Save the Date - 2010 Awards & Celebration Dinner

America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago
&
America-Israel Economic Forum

2010 Awards & Celebration Dinner
Thursday, November 18, 2010  -  6:00 pm Reception & Dinner

Hilton Chicago Northbrook
2855 North Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois 60062

Honoring

Michael Levy

Chairman and CEO of the ARPAC Group

Greg Levy

President of ARPAC-Hefestus USA

Advance Reservations

Thank You
Noa Asher, Economic Consul
Government of  Israel Economic Mission to the Midwest: 2006 - 2010

Dear America Israel Chamber of Commerce Members:

I want to thank you for generous support and friendship that the America Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago has provided over the course of my tenure here.

Chicago has been an absolutely wonderful place to live for last four years. The city's breathtaking beauty, and the warmth and kindness of its people, have made my time here both professionally and personally fulfilling. I will miss you and the city tremendously.

Over the years, you have generously opened up your businesses and homes, making the location of every Chamber member an extension of the Government of Israel Economic Mission.  Everything I have ever needed, be it contacts, an introduction, advice, or space for an event, you have generously provided.

The Chamber consists of some of best connected and influential people in the city, and I am grateful for the opportunity that you each given me to leverage your talents and networks.  Our working relationship has been mutually satisfying and beneficial because the roles of our two organizations complement each other so well.  I want to especially thank you for providing countless opportunities for Israeli companies, visiting them in Israel, and welcoming them to the U.S.

It brings me joy to have spoken with so many Israeli companies over the last four years who have directly benefited from our joint events and missions.  So many of you have been my friends and colleagues, and unfortunately, it is impossible to recognize and thank you all individually.

During our joint projects, numerous Chamber members have been the key to our success and a natural extension of my office.  It has been a great pleasure working with your leadership, committees, and office.

As Assaf, our kids, and I move to Boston, and then back to Israel, I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you.  I know that whenever I visit Chicago, I will have close friends there.

I am certain you will grow to know my successor Yariv Becher and his family, and I'm sure he will learn that Chicago is a wonderful place to live and do business, filled with amazing people.  Most importantly, I am confident that with your help, it will not take him long to see that the Chamber is a critical resource for fostering trade between Israel and the U.S.

Sincerely,

Noa Asher
Consul for Economic Affairs:  2006 - 2010

Below:  Limor Nakar, BIRD Foundation with Michael Traison (left), Noa Asher, Israel's Economic Consul to the Midwest, 2006 - 2010 (center), Sam Ntum, Middle East & Africa Specialist, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (below right)

AICC Among Chambers Honored by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

AICC was honored along with other area ethnic, community and bi-national Chambers of Commerce on Thursday, June 24, 2010 in the office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

In her remarks, Pappas said that the Chambers help build strong business in Chicago by making it easier for people within their communities to conduct business.

Left:  Dan Shure (left) and Michael Schmitt (right) with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

49 chambers of commerce and business organizations were recognized.  Communities represented included African-American, Albanian, Arab, Asian, Australian, Austrian, Belgian, British, Bulgarian, Canadian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Finnish, French, Ghanaian, German, Greek, Hispanic, Indian, Iranian, Irish, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latino, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malaysian, Mexican, Norwegian, Palestinian, Pakistani, Filipino, Polish, Puerto Rican, Russian, Romanian, Scottish, Serbian, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian.

On April 30, AICC came together with the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, the Honorary Consulate of H.K. Jordan Chicago, the Amman & Petach Tikva Committees of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, the BIRD Foundation, and the American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for a special breakfast program, hosted and sponsored by Arnstein & Lehr.

We welcomed 10 young women entrepreneurs from Jordan and Israel who were in the U.S. for an entrepreneurship program at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay (UWGB). 

AICC members and their friends were the key to driving a capacity audience of business people and contacts who we encouraged to help our guests build their businesses.

Special guest speaker was Charles E. Tucker, Jr., B.A., J.D., Executive Director of the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University.

If you were unable to attend this program, and would like to help, please click here for additional information.

UWGB worked with the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, The King Abdullah II Fund for Development, the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce (Tel Aviv), the BIRD Foundation, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev to make this entrepreneurs program a reality.  The program was funded in part by the U.S. Department of State.

Israel-Based Life Science Companies Take Chicago by Storm
May 3-6 BIO week review: Israel-focused activities during BIO International 2010 

Welcoming Reception for Israeli Delegates to BIO week in Chicago:  On Sunday, May 2, AICC and the Government of Israel Economic Mission held a reception to welcome Israeli delegates to the BIO International Conference.  The evening's keynote address, given by Dan Broderick of the Midwest Healthcare Investors' Network, focused on raising the Midwest's profile as a resource for Israel-based businesses seeking U.S. investors.  Barbara Goodman, Executive Director of iBIO, welcomed the Israeli delegation on behalf of the BIO International movement and the State of Illinois. U.S.-Israel Life Science Business Partnering Event:  On 3 May the Government of Israel Economic Mission, the BIRD Foundation, and the America Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago's Life Sciences Practice Group presented a partnering event showcasing Israeli companies attending Bio International 2010 in Chicago. 160 business leaders participated in the event representing 28 Israel-based companies and research institutions and 38 U.S. and international life science businesses, service providers, state trade officers, and other organizations from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri. The program was opened by Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Industry & Trade, and featured keynote addresses by James Tyree of Abbott Biotech Ventures (the Future of Collaborations), Gavin Samuels of Teva Innovative Ventures (Israel as an Innovation Center), and Christian Hodneland of William Blair & Co. (Financing in an Era of US Healthcare Reform). The program agenda enabled Israeli participants introduced their companies and competitive/ technological advantages, and provided time and space for business-to-business meetings.  By the end of the day, over 125 business-to-business meetings held.

Above:  Israel's Consul General to the Midwest, Orli Gil, welcomes Israeli, U.S., and international delegates to BIO week in Chicago ______________________ Below:  Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Industry, opens the May 3 U.S.- Israel Life Science Partnering Event.

Israel National Pavilion (all week) at BIO served as home-base for Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Industry & Trade, the largest number of Israeli companies ever to attend BIO, Israel's Economic Mission, and the AICC.  The Pavilion was a popular destination for conference attendees, state, and international trade commissioners interested in learning more about Israel's advances in the life sciences.  Israel's Country Seminar - Innovative Structures Promoting Commercialization of Israeli Life Sciences on May 4, featured Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (Israel), Dr. Ora Dar, Consultant to the Chief Scientist for Biotechnology (Israel), Dr. Dan Zabrowski, Executive Vice President, Global Head Pharma Partnering, Roche-Pharma (Switzerland), Dr. Tomer Kariv, General Manager, Pontifax Venture Capital (Israel), and Dr. Alex Kozak, CEO, D-Pharm Ltd. (Israel). U.S.-Israel Biotechnology Business Roundtable on May 5, organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, provided a forum for bio-tech industry stakeholders in the United States and Israel to discuss the challenges and obstacles to greater biotechnology trade and cooperation between the two countries.

The America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago's Life Sciences Practice Group is a forum that carries out AICC's life science programming, enhances our community's position in Israel, and drives U.S.-Israel life science connections.

> > > > Click here to sign up for notices of Life Science Practice Group Planning meetings

Information Technology Group (ITG) Holds Inaugural Program

AICC's Information Technology Group (ITG) held its inaugural breakfast program, hosted and sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman, on Tuesday, May 18.  Entitled "Israeli Hi-Tech Comes to the Midwest" the program focused on how two Israeli companies provide solutions to the U.S. market.

Featured companies were wholly-owned subsidiaries of  Israel's Attenti, Inc.: ElmoTech, Ltd. and HomeFree, Inc.

The well-attended program provided terrific networking opportunities and educated participants on how a shared technology platform can drives both companies' business.

Elmo-Tech is a global provider of leading presence and location verification technologies, designed for monitoring individuals in the law enforcement, corrections and security markets. In the United States, Elmo-Tech operates from its west suburban Chicago offices. It's systems are employed by private operators and government agencies throughout the U.S., Europe, Pacific Rim and Latin America.

HomeFree offers a single wireless platform integrating advanced wandering prevention with resident, well-being, and nurse call solutions.  In the United States, HomeFree operates from its Milwaukee, WI based offices.  In Europe, Tyco Safety Products and a network of local distributors deliver the company's solutions.

The America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago's Information Technology Group (ITG) is a forum that carries out AICC's I.T. programming, enhances our community's position in Israel, and drives U.S.-Israel I.T. connections.

> > > > Click here to sign up for notices of Information Technology Group meetings

Israeli Wine Featured at National Restaurant Association Show

More than 40 gallons of Israeli wine sampled at the Israeli Wines and Tasting  Pavilion, at the International Wine, Spirits, & Beer Event at the NRA Show, held May 23 & 24, 2010 (McCormick Place).

Wines feautured:
  -  Carmel
  -  Castel
  -  Galil
  -  Golan
  -  Teperberg 1870
  -  Yarden
  -  Yatir

The pavilion was a project of the Government of Israel Economic Mission, with AICC's Buy Israel Goods and the Food, Beverage and Consumables Committee.

Use Your Wallets to Send a Message that You Stand with Israel
and more news from Buy Israel Goods - a program of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago originated and sponsored by Howard I. Bernstein

In good times and bad, Americans can use their wallets to send a message that they stand with Israel by making the purchase of Israeli goods a regular part of their shopping.

Visit www.buyisraelgoods.org (BIG) for a comprehensive listing of Israeli consumer goods available across the United States and the stores and websites where you can buy them. The frequent purchase of Israeli products will have a broad and significant impact on the Israeli economy and its citizens, and perhaps even on its ability to survive.

• Tell your friends and family about BIG today!

Products from Israel meet the highest quality standards.  Many of these products can easily be incorporated into your regular shopping needs, while others are great for gifts or other occasional use.

BIG covers 13 major markets, including the Northeast, West, Midwest and Southeast. 

BIG, a program of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago, derives no revenue from purchases of Israeli goods.

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BIG Highlights:

- Follow BIG on Face Book Click Here

- Read Our BLOG


- Summer Intern:  We welcome Tomer Kamil as an intern over the summer.  He is an IDF veteran who is entering his final year at the University of Texas in Austin on a basketball scholarship.

If you are interested in helping with Buy Israel Goods, contact Howard I. Bernstein.

And...

Create a Buy Israel Goods Website in Your Market Area: If you would like to create and maintain a Buy Israel Goods website in a market area other than those listed, please contact us. We will supply the site template, complete instructions and guidance for securing and inputting the necessary data on brands, products, stores and related websites. Experience is not required, but dedication is.

Are You a Retailer?  Do You Provide Consumer Services?  Join AICC as a member and explore how the AICC can help promote your sales and services.  We are never too busy to meet with you to learn more about your business!  Click here to let us know you are interested and we will contact you.