Dear PACC Members and Friends,
This year’s spring has been busy and eventful from the start. Our March 21 networking event doubled as the Chamber’s annual meeting. Board president Lucas Fuksa, who welcomed all members and guests, reflected on PACC‘s accomplishments in 2012, and on the organizational plans and priorities for the rest of 2013, which include a new logo and a re-branding campaign.
Participants in the March 21 program also had an opportunity to meet and greet some of PACC‘s newest members, including representatives of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA) and AR TV Chicago.
On April 19, PACC representatives had a great time participating in the Grand Opening festivities of Floor & Decor’s new Arlington Heights location. The leading specialty retailer in the hard surface flooring market joined the PACC earlier this year, and is focusing on the area’s residential remodeling segment.
On April 22, the PACC was very pleased to co-host, together with the Polish American Congress, the 2nd Polish-American Business Workshop. Organizationally co-sponsored by the Trade & Investment Section of the Polish Embassy in Washington, DC, The event was a great success, in part thanks to numerous out-of-town guests and participants .
The closing networking event we hosted at the Copernicus Center Annex added to the overall success of the Workshop. Special guests included Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Undersecretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Economy; Ryszard Schnepf, Ambassador of Poland in Washington, DC; Longin Komolowski, President of the Wspolnota Polska Association; William Czajkowski, Head of the US Commercial Service in the US Embassy in Warsaw; Pawel Pietrasienski, Head of the Trade & Investment Section of Poland’s Embassy in Washington, DC; and Jaroslaw Narkiewicz, Deputy Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament.
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We also recommend the following up-coming programs that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the PACC or by PACC partners (please click on link for further details):
- European Drinks Festival 2013 (presented by EuroChicago in cooperation with the European Consulates, Trade Commissions and their Chicago partners, Monday, May 6, 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower).
- The Strauss of the North; A Evening of Waltzes and Polkas (presented by the Chicago Arts Orchestra, led by Guest Conductor and violinist Piotr Gasior, and featuring Polish Soprano Ewa Kowacz, Saturday, May 11, 8:00 pm at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL).
- ‘Multiple Owners, Multiple Problems’ for Your Business (seminar for business owners, presented by Fuksa Khorshid, LLC, sponsored by North Bank, Saturday, May 11, 9:30 am at the Argent Restaurant, 660 N. State Street, Chicago, IL).
- Polish American Business Expo (Thursday, May 16, 11:30 am – 9:00 pm, Copernicus Center Annex, 5214 W. Lawrence, Chicago, IL).
- 8th Annual Silk Road Conference (Friday, May 17, 8:00 am at Illinois Institute of Technology Kent School of Law Auditorium, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL).
- Access to Capital: Money to Mainstreet (Wednesday, May 22, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Navy Pier, Chicago, IL; visit registration page and enter promo code POLISH for your 30% discount).
- Business After Hours (PACC networking event hosted by Saturn Title LLC, Thursday June 6, 6:30 – 9:00 pm, 1030 W. Higgins Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068).
Please mark your calendars now and be on the look-out for announcements in the near future with more details regarding each of the events on our website, and on Facebook.
The PACC Secretariat