CFOs, Human Resources professionals and Marketing and Sales leaders from
EACC Greater Cincinnati Celebrates 15th Anniversary
On February 5, 2007, the Inaugural Gala of the European American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati was held at the Kingsgate Marriott at the University of Cincinnati. Over three hundred guests gathered to celebrate the occasion, including a proclamation from then-Mayor Mark Mallory declaring the date as “European American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati Day” and a speech by Barry Eccleston, the President and CEO of Airbus North America. In the fifteen years since, we’ve had numerous
EACC Welcomes New Member JobsOhio
The EACC is delighted to welcome Consul memberJobsOhio. JobsOhio is Ohio's private economic development corporation and as such it focuses on business attraction, expansion, and retention in the state. JobsOhio focuses on 10 private economic sectors and utilizes four strategies to drive economic development: Sites, Talent, Innovation, and Inclusion. In its first decade of existence, JobsOhio and its partners completed over 500 international projects involving $10B in capital invested and 30,000+
EACC Behind the Scenes: January 2022 EACC Board Meeting Recap
The EACC Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2022 via Zoom in the afternoon of Thursday, January 20. The first order of business was to welcome our newly constituted Board including new members elected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2021: Joshua Katzman, Fabian Schmahl, Thorsten Schroeder, Jonathan Theders, Chris Tyler, and Gabe Venzin. We also welcomed Beth Vice as a provisional Board member. EACC Executive Director Todd Schwartz and Board President Dominic Franchini noted that
EACC Welcomes New Member Rödl & Partner | VL
The EACC is delighted to welcome Ambassador member Rödl & Partner | VL. To better serve the region’s leading foreign owned companies, VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm, a regional accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Ft. Wright, Kentucky, and Rödl & Partner, a global professional services firm based in Germany, established a joint venture. Known as Rödl & Partner | VL, the combination of global reach, interdisciplinary approach, and focus on foreign owned mid-sized companies, primarily manufacturers
2022 EACC Board of Directors Elected at Annual General Meeting
The General Membership of the European American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati held its annual meeting on Thursday, November 18 (just before our Beaujolais Nouveau Premiere). In addition to a brief (and positive) financial report from our Board Treasurer Chris Flaig and comments from our Board President Dominic Franchini reviewing some highlights from 2021 (and looking forward to an even more eventful 2022), the primary purpose of the event was to elect your new EACC Board of Directors for
Inaugural Annual Conference and Ambassador's Gala - EACC Texas
I asked Claudia Schroeder, our new Director Events & Projects, to draft a recount of our recent trip to Texas -- Todd On November 4, 2021, Executive Director Todd Schwartz and I had the honor to attend and support the inaugural Annual Conference and Ambassador’s Gala of our new EACC sister chapter EACC Texas. The conference program centered around Innovation & Economic Growth, featuring 3 different panels. The first discussion featured panelists from Ericsson, IBM, Nokia and the policy delegation for
October 2021 EACC Board Meeting Recap
The EACC Board of Directors convened for its final meeting of 2021 via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, October 28. After a brief recap of the success of our Annual Gala and our EACC TRANSFORM events, the Board moved to its formal agenda, quickly approving the minutes of its July meeting and receiving a financial report for Q3. Then EACC Executive Director Todd Schwartz outlined a draft 2022 EACC Program Calendar, which anticipates a significant waning of public health concerns and therefore a return of
Behind the Scenes: EACC Cincinnati Organizing Trip to Italy
In June 2022, an intrepid group of EACC Cincinnati travelers will embark on an eight-day adventure to promote the U.S. and our region as a place to do business, help U.S. firms assess opportunities in Italy, build connections among peers and lay the groundwork for a new EACC chapter in Italy. With stops in Venice, Milan, Modena, Florence and more, our delegation will meet with Italian and other businesses, local and U.S. Government officials, and also have time to enjoy the sights and sounds (and tastes!)
EACC Behind the Scenes: 2022 Membership Renewal Cycle
With the start of fall comes the start of the EACC’s annual membership renewal cycle. As you may know, the EACC launched new membership structure in April which will be implemented for all members starting January 1, 2022. This means the 2022 membership renewal process, which will formally start in October, will look a little different than in previous years. As in the past, current EACC member companies and organizations will receive communication from the EACC detailing the timeline of the renewal
EACC Hosts 2021 Conference & Gala Dinner
By all accounts, the 2021 EACC Conference and Annual Gala was a resounding success – and the highlight was, without a doubt, the visit of Her Excellency Emily Margarethe Haber, Ambassador of Germany to the United States. Here is a quick recap of the events. Ambassador Haber, accompanied by German Consul General Wolfgang Mössinger, her Chief of Staff Sebastian Ernst and Honorary German Consul Martin Wilhelmy, had a whirlwind schedule on Thursday, including a visit to Festo in Mason and then a meeting and
EACC Network Survey Results: The Impact of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
We’re now seeing reports that the U.S. Administration is finally taking action to ease restrictions on travelers from Europe beginning in November – and for EACC member companies the steps can’t come soon enough. The EACC had heard many anecdotes about the impact of the restrictions on both sides of the Atlantic, and so we revived our network-wide survey tool to get a more systematic perspective on the issue. This survey was conducted the week of September 13 and elicited 132 responses. 38.6 percent of
EACC Staff Update
We’re delighted to welcome EACC Operations Manager Dayna O’Brien back from her maternity leave this week. Your EACC is dedicated to providing meaningful value to our members, and our expanded team will allow us to do just that. Dayna’s return allows us to reconsider and restructure operations to ensure that each of us – Todd, Dayna, and Claudia – are best using our strengths to your benefit. Dayna will retain her “Operations Manager” title for now, and Claudia will take on the title “Director Events &
2021 Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
The Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is back. From September 16 - 19, 2021, you can enjoy German food and beer again along 2nd and 3rd Street. Because of Annual Conference and Gala, we were unable to arrange a private seating area for the EACC, but we still want to continue our tradition of enjoying the celebration of German tradition with our members and friends. Please join us for an informal get-together on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 6:00pm. We will meet at the Berlin Wall Memorial in front of the
Behind the Scenes: July 2021
We are again providing this brief and unofficial summary of the outcome of our most recent board meeting so our broader membership is aware of our deliberations. Official minutes (once approved by the Board) are available upon request. The Board of Directors of the European American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati held its third quarter meeting via Microsoft Teams™ on Thursday, July 22nd. Board President Dominic Franchini opened the meeting by reminding board members of some of the short- and
EACC launches new advertising campaign at CVG Airport
The EACC, in partnership with our Bridge Builder level members Altix Consulting and Modula Inc., has launched a new advertising campaign at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Be sure to look for the new signage at the entrance to the tunnel connecting the terminal to the concourses and at the tram stops -- and the first person to snap a picture of themself with one of the signs and post it to Twitter with our handle @EuropeCincy will get a free ticket to attend the EACC
Behind the Scenes: Planning of our Annual Conference and Gala 2021
By now you have likely heard the EACC will be hosting our Fall Conference and Annual Gala Dinner on September 16 at Drees Pavilion in Covington, Kentucky (Presented by Altix Consulting and Modula Inc.) With planning in full swing, we thought we would offer a snapshot of the work going on behind the scenes… The afternoon conference will focus on “Supply Chains, Logistics and International Trade.” The event will feature a keynote speech by Cain Moodie, Senior Vice President for Americas Region Network
EACC Summer Operations Update
As we head into summer and with many changes underway at the EACC, I wanted to take a moment to share some updates with our members: As you’ve likely heard by now, the EACC Board of Directors approved new membership levels and benefits at its April meeting. Our new membership levels (Consul, Minister, Ambassador, and Bridge Builder) are in effect and all new members will join under this scheme. Current members will continue to enjoy the same benefits provided under the previous membership structure through
Meet EACC Cincinnati Interim Operations Manager Claudia Schroeder
Dear EACC Members, My name is Claudia Schroeder, and I am the new Interim Operations Manager while Dayna O’Brien is on maternity leave. I was born and raised in Duesseldorf, Germany, and began my career with Kempinski Hotels, for which I traveled all over the world to train sales and marketing staff on our systems. I later led customer service departments and call centers for a wellness company, a fitness club chain and a medical technology company in Europe. In 2007, my husband, Thorsten, and I moved
Meet EACC Cincinnati Accounts Manager Kristina Lewis
Meet EACC Accounts Manager Kristina Lewis, who is a Business Associate with Fiducial (part of EACC member company JADE FIDUCIAL). Kristina joined the EACC family in mid-2020. Dear EACC Members: Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kristina Rose-Lewis. I grew up in a small town in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. I attended college at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Florida. I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting and graduated summa cum laude. While there, I met
EACC Behind the Scenes: Membership Levels Update
Close readers of the Newsbrief saw that the Board of Directors approved new membership levels and benefits at its April meeting. And some may recall our ‘voice of the customer’ study (in November 2018) which recommended, among other things, a review and update of our membership structures to ensure members clearly understand and can articulate the value of EACC membership. But few track these matters as closely as I do, so a quick review of where we are, how we got here, and what’s next might be of
Save the Date: September 16 EACC Cincinnati Conference & Dinner
The COVID pandemic has prevented us from holding our usual Annual Gala Dinner in May in 2020 and 2021, but we did not want to wait until 2022 to try again. So on September 16 we will host H.E. Emily Haber, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States as the keynote speaker at a Gala Dinner at the Drees Pavilion in Covington. Presenting sponsors for the event are Altix Consulting and Modula USA. Also on the afternoon of September 16 the EACC is organizing a conference on the topic
EACC to Hire Interim Operations Manager
As you may have heard, EACC Operations Manager Dayna O'Brien will be on maternity leave from roughly mid-July through mid-September. During her absence, the EACC will be hiring an interim Operations Manager. The EACC is asking our members and partners to help spread the word and share thisjob descriptionwith contacts. The Interim Operations Manager will be responsible for day-to-day EACC operations and administrative support. Additionally, this position requires membership, communications, and
EACC Behind the Scenes: Board of Directors Holds Second Quarter 2021 Meeting
Many exciting new developments and initiatives were announced at the EACC’s regular quarterly Board meeting on Thursday, April 22. Official minutes of the meeting will be available once the draft has been approved by the Board, but I share this unofficial summary to keep our broader membership aware. After welcoming members and approving minutes from the January meeting, the Board approved the financial report provided by Treasurer Chris Flaig showing that our cash position has improved in recent months
EACC Launches Updated European Investment Map
The European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) of Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce the launch of our updated European Investment Map. The Map, first produced in 2010, provides a snapshot of European investment in the Cincinnati Region. Well over 200 European companies make the Cincinnati region their home, benefiting from our prime location, talented workforce, and high quality of life at affordable prices. This investment has created more than 34,000 direct jobs in sectors from aerospace and
The European American Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Texas to its Growing Network
The European American Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce the addition of Texas to our network. The EACC Texas Chapter was transitioned from the 41 year old French-American Chamber of Commerce DFW, whose Board agreed unanimously that including Europe as a whole is the future especially when it comes to building fruitful Transatlantic Business connections. The newly formed EACC Texas brings an additional 100+ Members to the EACC’s growing Transatlantic network including many in aerospace and
EACC Behind the Scenes: March 2021
One of the best ways the EACC adds value for our members is by building connections between peers where they can share best practices and create new relationships. So as I mentioned in my Behind the Scenes article last month, we’re launching a series of “Executive Huddles” where senior professionals from our operating company members can connect with counterparts. The first such group – our HR Executive Huddle – convened on Thursday March 25, and included representatives from thyssenkrupp Bilstein, VEGA
EACC Launches Leading Through Crisis Video Series
Friends: One of the most powerful roles the EACC can play is to build connections between our member companies and their leaders. When executives and managers share their triumphs and their challenges, new relationships are built that can lead to new ideas and better outcomes for all. That role was the inspiration for our new video/podcast series Leading Through Crisis: Conversations Between European and American Business Leaders. Each episode brings together two top executives from EACC member
EACC Behind the Scenes February 2021
I believe in the adage ‘underpromise and overdeliver’ and so have a tendency to be modest in describing some of the projects the EACC has in the works. However, coming out of what was a decidedly modest 2020, now is a good time to lay out for you some of the ambitious plans and programs we have in the works for 2021 and beyond. None of this will happen because of Dayna and me, nor because of the good wishes or best intentions of our Officers or our Board of Directors. Our ability to demonstrate our
EACC Behind the Scenes: Board of Directors Holds First Quarter 2021 Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce met for its first meeting of 2021 on Thursday, January 28. Incoming Board President Dominic Franchini welcomed new board members Nelly Bonniol (Luxottica; Nelly is also our new Board Vice President); Katie Eagan (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber); Antonio Pagano (Modula); and Chad Shaffer (Duke Energy. Noting that 2020 had been a challenging year for everyone, including the EACC, he said he looked forward to
Meet 2021-2022 EACC Board Vice President Nelly Bonniol
Meet incoming EACC Board Vice President Nelly Bonniol as she introduces herself to EACC members I started my professional journey in my native country, France, and spent the first 17 years of my career in the aviation industry working for the French company Snecma-Safran. There I developed an expertise in both commercial operations and direct purchasing. Most of my work was focused on negotiating large scale contracts as either a buyer or a seller, with an impact of several billion dollars. In 2012, I
EACC Behind the Scenes: 2021 EACC Board of Directors Elected at Annual General Meeting
On November 19 the Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce held its Annual General Meeting as required by our Code of Regulations. The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for the broader membership of the EACC to be updated on EACC operations and to take part in electing representatives to serve on the Board of Directors; this year we also elected new officers. Because of the pandemic, the meeting was held via Zoom (and thanks to EACC Board Member and Managing Partner at
EACC Hosts 2020 Beaujolais Nouveau Nouveau
Despite the best efforts of the COVID-19 pandemic to derail our plans, the Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) held a very unusual but successful Beaujolais Nouveau Nouveau celebration on Thursday, November 19. Our original intent had been to gather a few small groups in individual salons at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, with other groups and individuals joining from their homes, offices or other venues, and connecting everyone via teleconference. However, on
EACC Behind the Scenes: Board of Directors Holds Fourth Quarter 2020 Meeting
The EACC Board of Directors held its final meeting of 2020 on Thursday, October 22 (via Microsoft Teams). Board President Yannick Schilly called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm and noted that this was the last meeting he would chair as President. Schilly reflected on the growth and progress of the EACC over the past four years when he was Vice President and then President and said that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been a bit of a setback, he is confident good things lie ahead under the leadership of the
2021 EACC Renewal Cycle Begins
The EACC has launched its 2021 membership renewal cycle! Current EACC member companies and organizations should soon receive in the mail a letter explaining that memberships automatically renew on January 1 every year. The letter asks members to confirm their primary and billing contacts, noting that invoices for the prepayment of 2021 membership dues will be sent electronically the week of October 19 (with payment due November 19). Members may also request to pay their dues next year; those invoices
EACC Behind the Scenes August 2020
EACC Accounting Manager Joanna Deri to Retire This month’s EACC Behind the Scenes is bittersweet. As some of you may know, EACC Accounting Manager Joanna Deri is set to retire at the end of this month. Joanna has truly been instrumental to the organization’s success and continued growth over the last several years. Whether it was creating membership invoices, taking care of deposits, reconciling bank statements or helping at Beaujolais Nouveau Premiere and the Annual Gala, Joanna always jumped right in!
Collaborating to Better Manage Healthcare Costs
One of the most important and powerful things the EACC does is building connections that allow leaders to identify and solve shared problems. Last year, we organized a dinner with executives of our Italian member companies with no specific agenda – just to build new connections. During the event, several executives noted that they were seeking better ways to manage healthcare costs for employees. After dinner and over the next few weeks those discussions continued, and so the “Waymark Collective” was
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cancels European Tour
Some of you may recall as far back as the EACC Annual Gala in 2019 when we announced a collaborative effort between the EACC, the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Chambers of Commerce, REDI Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED to work with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. [We provided an update on our efforts in the February 11, 2020 EACC CintriFuse, Source Cincinnati, Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, Munich Sister Cities Association, University of Cincinnati, CVG and others, all focused
EACC Board of Directors Holds Third Quarter 2020 Meeting
On Thursday, July 23, the EACC Board of Directors assembled (virtually, via Zoom) for its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. Board President Yannick Schilly welcomed everyone and asked Board Secretary Jim Keller to review the minutes from the April Board meeting. Following up on one item, Jim noted that the EACC has identified Fiducial to take over our bookkeeping after our current Account Manager Joanna Deri retires in August. (He added that if anyone wants to contribute to a retirement gift for
EACC Operational Changes -- The EACC Goes Virtual!
On March 17, Dayna O’Brien (our Operations Manager) and I decided in light of the growing health crisis to vacate our offices at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber at 3 E. 4th Street and work from home. Like our colleagues at REDI Cincinnati and CUSARC and other building tenants (and many of you), we packed up our computers, grabbed some office supplies and files, and each of us set up shop in our homes, not knowing when we might return. Since then we have continued to engage our members through our
EACC Network Survey: COVID-19 Attitudes
In early June the Cincinnati Chapter asked members their feelings about resuming various activities and the COVID-19 Pandemic: when might you return to your office full time; when might you be prepared to attend a large work related gathering; when might you resume international travel. Based on those results we thought it would be interesting to extend the survey across the network to see how attitudes might compare across regions and across the Atlantic. Note that this is not a scientific survey; these
EACC Two-Question Survey: June 1, 2020
Last week the EACC brought back our ‘One Question Survey,’ which was launched in response to our 2018 Voice of the Customer study to ensure you as members continue to have a voice in what we do. (Since its been a while since the last One Question Survey, we threw in a bonus question and one for some demographics.) We sent the survey to close to 900 e-mail addresses and received 61 responses (a response rate of 6.9% percent). One question I always ask when considering whether the EACC should host an event
EACC Behind the Scenes - May 2020
The Power of the EACC Network The primary power of the EACC is our ability to connect our members – to each other and to resources and information that help to grow their business. Doing that within our chapters is relatively simple, but how to do that across the Atlantic and the network? In November 2019 we hosted our first “All-Chapter” webinar looking at the EU’s Autumn Economic Forecast; 39 people registered for that first event. Since then, nearly 2000 business leaders have signed up for events
EACC Network Releases COVID-19 Impact Stories
Every company and organization is finding ways to address the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Directors of the EACC Network (from Cincinnati to Lyon, from Florida to the Netherlands, from New York to Paris to the Carolinas) thought it would be helpful and interesting to hear the stories of our members as they respond to the crisis. So we started collecting their stories and posting them to our YouTube Channel and our “COVID-19 Impact Stories” playlist. The Cincinnati Chapter
EACC Behind the Scenes - April 2020
Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, EACC Greater Cincinnati Operations Continue Full Steam Ahead Since we moved out of our offices at 3 E. 4th street in mid-March, the EACC staff has continued to work remotely in line with Ohio’s shelter-in-place order. Nonetheless, the EACC’s work on behalf of its members continues full steam ahead. As always, the Cincinnati chapter of the EACC is working to ensure members have access to relevant and timely information as it relates to transatlantic business. Given this
EACC Board of Directors Holds Second Quarter 2020 Meeting
The Board of Directors of the European American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati held is regularly scheduled quarterly board meeting on Thursday, April 23 at 4:30 p.m. Due to “social distancing’ requirements the meeting was held using the Zoom™ platform. Board President Yannick Schilly called the meeting to order noting the economic and social disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic across our region and around the world. And he pointed out that given the Board’s concern over falling cash reserves
EACC & Partners Host “Manufacturers, Foreign Investors, and COVID-19: Getting Through the Crisis” Webinar
The COVID-19 global pandemic is impacting every company (and every individual) across our region. Governments are taking steps to mitigate both the spread of the disease and the economic impact. But given the speed at which this is happening, there is still confusion about who may be eligible for what benefits and what the long-term impact will be. Given this confusion, the EACC worked with our friends at Frost Brown Todd LLC and VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm to organize a webinar exclusively for
EACC Welcomes New Member Prysmian Group
The EACC is delighted to welcome Sustaining Partner member Prysmian Group. Prysmian Group North America is headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and operates 25 plants across North America focused on the telecom and energy markets. The company’s mission is to provide customers with superior cable solutions based on state-of-the-art technology and consistent excellence in execution, ultimately delivering sustainable growth and profit. Prysmian Group has its roots in Pirelli all the way back in
Healthcare, COVID-19, and the EACC
Well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the EACC started work to develop and launch a new Italian Committee (tentatively named the Italian American Business Community) with a series of meals and discussions with the leadership of the Italian businesses among our members. In the context of those discussions, we heard repeatedly concerns about healthcare costs for small and medium sized employers. Our executives asked if there was some way they could come together to better manage risks, improve
EACC Behind the Scenes - EACC of Greater Cincinnati Launches Updated Website
You may recall that in the fall of 2019 the EACC of Greater Cincinnati updated the look of our weekly newsletter, the EACC Newsbrief. We are now pleased to announce the launch of our updated website. Along with a refreshed design that aligns with the look of the updated the Newsbrief, the new website offers fresh capabilities that we trust will prove beneficial to our members. These capabilities include: The ability to browse the EACC member directory by industry and countryThe ability to sign up for the
One Question Survey: March 9, 2020
On the morning of March 9, the EACC-Cincinnati sent a survey to about 860 individual e-mail addresses listed as active representatives at EACC-Cincinnati Member companies. When we closed the survey at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, March 13 we had received 97 responses. The goal of the survey was to get beyond the anecdotes and generate some meaningful data about how member companies are addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click here to view the survey results.
Bockfest 2020 (and 2021?)
For 28 years, Bockfest has been a uniquely Cincinnati celebration of the coming of spring and the brewing heritage of Over-The-Rhine. But Bockfest also has deep European roots in pre-Lenten observances like Carneval and Mardi Gras and Fasching and Shrove Tuesday. It was that pan-European focus that called a hardy group of EACC members (including representatives from ABM Drives, Balluff, Bannockburn Global Forex, Barnes Dennig, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, FC Cincinnati, Festo,
EACC Behind the Scenes: French Honorary Consul Installation Ceremony and EACC Welcome Reception
On Wednesday, February 19th the EACC hosted a Welcome Reception for companies that had joined the organization over the past year. In conjunction with the Welcome Reception, the EACC was honored to host the installation ceremony for the new Honorary Consul of France Nelly Bonniol, and the evening marked the perfect occasion to also recognize and thank outgoing Honorary Consul of France Anne Cappel for her years of consular service. Held in the Continental Ballroom at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza,
Telling Cincinnati’s Story in Europe with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Some of you will recall that at our Annual Gala in May 2019 we announced that the leadership of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, REDI Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky Tri-ED had agreed to collaborate with the EACC to leverage the proposed 2020 European tour of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) to raise awareness of our region across Europe. (To mark the partnership, we even had a string quartet from the CSO perform the national anthems.) Of course
Executive Director Schwartz Recaps Recent Trip to Washington, DC
You may recall that last week I was in Washington DC with my counterparts Yvonne Bendinger-Rothschild (Executive Director of the New York Chapter) and Katherine Prewitt (Executive Director of the Paris Chapter) to work on establishing a new chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce there. We were joined by Guillaume Martinez, President of the Paris Chapter. All in all, it was a very successful trip, and I thought you might be interested in some details. About twenty individuals (representing
EACC Behind the Scenes: Board of Directors Holds First Quarter 2020 Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Chapter of the European American Chamber of Commerce met at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 23 for its regular quarterly meeting at the First Financial Bank Innovation Center at 1 E 4th Street (thanks for hosting us!). After a brief round of introductions, Board President Yannick Schilly reviewed just a few of the highlights of our very successful 2019, mentioning in particular our concerted efforts to identify new leadership and a new direction for the French
EACC Operations Manager Dayna O'Brien Takes Part in Blue Ash Sister City Trip
EACC member the City of Blue Ash has developed a sister city relationship with Ilmenau, Germany in the state of Thuringia. Last week, I had the opportunity and honor to travel to Ilmeanu representing the EACC and as part of the Blue Ash Sister City Delegation. The City of Ilmenau has approximately 30,000 inhabitants and is located at a height of 500m in the valley of Ilm, which runs through the town, and is surrounded by mountains and hills. Goethe first visited Ilmenau in 1776 and made a total of 26