Top: Consul General Lisette den Breems and her husband singing the Dutch National Anthem at the occasion of King's Day 2024 at the Consular Residence.

Bottom: Marcel Schulze, Executive Director EACC Netherlands and Christina Sleszynska, Executive Director EACC Florida at the occasion of a first business visit to Miami to discuss future projects.

Christina Sleszynska with Maria Dolores Fernandez and Francisco Garzon from the Trade & Investment Commission of Spain in Miami at an event focusing on Spain's Female Founders at eMerge 2024.

‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ rings true in the world of business leadership. A leader in Finland might have a vastly different approach to decision-making compared to one in the UK, Italy, France or Poland, not to mention in the United States, Canada or Latin America. Leadership styles are rooted in distinct cultural and historical backgrounds and the management approach that works in Chicago or Miami might not work in Brussels, Berlin, Madrid or Amsterdam.

This program will consider different leadership and management styles and will delve into the unique stories and learnings of American and European top executives of international or global companies.

To set the tone, we will hear from Colonel Guillaume de Sercey now retired from the French Foreign Legion. Uniquely, the Legion is characterized by 145 nationalities and cultures, thousands of soldiers serving a country that is not their own, and a great diversity in professional and personal backgrounds. He will share how aspects of the Legion’s management style can effectively be adapted to other types of organizations.

Colonel Guillaume de Sercey will be in conversation with Carol Cabezas, former President of Azamara Cruises and Dr. Victor Lozinski, Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman of the Board of LeverX. The conversation will be moderated by Ashlee M. Wright, a founder, CEO and leader in the education sector.

SPEAKERS

• Carol Cabezas, former President – Azamara Cruises
• Dr. Victor Lozinski, Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman of the Board - LeverX
• Colonel Guillaume de Sercey, formerly in the French Foreign Legion
• Ashlee Wright, Founder & CEO – WOT Educational Services [Moderator]

EVENT SCHEDULE

4.30 PM – 5.00PM:        Registration

5.00 PM – 6.00 PM:       Program

6.00 PM – 7.00 PM:       Networking

Geopolitics are making a roaring come-back probably not seen since the Cold War and are fundamentally challenging how companies and their Executives need to consider key business and strategic decisions especially when expanding internationally.

• How do current geopolitical tensions between North America and Europe impact cross-border business operations?
• What are the key challenges and opportunities for companies navigating regulatory differences between the US and EU markets?
• How can businesses effectively manage risks associated with shifting transatlantic trade policies such as export controls, tariffs and anti-dumping duties?
• How can geopolitical tensions affect foreign direct investments and M&A? What are the geopolitical implications for business growth and investments?

These are some of the questions discussed at the occasion of an EACC Florida program held on Thursday April 18^th. Emmanuel Desbats (Clasquin USA), Mark Ludwig (RSM US), Andreas Dal Santo (Solidus Capital Group), and Antonio Texeira (PICAdvanced) offered compelling evidence as to what “re-thinking strategy and resources” means for mid-sized companies looking to grow internationally and exchanged fascinating stories about successes, challenges and the needs to pivot of some companies that chose Florida as part of their internationalization strategy.

The program was hosted by RSM US in their new offices in Coral Gables, expertly moderated by Jodi Ader (RSM US) and followed by a lovely Happy Hour at which attendees lingered well into the evening.

Data Centres in Poland: Planning and Electricity. Over the last several years, Poland has been attracting increased investment in data centres. Poland hosts both globally recognised data centre developers, as well as a variety of local companies. Interest from global developers has surged in recent years, particularly since the pandemic. However, as in other countries, further development of Poland’s data centre market depends largely on special planning rules and the availability of electricity. Read more.

EU Listing Act: Simplifying a Stock Exchange Listing, in Particular for SMEs and UK Prospectus Reform. The EU Listing Act and UK Prospectus Reform are two different legislative reforms with a common goal: making public capital markets in the UK and EU more accessible and attractive for companies of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, seeking to raise capital and list on a stock exchange by reducing the costs and administrative burden of a public listing, whilst maintaining market integrity. A consistent theme in both sets of reforms is the need to create a pragmatic and commercial listing environment which will benefit public companies that nonetheless builds – and maintains – investor confidence in public markets. Read more.

The Key To Keeping Investors Engaged With Your Business — and 4 Ways To Do It. Investor engagement doesn’t stop once a funding round closes. Keeping investors informed is an ongoing task, and navigating it effectively is imperative for company founders looking to grow their businesses, as well as their relationship with current and future investors. Like any good relationship, it needs to be nurtured. Read more.

Compliments Greenberg Traurig

How 3D Printing And Prefab Are Changing Construction. The article covers the benefits of 3D printing for construction projects, the impact of prefabrication in the industry, and suggest developing a plan for navigating new technology to help those on project teams prepare for future challenges and opportunities. Read more.

FTC Issues Final Rule Banning Employee Noncompete Agreements. “Existing noncompetes for the vast majority of workers will no longer be enforceable [but] existing noncompetes” for senior executives can remain, “but employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives.” Read more.

Navigating Corruption: Implications for Venezuela’s Future. As Venezuelans prepare for a presidential election scheduled to take place on July 28, Kurt K. Lunkenheimer will be a panelist at a hybrid event, sponsored by the Inter-American Dialogue, focused on corruption in the country and whether it is realistic to expect that the election will be clean and fair. Read more.

Compliments Cozen O'Connor

IRS updates: ERC disclosure and claim withdrawal opportunity and other new compliance initiatives. The IRS has made important announcements regarding improperly claimed Employee Retention Credits (ERC) that taxpayers may wish to withdraw or disclose. Two programs offer an opportunity to do so without penalty. The IRS has also clarified how it will use Inflation Reduction Act funding, including a focus on tax compliance by corporations and high-net-worth individuals. These recent announcements – especially those related to the ERC – may affect a broad range of taxpayers. Read more.

Compliments Kaufman Rossin