March 2024

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ATTENDANCE OF

THE AGP 26TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION DINNER IN BIRMINGHAM

The AGP 26th Annual Celebration Dinner took place at The Club that offered a beautiful view of Birmingham's skyline. The record-breaking attendance and support of the dinner event and the AGP business forum the following day were overwhelming. On behalf of AGP Chair Michael Brooks, the AGP Board of Officers and Directors, and the office of AGP - THANK YOU! Your outstanding support and participation is very much appreciated.

Please enjoy the many moments captured at the anniversary celebration in the photo gallery.

AGP recognized nine companies for their investments and expansions announcements over the last year:

• Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility, Mobile
• Bocar US, Inc., Tanner
• Eissmann Automotive, Pell City
• Knauf Insulation, Inc., Lanett
• Miele Manufacturing Inc., Opelika
• Rausch & Pausch (RAPA), L.P., Auburn
• REHAU Automotive LLC, Cullman
• Schmidt Automotive USA, L.P., Auburn
• Star Cooperation USA, Inc., Vance

They join the 80+ German companies that have operations in Alabama. We thank them for their continued trust and investments in Alabama. The recognition was presented by: Ellen McNair, Secretary of Commerce, Alabama Department of Commerce; Melanie Moltmann, German Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Southeast of the US; Matthias Hoffmann, president, and CEO, German American Chamber of Commerce South.

Dr. Rebecca Linam, German professor at University of North Alabama, received the much deserved Dr. Barbara Fischer Education Award for her contributions to the advancement of the German-Alabama relationship in north Alabama through her hands-on teaching. The award was presented by Dr. Angela Ferguson, Samford University and Dr. Douglas Lightfoot, The University of Alabama.

Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, was recognized with the Rainer Bauer Award. The honor was established in 2001 to recognize individuals for outstanding accomplishments, dedicated service and loyal friendship to the AGP, both in Alabama and in Germany. Bronner was a key player in Alabama’s efforts to recruit Mercedes-Benz. The award was presented by Bill Taylor. Bill is a former Rainer Bauer recipient himself and have enjoyed a successful 38-year career in the automotive industry.

Video greetings was sent from Germany to Dr. Bronner from Ola Kaellenius, Chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group, and CEO of Mercedes-Benz.

A special thank you to Melanie Moltmann, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and to Secretary of Commerce, Ellen McNair, for their remarks. We also enjoyed a very informative keynote by Thomas Speidel, ADS-TEC Energy. Thank you for the Emcee extraordinaire Jason Isbell with Regions Bank.

AGP Business Forum the following day was a morning with presentations and panel discussions on the German American Business Outlook 2024, briefing on the European Outlook of investing in Alabama and energy issues in Europe, plus how Inflation Reduction Act is affecting the Foreign Direct Investments in the states. The event took place at the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Thank you to Melanie Moltmann, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany; Matthias Hoffmann, German American Chamber of Commerce South; Christoph Doerr, Alabama Department of Commerce; and Robert Stackpole, U.S. Department of Commerce; for sharing their perspective, insight and knowledge. Also thank you to the moderators: AGP Chair Michael Brooks, The Alabama International Trade Center and AGP Vice Chair Lauren Salas Lambiase, Alabama Power Company.

If you sponsored or attended the event we would love to receive your feedback. It takes 3-5 minutes and it will helps us do even better

Thank you to all the events sponsors. We are truly thankful for your support and dedication to the organization.

AGP Young Professionals German Company Visit

Join the AGP Young Professionals (age 17 to 39) for a German company visit:

Thursday, April 4, 2024

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

BLG Logistics, Inc. in Northport

The German company BLG Logistics will be opening their doors to the AGP Young Professionals. This is a free event and an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about this industry (automotive logistics), their operations and career opportunities. Come see where the heart of the Mercedes EV is shipped in from Asia, tested and repacked to be sent to Mercedes in Vance.

Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:

German auto supplier completes $9.2M metro area expansion

By Birmingham Business Journal

German automotive supplier Eissmann Automotive NA has wrapped up an expansion of its Pell City facility.

The manufacturer said in 2022 it planned to invest $3.4 million to bring new advanced manufacturing equipment to its new production line. Leaders at that time planned to hire 79 more employees to support the production for new orders.

The project changed to be a $9.2 million expansion for a new advanced manufacturing equipment for a new production line, according to the St. Clair County Economic Development Council. The company now expects to hire an additional 121 employees to support the production line that is scheduled to come online at the end of the month.

The company specializes in car interiors, built-to-print trim components, shifter modules and many other parts for German and domestic automakers such as Mercedes, Audi, Jeep, Tesla, Porsche, Volkswagen and others.

Read Birmingham Business Journal's Full Story

Airbus expands military aircraft center

By AL.com

Photo Credit: Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Rob Geckle, chairman and CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new hangar at Airbus’ U.S. Military Aircraft facility in west Mobile on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Behind him are, from left, Jose-Antonio De La Fuente, head of Airbus U.S. Military Aircraft; Bradley Byrne, president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber; Chris Curry, president of the Mobile Airport Authority; and Mobile City Council member Gina Gregory.

A branch of Airbus that specializes in upgrading and overhauling military aircraft has expanded its operations in Mobile, cutting the ribbon Wednesday on a new hangar for an operation that has doubled its workforce in the last few years and continues to add skilled jobs.

Airbus U.S. Military Aircraft, a branch of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, is not the biggest Airbus operation in Mobile or the one that attracts the most public notice. It is, however, the oldest, having set up shop at Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile in 2005. That’s two years before Airbus opened an engineering center at the Brookley Aeroplex, a forerunner of the massive Final Assembly Lines it would later bring to Brookley.

Read AL.com's Full Story

Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:

AlabamaGermany Partnership Breakfast at Auburn University

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering invites members of the Alabama-Germany Partnership to join us for breakfast in the McCartney Suite (3rd floor of Shelby Center) located at 359 West Magnolia Ave. This event will allow members to network and discuss ways to collaborate and partner with the College of Engineering. Consul General Melanie Moltmann of the German Consulate General in Atlanta will also be in attendance to address the AGP members.

The breakfast will be followed by AU's SPRING 2024 AUBURN ENGINEERING EMPLOYER SUMMIT

The Employer Summit is geared toward employers who want to learn more about engaging with Auburn Engineering through recruitment, research, on-line education, and capstone sponsorship. The event is designed to increase the collaboration potential between your company and Auburn Engineering. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with other employers as well as undergraduate and graduate students who will share their research and capstone projects. It will be advantageous to have both HR managers and Engineering managers attend. 

Alabama exports set another record at $27.4 billion

A new annual record for Alabama export was set in 2023. Germany was the top destination for export with $5.1 billion - up with 17%. Overall, transportation equipment, which include motor vehicles, auto parts, ships and aerospace products, remained Alabama’s No. 1 export category.

Transportation equipment, including automobiles, once again was the top category for Alabama exports. Pictured is the Mercedes EQS SUV, which is made in Vance.

Governor Kay Ivey announced last month that Alabama companies exported goods and services worth over $27.4 billion in 2023, setting a new annual record for the second consecutive year and underscoring the resilience of the state’s economy.

The value of last year’s exports rose 6% from the previous year’s total of $25.5 billion, according to data from the Alabama Department of Commerce. Compared to 2020, when international trade was disrupted by the pandemic, the value of Alabama’s exports has jumped almost 43%.

Last year’s record export activity was driven by rising overseas shipments of Alabama-made vehicles, aerospace parts, minerals and metals, Commerce data indicate.

“Exporting acts as a fundamental economic pillar that supports growth in Alabama, sparking both new investment and job creation here at home,” Governor Ivey said.

Read Made in Alabama's Report



AGP Welcomes New Members

Please help us welcome our new members:

Corporate - PATRON

Korn Consult Group US Inc.

Holger Korn

CEO/ Managing Partner

Alfred Haas

Senior Project Manager

The KORN CONSULT GROUP is a renowned consulting company consisting of experienced industry professionals who support national and international projects for their customers. The focus of their activities is the sustainable and high-quality consulting as well as the support of processes. Their focus is on the implementation of technologies and operational excellence, supply chain management, interim management, and engineering services. They define and live quality along with project results according to the highest process standards.



Learn more at: www.korn-consult.com

Corporate - SUSTAINING

Miele Manufacturing Inc.

Ulf Kranz

President/CEO

Dr. Uwe Brunkhorst

Head of the Business Unit Cooking Miele Germany

Jan Vüllers

Director of Operations Miele Manufacturing Inc USA

Miele is a German manufacturer of high-end domestic appliances and commercial equipment, headquartered in Gütersloh, Ostwestfalen-Lipp. The company was founded in 1899 by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann, and has always been a family-owned and family-run company.

Since being founded, Miele has followed its 'Forever Better' brand promise. This means: they will do all that they can to be "forever better" than their competitors and "forever better" than they already are. For their customers, this means the peace of mind of knowing that choosing Miele is a good decision - and probably the decision of a lifetime. Miele prides itself on delivering timeless, elegant designs and convenient technology to your home with their Miele appliances.

Learn more at: www.miele.com

Corporate - SUSTAINING

Arnold Logistics GmbH

Volker Lenzing

Managing Director

Greg Goodwin

US Director for Business Development

Arnold Logistics is your project cargo and break bulk specialist, they provide successful solutions for worldwide project cargo and have done so for more than 66 years. They move any size and weight in the air, on the water, or over land. Their service includes worldwide custom clearance and all documentation. 52 weekly services connecting everywhere in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and all Arab countries.

Their service guarantees detailed planning, comprehensive consultation, and perfect organization to safely deliver project shipments involving extremely heavy and/or extremely valuable goods. Taking care of your cargo is more than just a job at Arnold Logistics. They specialize in heavy lifts and logistics service and ensure with their technical capabilities truly individual implementation concepts for your sophisticated transportation.

Learn more at: www.arnold-uslogistics.com

Corporate - REGULAR

Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

David V. Lucas

Partner

Womble Bond Dickinson is an international law firm with offices in the US & UK, including London & Silicon Valley, serving clients across every business.

Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is a law firm based in the United States. Their 32 offices on both sides of the Atlantic provide a breadth of legal experience and services to meet their clients’ needs, without losing the intimacy of being deeply connected to their local communities. With 24 US offices spanning from Boston to Atlanta and Houston to Silicon Valley, they truly are the transatlantic law firm close to home. And as a proud member of Lex Mundi, they are able to provide clients with their high standard of legal service across the globe.

Learn more at: www.womblebonddickinson.com

Corporate - REGULAR

Harmon Dennis Bradshaw, Inc.

Jarrod Bates

Commercial Property & Casualty Risk Advisor

Harmon Dennis Bradshaw, Inc. has been providing comprehensive business and personal insurance options to businesses and individuals throughout the United States since 1977. They have clients and expertise in many industries: manufacturing, construction, forestry/logging, healthcare, real estate, transportation, non-profits, educational institutions, law firms, retail establishments, wholesalers, dealerships, garage operations, logistics firms, environmental consultants, marinas and marine focused industries, temporary staffing/PEOs, hospitality including restaurants and hotels, public entities, architects and engineers.

Because they’re independent, their priority is you—not the insurance company. They represent many different insurance companies which offer a wide variety of coverage options and price points. Their goal is to deliver the right blend of price, coverage and service. As one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Alabama their insurance advisors have the experience to navigate the unique risks you face.

Learn more at: www.hdbinsurance.com

Corporate - ASSOCIATE

Job Impulse Inc.

Ashley Glenn

Branch Manager

Job Impulse is an experienced global staffing solutions provider with a track record of outstanding success since their inception in 2006. The company was started in Germany. Today, they operate a network of over 53 offices across 13 countries, employing over 9,500 individuals worldwide.

With passion and dedication, they connect individuals with employment opportunities. Their remarkable success lies in their ability to bridge the gap between labor supply and demand in the job market.

With the highest level of professionalism and the best contacts in many business and industry sectors, they implement needs-based and custom-fit personnel solutions for both companies and their employees. Whether you are just starting out in your career, re-entering the workforce or making a change in your career, Job Impulse is always the right contact – in line with their motto ‚We bring people to their destination‘.

Learn more at: www.job-impulse.us

Corporate - ASSOCIATE

Rauch & Associates

Lauren Rauch

President

With more than 25 years of manufacturing recruitment expertise, Rauch & Associates is proud to collaborate with innovative companies worldwide, quickly addressing their difficult recruitment requirements. Over time, they have refined their search approach, using a detailed and robust process to comprehensively explore the talent market and ensure successful outcomes.

Their experience spans from assisting top-tier global automotive manufacturers to aiding ambitious technology start-ups with specialized roles and conducting executive-level searches for Fortune 500 companies. Throughout, their dedication to securing optimal outcomes has consistently remained their driving force.

Learn more at: www.TeamRauch.com

Governmental Entity/Non Profit

Alabama Office of Apprenticeship

Josh Laney

Director

The mission of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship is to expand the use of registered apprenticeships (RAs) and promote all forms of work-based learning for providing high-quality career training which will enable workers and employers to prosper in pursuit of the continued economic development of our state of Alabama.

Learn more at: www.alapprentice.org

As an AGP member, you can connect with them through the

AGP membership database (except individuals memberships).



AGP Membership 2024

2024 AGP Membership Renewal Now Open

Thank you for your support as an AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) member in 2023!

Membership renewals have been emailed out and we hope you will renew your membership or become a new member TODAY! Your support will help us deliver new programming and support our ability to connect businesses, organizations, governments, and individuals. Didn’t get your renewal? Email us at director@alabamagermany.org or use the link below to renew.

AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) is an extremely active organization. Many of Alabama’s leading German and American companies are active participants in AGP. The organization facilitates:

• Networking Events
• Educational Outreach
• German Dinners
• Cultural Workshops
• Business Seminars
• Young Professionals Events
• Roundtables for German Company Leaders
• Study Trips to Germany

Join us today and be a part of our diverse group of industrial, corporate, cultural, educational, and governmental leaders. 

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