LACC San Diego hosted two events in the month of May, highlighted below:
Jeff McDonald, reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune presenting to the group on how to deal with media. May 9, 2024
LACC Sand Diego – SoCal Real Estate event with realtor Inese Hanlon. May 30, 2024
Screening of the Movie “Soviet Milk”
Earlier in April Latvian Culture Center of Colorado and Colorado Chapter of Latvian American Chamber of Commerce hosted the author Nora Iksena and producer Inara Kolmane for a private screening of the award-nominated Latvian movie ‘Soviet Milk’ in the prestigious Sie FilmCenter Denver. Ms. Iksena and Ms. Kolmane shared their perspectives and behind-the-scenes insights with us. Their presence truly made the event unforgettable! With around 90 attendees, it was an evening filled with thought-provoking discussions and a deep dive into the themes and inspirations behind the film.
A big thank you to all who came out to support Latvian cinema and engage in meaningful dialogue. Stay tuned for more exciting events coming your way! Check our Board Co-President Janis Bergs blog post(in Latvian) about organizing this event.
The LACC Boston chapter had our first 2024 event on March 27. We had about 10 members and friends in attendance and our main goal was to discuss our approach for the future events, topics of interest to discuss and agree to the meeting cadence that works best for the group. Lauris Lambergs also provided a quick overview of the main events the LACC is planning nationally for 2024-2025, including a quick update on the next Spotlight on Latvia conference. It was a mix of introductions, social time and discussing how this group would like engage and promote the Latvian-American business interests.
The San Diego, CA Chapter of the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) held a “Self Realization and Professional Success” seminar and networking event on November 9, 2023 at the Law offices of Jacob J Sapochnick.
The guest speaker was Signe Dauskane Platace, who is a professional business and personal coach – https://www.signeinspiration.com/
The event was attended by different professionals such as real estate brokers, IT professionals, notary, legal professionals, business entrepreneurs, health care professionals.
During the event various topics were discussed: meaning of success, individual struggles and challenges, success in the eyes of different generations. At the end of the event, there was a nice opportunity to network.
The Minnesota Chapter of the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) held the second Business Networking Happy Hour of the year on Thursday November 2nd, 2023 at Number 12 Cider, a Latvian owned business in Minneapolis.
We discussed the success of Spotlight Latvia 2023 in Boston and discussed chapter’s plans for 2024.
We were privileged to host an enlightening event featuring esteemed guests from the Climate and Energy Ministry of Latvia, and Latvenergo. On September 19th, 2023, in the welcoming atmosphere of CU Denver, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ivars Golsts, Aigars Laizans, Martins Cakste, and Liga Rozentale who shared their valuable insights with a group of twenty-three attendees.
The event centered around an engaging presentation that delved into critical energy challenges stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The discussion highlighted the far-reaching impacts of geopolitical events on the energy landscape and underscored the importance of energy security and resilience in today’s world.
Our distinguished guests also provided a glimpse into Latvia’s ambitious plans for the future, particularly regarding renewable energy and storage solutions harnessed from wind and solar sources. Their insights shed light on the nation’s commitment to sustainability and the pivotal role it aims to play in the global transition to clean energy.
The event fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspectives, allowing attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the complex energy dynamics at play in the Baltic region. It served as a platform for meaningful discussions and networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about energy and sustainability.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Energy Executives of the Climate and Energy Ministry of Latvia and Latvenergo representatives for gracing us with their presence and sharing their expertise. We also thank our attendees for their active participation and enthusiasm, which contributed to the success of this event.
As we reflect on this enlightening evening, we look forward to future opportunities to convene and explore the ever-evolving landscape of energy challenges and solutions. Together, we continue to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
On April 13, 2023, the Tri-State Region of the LACC held its inaugural meeting at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in New York City. Seventeen [17] businesspeople and professionals convened at the Latvian UN to participate. It is interesting to note that an Estonian American businessperson from NYC who uses a Latvia manufacturer was in attendance. An attendee from Merrill Lynch was interested in learning more about Latvian businesses and their relationships with US businesses. LACC Board member Ivars Slokenbergs was also introduced as an attendee.
The Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, Andrejs Pildegovics, welcomed the guests. He emphasized that the NYC metropolitan area is a good area for fostering ties between businesses from Latvia and the US, mentioning that Martin Gauss, President of AirBaltic, is attending a conference in NYC. Latvian businesspeople from Latvia visiting NYC can also be invited to speak at Tri-State LACC events. He thanked the LACC for organizing the event and encouraged the attendees to support the LACC.
Via Zoom connection with Washington D.C., Gints Zadraks, Secretary of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the U.S.A., gave an overview of how the Embassy can assist businesses from America and Latvia in making the right connections. He gave an overview of Latvia’s main economic strengths and diverse business areas. Gints also noted that the Embassy works closely with Latvian Investment Agency, LIAA, which is more involved with the practical steps to facilitate business relationships. LIAA contact information is available on the Embassy website.
LIAA US representative Reinis Sipols followed with a brief PowerPoint presentation entitled “LATVIA, Gateway to Europe.” It was interesting to hear that Latvia is appealing as an excellent geographic base to enter the broader EU market. Finally, LACC Tri-State Regional Director John [Jānis] Kancans informed the group about the benefits they could enjoy by becoming members of the LACC. The many questions posed by the audience during the presentations showed that the audience was engaged.
At the end of the presentations, the attendees were each asked to stand, state their names, and briefly identify their business or profession. For an hour afterward, the guests stayed for wine and hors d’oeuvres. It provided an informal and friendly atmosphere for everyone to get to know each other.
Latvian American Chamber of Commerce collaborated with German American Chamber of Commerce, Swedish American Chamber of Commerce, French American Chamber of Commerce, and World Trade Center in Denver—a fun event with over 120 attendees from different industries and new connections.
More than 20 Colorado Latvians gathered in Boulder on February 23, 2023, to learn about the World of Fungi (Everything about mushrooms). All Latvians are enormous fans of mushroom hunting, and it was interesting to learn about mushrooms in Colorado. The speaker Christopher Pauli had an excellent presentation about the power of Fungal.
The Chicago Chapter of the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) held our first Business Networking Happy Hour of the year on Thursday January 19th, 2023 at Happy Camper located in Wrigleyville (3458 N Clark Street). We celebrated and honored the re-appointment of Roberts Blumbergs Esq. to the role of Honorary Consul for The Republic of Latvia in Chicago. The group of 16 attendees enjoyed gourmet pizzas with cold pints of beer as Honorary Consul Blumberg shared his plans for the future.
