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Message From AICC President Daniel B. Shure
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 2010 was a terrific year for the Chamber. In December of 2009 I reported that despite the recession AICC's membership had grown and that I saw the challenges ahead as opportunities to be leveraged.
And, in 2010 we grew. We realized a modest surplus, held our first healthcare innovation conference in the radiology sector, we established alliances with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Healthcare Innovation, and the Jewish Business to Business Network, and had a wonderful Annual Awards Banquet honoring Michael Levy and Greg Levy and Dick Laner.
Our programs and your membership in the AICC will help you make more business contacts. You will learn about Israeli innovations and meet with Israeli business and technology leaders. And, our continuing introduction of business and trade groups gives you the chance to find opportunities for you and your company.
The Chamber's mission is to promote and create opportunities for bilateral trade between the U.S. and Israel. Our success is Israel's economic strength and security and that of the companies building their businesses together, hopefully doing that through Chicago and the Midwest.
Our work is only possible because of our members and program supporters. If you are not already a dues-paying member, we ask to become one immediately. This can be easily done online at http://www.americaisrael.org/scripts/mem_Application.asp - or call AICC's Executive Director Michael Schmitt at 847-597-7069.
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Programs Not To Be Missed Next Week |
Israeli Financial IT Delegation in Chicago - - "Israel IT: Meeting Today's Financial Industry Challenges Through Software Solutions"
- 8:30 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
- Featuring welcoming address from Leo Melamed, Chairman Emeritus, CME Group and panel discussion led by Stephen Goldman, Director of Enterprise Architecture, CME Group.
- W Chicago City Center, 172 W. Adams Street
- Click here to rsvp
- Review profiles of participating Israeli companies
- Schedule a meeting with an Israeli company
Election of Officers, Executive Committee and Directors:AICC Annual Board of Directors and Membership Meeting.
- 11:30 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
- Downtown location to be provided
- Reserve your place now |
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Israeli Venture Capitalist Tells Tales From the "Start-Up Nation"
2010 Awards & Celebration Dinner, Thursday, November 18, 2010
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Talking about Israel's hi-tech success, Jonathan Medved said he's "sometimes a little shocked myself." Medved, one of Israel's leading high-tech venture capitalists, is CEO of Vringo, which provides users with the ability to share video ringtones.
Speaking to several hundred people at the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago's annual dinner, he noted that he had bad news and good news on the subject. The bad news was that Israel had dropped to number three on the NASDAQ exchange. The good news was that it took a country as large as China to move much smaller Israel down the line.
Although Israel's population is less than 2.5% of the U.S.'s, Israelis create new companies that receive venture funding at about 25% the rate of the larger U.S. and is way ahead of Europe's pace. Israeli companies are responsible for all sorts of common high tech items ranging from Intel chips to pill cameras that can be swallowed by patients as a non-invasive way to see inside the body, Medved said. The first cell phone was built in Israel by Motorola and Israelis invented flash memory and voicemail. The leading manufacturer of chips for DVD players is Israeli and the pharmaceutical company that sells the most pills and capsules in the U.S. is not Pfizer but Teva.
Israel is also a leader in green technology including solar energy, desalinization, drip irrigation and electric cars. Commenting on current delegitimatization efforts, Medved noted that it was one thing to boycott a food product, but that activists would have a hard time getting through a day if they boycotted everything that came from Israel. The boycotters are cowards, he said. They take diapers and potatoes off the shelves, but they're not willing to smash their computers and stop using Google. It's not just that we're smart, said Medved, asking why Israelis were so innovative. It's that we are accustomed to living with risk. People who are afraid don't create start-ups. It takes people who realize that life is about creation. Medved also noted, that immigrants make the best entrepreneurs and that Israel is a nation of immigrants. Additionally, the army trains young people to work together to do amazing things. |
Above: Jonathan Medved, CEO of Vringo
Above: (Left to right) Business Leadership Award recipients Greg Levy, President of ARPAC-Hefestus USA and Michael Levy, Chairman and CEO of ARPAC Group, with Dinner Chairman Milton A. Levenfeld.
Above: Daniel Shure, AICC President (left), presents Richard Laner (right) with the Martin N. Sandler Distinguished Achievement Award.
Photos copyright
Benjamin Lapid Photography |
Medved then invited the business people in the audience to seek to engage with Israel in business ventures. As an example, he talked about two of the honorees that night, father and son Michael and Greg Levy who received AICC's Business Leadership Award. Michael is the Chairman and CEO of ARPAC Group, which manufactures packaging machinery. Greg heads an American-Israeli joint venture ARPAC-Hefestus, which specializes in packaging machinery delicate enough to package food.
Earlier in the evening, Michael had spoken of Israeli strength while Greg spoke of being a lone soldier soldier in the IDF singled out to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi asked the young solder what his father did and, when Greg answered he had a packaging machine factory in Chicago, the Prime Minister suggested that his father open a factory in Israel. Nonetheless, Greg attributed his current alliance not to that encounter, but to his experiences working as a group leader with the youth program Shorashim and to the resulting Zionism that made him receptive when Israel-based Hefestus called with an opportunity.
Also honored during the dinner was Richard W. Laner of the law firm Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker, Levin & Tominberg who received the Martin N. Sandler Distinguished Achievement Award. Dick Laner is a past President of the Chamber, and continues to be actively involved. | |
U.S.-Israel Healthcare Innovation Conference
Monday, November 29, 2010
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 The U.S.-Israel Healthcare Innovation Conference took place on November 29th at Grant Thornton, LLP in Chicago.
The event featured a panel discussion on "The Future of Radiology". The panel included Mr. David Edelstein; Chief Information Officer and a Senior Vice President at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Dr. Kai Thomenius; Chief Technologist in the Imaging Technologies Organization at G.E. Global Research, and Dr. Zeev Rotstein; Chief Executive Officer at The Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel.
In the 60 minute session, the panel discussed topics from the role of technology in healthcare, to obstacles to Israeli entry in the U.S. market, and the industry's short term outlook.
After the panel discussion, six Israeli companies and two Israeli hospitals presented their products, services, and advantages to the U.S. attendees in advance of individual meetings and networking opportunities. In the meeting and networking sessions that followed the presentations, our Israeli and U.S. guests engaged in dozens of discussions in the spirit of cross-collaboration and international partnership.
Participating organizations included:
From Israel: Arineta / The Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer / Edge Medical Devices / Medic Vision Imaging Solutions / Rambam Healthcare Campus / Rcadia / Shina Systems / Trig Medical.
From the U.S.:
Advocate Healthcare Care / Allscripts / American Cancer Society / American College of Radiology / Astellas Pharma Research & Development / Baxter / Blue Cross Blue Shield Association / Boehringer Ingelheim / Cisco Systems / GE Healthcare / Health Care Services Corporation / Hospira / Illinois Department of Public Health / McKesson / National Kidney Foundation / Microsoft Technology Center / Oak Forest Hospital / Siemens / Takeda / University of Chicago Medical Center / University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center / Wellpoint.
The Program was a presentation of the Government of Israel Economic Mission to the Midwest, the AICC Chicago Life Sciences and Information Technology Practice Groups, and the Center for Healthcare Innovation.
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Buy Israel Goods and Stand With Us Join Forces in Cooperative Effort
and other news from http://www.buyisraelgoods.org/
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BIG Highlights:
- Dallas and Portland now on BIG
- Follow BIG on Facebook Click Here
- Read Our BLOG
Buy Israel Goods and Stand With Us Join Forces in Cooperative Effort: Stand With Us (SWU) is a nonpartisan education organization that empowers leaders and grassroots activists to advocate for Israel in an informed and dynamic way. SWU develops international leaders - a cadre of "ambassadors for Israel" - via varied, highly effective initiatives and campaigns fellowship programs, missions and media skills and strategy training.
Founded in May, 2001, SWU now has offices and chapters in New York, Michigan, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Santa Cruz, Orange County, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
Recognizing common interests, SWU and BIG have signed a Working Agreement that provides for cooperation in enhancing and promoting use of BIG. Early promotion by SWU has already resulted in a notable increase in BIG visitorship.
BIG will be enhanced with such as rotating photos of products, printable discount coupons, a video feed, education about planned boycotts, email blasts, information on the Local Supporting Organizations and many other features.
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. |
Member Profiles
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Glen R. Cornblath
Krasnow Saunders
Cornblath, LLP |
Shalom Klein
Moshe Klein
& Associates, Ltd. |
Lloyd Mandel
Mitzvah Memorial Funerals, Inc. |
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 Glen R. Cornblath
Krasnow Saunders Cornblath, LLP
500 N. Dearborn, Second Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Phone: 312.755.5700
Email: gcornblath@ksc-law.com
www.ksc-law.com
AICC Member Since 2010
Biography:
Glen Cornblath helps clients move their businesses forward efficiently and effectively from a legal perspective. He strives to bring value to each client, working across all functions in the business to become part of the organization.
Recognizing that legal issues are just one factor that guide business goals and actions, he helps assess, quantify and reduce risk to assist the business leaders in decision making. With over twenty-seven years of experience he counsels clients on day-to-day business matters and represent them in transactions, whether purchasing a company or selling real estate.
Glen specializes in all phases of real estate development, management, financing and leasing, in the retail, office and manufacturing industries. His clients include: national real estate firms, professional services firms, developers of small condominium projects, manufacturers, wholesale businesses and public companies.
Glen graduated from Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania Law School. His previous legal experience includes Mayer, Brown & Platt and Sachnoff & Weaver (now Reed Smith). Glen joined his current firm in 1994.
About Krasnow Saunders Cornblath, LLP:
The law firm of Krasnow Saunders Cornblath, LLP specializes in providing pragmatic solutions to legal problems. We help business owners maximize profitability by evaluating the risks, potential costs and rewards of alternative courses of action, often with a unique and imaginative approach. Our highly experienced team of business-oriented lawyers personally serves each client and incorporates each business' specific needs and goals in devising strategies. Our clients expect us to view ourselves as part of their management team and add value with our services. By meeting this expectation, we build strong relationships with our clients.
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 Shalom Klein
Director of Business Services
Moshe Klein & Associates, Ltd.
MK&A Receivables
3564 W. Dempster St.
Skokie, IL 60076
Phone: 888-432-8187 x 21
Cell: 773-547-3822
Email: shalom@mkabusiness.com
www.mkabusiness.com
AICC Member Since 2010
Biography:
Shalom Klein, Director of Business Services for Moshe Klein & Associates, Ltd., is an expert on business finances, professional marketer, and entrepreneur. He is knowledgeable in finance and operations for the small business community. Shalom is the Founder of Jewish B2B Networking and Business Networking Initiative, NFP, and is the Publisher of Jewish Business News which organizes events in three cities around the Midwest.
Shalom serves on the Board of Directors for Jewish Vocational Services. Shalom's community organizing and focus on economic development has received media attention and has been the subject of many feature interviews and stories.
About Moshe Klein & Associates, Ltd:
Moshe Klein & Associates, Ltd., is a Skokie-based accounting firm that provides low cost bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services for small businesses. In 2010, MK&A Receivables was launched and offers small businesses affordable and effective collections services.
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 Lloyd Mandel
Mitzvah Memorial Funerals Inc.
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: 630-MITZVAH (648-9824)
Email: Lloyd@Mitzvahfunerals.com
www.mitzvahfunerals.com
AICC Member Since 2011
Biography:
Lloyd Mandel has a Bachelor of Science in business from The Ohio State University and a degree in Mortuary Science from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. A fourth generation Jewish funeral director in Chicago, he began his career at his family's firm Piser-Weinstein- Gratch-Mandel-Menorah Chapels from 1983 through 1988.
He opened the first new Jewish funeral business in Chicago in over 50 years by opening Lloyd Mandel Funeral Direction in January 1989 at 3939 Dempster Street in Skokie. He was the first funeral director in the country to operate from a store-front. He re-named his business Lloyd Mandel Levayah Funerals in 1992. In 1993, he moved his business to 4750 Dempster Street in Skokie.
In 1995 Lloyd Mandel sold his business to Service Corporation International (SCI). He became a Vice-President with SCI in Corporate Development opening a new Jewish funeral home in Montreal, and acquiring Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie for SCI. In 2001, he co-founded Houston Jewish Funerals and in 2006 he co-founded Dallas Jewish Funerals. He sold the Texas funeral businesses in 2009.
In July of 2010, Lloyd Mandel opened a new funeral business in Chicago (Deerfield) naming it Mitzvah Memorial Funerals. Opening the business from an office suite this time, Lloyd Mandel has further significantly reduced the overhead for the increasing number of Jewish families in Chicago who are choosing not to have the funeral at a funeral home.
Lloyd Mandel in married to Cheri and has 3 children-Travis (Katy), Taylor and Rene (pronounced Rainy) Mandel.
About Mitzvah Memorial Funerals:
Mitzvah Memorial Funerals provides a complete package including a traditional wooden casket with a round top and walnut stain (picture attached), outer burial container required at most cemeteries and the normal funeral services. This package, titled the Mtizvah Memorial Funeral package is $3995, which is less than any of the other Chicago Jewish funeral homes charge just for their services without the casket and vault., and is approximately $3500-$5000 less than these funeral homes charge for the similar items and services. |
New Members
and other membership news and information
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Accounting
Mark Gaines - McGladrey
Shalom Klein - Moshe Klein & Associates, Ltd.
Consulting
Aron Greenburg - Huron Consulting
Law
Deborah Lust Zaluda - Bensman Associates
Glen Cornblath - Krasnow Saunders Cornblath
Henry Krasnow - Krasnow Saunders Cornblath
Helena Livitz
Ania Morzy - Fragomen Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, LLP
Funeral Services
Lloyd Mandel - Mitzvah Memorial Funerals Inc.
Life Sciences
Jane C. Fischer - University of Illinois at Chicago
Ronald Landes - Landes Bioscience
Sheila Liberman - Health Coaching
Non-Profit
Judith Shenkman - American Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Other
Maureen Schumar
Bruce Simons
Not a current member? Click here and enroll today.
Renew Your Membership Today! As we help our members during this economic downturn, we need your membership dues to maintain our programs and build our ability to facilitate opportunities for you. If you have not yet renewed your membership and you have been billed, don't wait for the next invoice or for us to call, send in your payment today! If you joined late in the previous year, consider renewing early. Your consideration would be very much appreciated.
Click here to schedule your member interview. We are never too busy to meet with you to learn more about your Israel interests and business needs!
Request for Member Biographies - Tell us who you are so we can tell your fellow members in an upcoming member profile announcement! We are fortunate that a new group of young and established business and professional people are looking to AICC as an outlet to explore their interest in Israel-related business issues as well as a network to grow their professional and mentor networks. With this in mind... Click here for complete story.
Sponsor a Member! - Do you know someone who could benefit from AICC membership? Sponsor their first year's dues at the individual rate, or if applicable the under 35 rate. Click to request a member sponsor form.
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Jobs & BIRD RFP - AICC Employment and Business Opportunity Network
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RFP:
"Bird Energy": New opportunity to submit U.S. - Israel joint renewable energy proposals: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures and the BIRD Foundation have established "BIRD Energy": a program for U.S. - Israel joint renewable energy developments "BIRD Energy" follows the same rules and procedures as BIRD. Click here to download pdf. Please refer to BIRD's website for submission details - http://www.birdf.com/.
JOBS:
Israeli telecom company that develops its U.S. activity in the Chicago region is seeking a telecom engineer with experience in product support. For more information, contact Asaf Yaffe Recruitment & Placement Manager at the Nisha Group at 972 (0)77 772 5533 or by email at asaf@nisha.co.il.
Newedge Bank (AICC member Michael Benillouche) Now Hiring. Click here for openings.
iBIO (Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization)
University of Illinois Careers and Employment
Members Helping Members
- How AICC members can help each other
- Send us your employment opportunities |
2011 Activities To Date
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 The Amazing Robots of Israel (February 15, 2011, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Dr. Amir Shapiro (pictured at right), Director of the Robotics Lab, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago (AICC) with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU). Hosted by Greenberg Traurig.
Seeing is Believing: Computer Vision from The Hebrew University Coming to a Camera Near You... (February 16, 2011, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Professor Shmuel Peleg, School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. AICC, AIEF, with American Friends of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Hosted by Miller Canfield.
The Non-Profit Sector in Israel: Its Dual Functions and its Structure (March 2, 2011) - featuring Prof. Benjamin Gidron, Founder of the Israeli Center for Third Sector Research of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, co-sponsored by AICC and AABGU.
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2010 Activities |
"Brothers" Film Screening (February 18, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring discussion with the film's director, Igaal Niddam - Sponsored by America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago (AICC) Buy Israel Goods. Film presented by the Lucerne and Petach Tikva Committees of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, the Consulate General of Switzerland to the Midwest and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.
Breakthrough for a Cure (February 25, 2010, Skokie, IL) - Featuring Dr. Eli Lewis, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Diabetes Expert. A program of the AICC Life Sciences Practice Group, American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU), and America-Israel Economic Forum (AIEF). Sponsored by Forest City Science + Technology Group.
Oneg Shabbat With Ella Gera, Israeli Feminist and Womens' Rights Advocate (February 26, 2010, Highland Park, IL) - Discussion: "Women in Israel, The Myths, The Reality and a Gender View of the Israeli Economy". A program of AICC, Aitz Hayim Center For Jewish Living, and the Petach Tikva Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.
Fight Back Against the Boycott (March 1 - March 14, 2010) - A community effort to fight unfounded boycotts of Israeli products during the 6th annual so-called "Apartheid Week". A program of AICC Buy Israel Goods.
Breakfast with Jordanian and Israeli Young Women Entrepreneurs (April 30, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Presented by the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, The Consulate of HK Jordan Chicago, the Amman & Petach Tikva Committees of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, the BIRD Foundation, AICC, and AABGU. Hosted by Arnstein & Lehr.
Israeli Hi-Tech Comes to the Midwest: How Two Israeli Companies Provide Solutions to the U.S. Market (May 18, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Gideon Jagerman of Elmotech and Jon Ross of Home Free Systems. A program of AICC Information Technology Group, AIEF, and the Illinois Technology Association. Sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman.
Israeli Wines and Tasting Pavilion, at the International Wine, Spirits, & Beer Event at the National Restaurant Association Show (May 23 & 24, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Government of Israel Economic Mission, with AICC's Buy Israel Goods and Food, Beverage and Consumables Committee.
U.S.-Israel Life Sciences Partnering Conference (May 2 - 3, 2010, Chicago, IL) - AICC Life Sciences Practice Group, AIEF, and the Government of Israel Economic Mission. Sponsored by Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Forest City Science + Technology Group, and Michael Rosen.
Reception Honoring Noa Asher, Israel's Economic Consul to the Midwest at the Conclusion of Her Chicago Tenure and Welcoming Her Successor Yariv Becher (May 25, 2010, Chicago, IL) - AICC. Sponsored by Michael Traison.
Delegation to ILSI-BioMed 2010 (June 13 - 17, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel).
Breakfast Reception to Welcome the AWWA ACE 10 Israel Delegation (June 22, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Debra Shore, Commissioner of The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; Oded Distel, Director of Israel New Tech; and Avraham Tenne, Head of Desalination at Water Authority Israel. A Program of AICC, AIEF, Government of Israel Economic Mission, and the Jewish National Fund. Sponsored by Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione.
The Economics of Terrorism: Criminal activity that funds terrorism and the role of banks and business in stopping the flow of funds (June 29, 2010, Chicago, IL) - A program of AICC. Sponsored by the Israeli Law Research Society's Anti-Terrorism Law Student Research Organization, Loyola University Chicago Law School, Ilan Shahar and Dan Stern.
Networking Reception With Israeli Defense Delegation (July 12, 2010, Naperville, IL) - Government of Israel Economic Mission and AICC.
"Israel's Role in Advancing Stem Cell Technology" - The ExCell Trial: Innovative Developments in Stem Cell Research (July 27, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Gerard Hoehn, Ph.D.: Medical Science Liaison-Oncology, Professional Affairs Medical Affairs Teva Pharmaceuticals, North America Branded Pharmaceuticals. A program of AICC Chicago Life Sciences Practice Group and AIEF. Sponsored and hosted by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
"Business For Peace" - Israel's Economy and Economic Cooperation With the West Bank (August 10, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Uriel Lynn, Chairman of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce. AICC. Hosted by Miller Canfield. Sponsored by Michael Traison.
The United States and Israel: Building Business Through Innovation (October 18 - 19, 2010, Washington, D.C.) - A program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce celebrating the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement. Co-sponsored by AICC.
Local Challenges and Israeli Solutions: A Discussion on the Future of Homeland Security (October 27, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Major General (Res.) Aharon Ze’evi Farkash, Former Director of Military Intelligence, Israel Defense Forces (2002-2006). A program of AICC Information Technology Group and AIEF. Sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman.
Membership Connection with Members of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce (November 8, 2010, Chicago, IL) - A program of AICC and the Polish AMerican Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Michael Traison.
Annual Awards & Celebration Dinner (November 18, 2010, Northbrook, IL) - Business Leadership Award Recipients: Michael Levy of the ARPAC Group, and Greg Levy, of ARPAC Hefestus. "Sandler" Award Recipient: Richard W. Laner of Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker, Levin & Tominberg, Ltd. Keynote Address delivered by Jonathan Medved, Co-Founder and CEO of Vringo.
U.S.-Israel Healthcare Innovation Conference: "The Future of Radiology" (November 29, 2010, Chicago, IL) - AICC Life Sciences Practice Group, AIEF, Government of Israel Economic Mission, and the Center for Healthcare Innovation. Sponsored by Grant Thornton LLP.
"How Israel Beat the Global Recession. 'Hanukah Party'" (December 8, 2010, Chicago, IL) - Featuring Boaz Blumovitz, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Bank Leumi USA. A program of AICC and JB2BN (Jewish Business to Business Network). Hosted by Grossinger Chicago. |
