Since 1989 SACC-DC has offered a platform for developing U.S. – Swedish lucrative commercial ventures and professional opportunities through our network and business and social events. The SACC-DC Newsletter will help you stay on top of what’s happening in the Swedish-American business community and find the perfect opportunity to create new business connections in the greater Washington D.C. area and Mid-Atlantic region. |
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From the Executive Director |
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Dear Friends,
One cannot but notice the brilliant colors of fall heading to work every day here at the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. We are all involved in working to increase efficiency, safety and comfort for those coming after us, the seasons always inspire me with their returning beauty and the need to protect what we take for granted. As the new Swedish government is settling in with handing out new posts and implement their ideas,
The SACC-DC office is buzzing with activity, ideas, and planning. We try to offer our members the best. Hence the array of fun and stimulating events.
This month we remember one of the founders of SACC-USA and its chambers. Delmar Nordh who recently passed away. Take a moment to read about his amazing life written by his daughter Camilla Nordh.
In our highlight this month we aim the spotlight on one of our individual members, Anna Frick, from the World Bank.
As November marches in, SACC university platform aka, Sireus, is launching its first big event with visiting Swedish Universities on Nov 1 with nine of thirteen university members. We will be sure to include a readout of the event on that in our next newsletter, for now please have a quick, and hopefully, informative read below.
Christina Lazdins
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Member Spotlight: Anna Frick Senior HR Specialist, Recruitment at the World Bank. |
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How long have you been at the World Bank, what is your role there, and what did you do before this?
I have been working at the World Bank Group for over 9 years, I started at IFC-International Finance Corporation in May 2013. IFC is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group (WBG) and I am now working at the public sector arm-IBRD-International Bank of Reconstruction and Development, often referred to as the World Bank. Before joining the WBG I was living in London, UK where most of my time was spent working at PwC but the last year before moving to DC I was working with a recruitment firm called Investigo!
I work as a recruiter and I cover recruitment for Asia. The job involves salary calculations and negotiations, souring/headhunting, shortlisting and interviewing as well as outreach and special initiatives. At the moment we are recruiting for a program called the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Inclusive Fellowship Program.
What are the World Banks' primary responsibilities and goals as a financial institution?
The World Bank has set two ambitious goals to push extreme poverty to no more 3 percent by 2030, and to promote shared prosperity and greater equity in the developing world. To end extreme poverty, the Bank's goal is to decrease the percentage of people living with less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3 percent by 2030. To promote shared prosperity, the goal is to promote income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population in each country.
What are the main characteristics and experiences you look for when recruiting someone to work for the World Bank?
We are looking for strong technical skills and excellent communication skills and we appreciate people that are collaborative and have leadership skills (and that they can display leadership even without a formal leadership role). We hire into several different areas and I would like to share a list of our different specialties in various areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, energy, education, etc. together with numerous corporate units such as Accounting, Finance, Communications, Human Resources, amongst others: https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/unit
Please find more information about our jobs and careers at the World Bank Group here.
As an individual member at SACC-DC, what have you gained from being a part of the network? Which events have been the most rewarding and why?
SACC-DC is an excellent network for people in DMV area! I love the different events with fascinating speakers. The latest event that I had the pleasure of attending was the crayfish party! Fun and interesting people, exquisite food and the best speaker (Karin Olofsdotter)! And of course, it is an excellent way to network. I had friends here on business from Sweden that joined the crayfish party and I believe the connections they made were truly helpful!
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Founder Honoring - Sven Delmar Nordh
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April 19, 1931 - October 7, 2021
In remembrance of a Swedish American, Sven Delmar Nordh, whose extraordinary lifetime of adventure and achievement lives on through his impact on the Swedish American community:
Delmar Nordh was one of the co-founders of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) in Washington DC in the late 1980s. The seeds of SACC grew from informal discussions during monthly “Ärtsoppa Gruppen” evenings in which 8-10 of the leading figures in the Scandinavian community gathered informally at each other’s houses to commune socially. Fueled by hearty yellow split pea soup, crisp bread, and punsch, each member of Ärtsoppa Gruppen contributed their individual expertise and professional history to the table talk. With myriad professional qualifications among them-yet the role of distinguished executive leadership and innovative drive uniting them-it was a power dynamic akin to a multilateral think tank.
Two of the Ärtsoppa Gruppen, Lars Bjerde and Bengt Hallare, soon realized the need for a formal network of Swedish American business professionals in the Washington DC area. Bjerde and Hallare asked Nordh to be a part of the development and implementation of this idea for an official business network. Delmar Nordh’s position as SAS manager, his ties to myriad Scandinavian associations, and his proven business acumen could and would play a pivotal part in securing a solid foundation for the future Swedish American Chamber of Commerce.
It is with deepest respect and gratitude that we recognize the efforts and contributions to the Swedish American community by Sven Delmar Nordh (04/19/1931-10/07/21).
A few of Sven Delmar Nordh’s extraordinary accomplishments include:
- Co-founding member of Swedish American Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC
- Knighted by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden.
- Manager, Scandinavian Airlines Systems
- Member of the prestigious International Explorers Club
- Competive downhill and aerial skier with the SAS international ski team
- Professional figure skater, partnering Sonia Henie and Barbara Ann Scott, with Hollywood Ice Revue including performances at Madison Square Gardens and The Ed Sullivan Show.
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Photos provided by Camilla Nordh, Delmar Nordhs daughter. |
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Welcome Nederman to the SACC-DC community! |
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The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Washington DC is pleased to announce that Nederman has joined us as a Corporate member. Nederman is a multinational corporation that has its headquarters in Helsingborg, Sweden. They offer industrial air filtration solutions and products to create safe and healthy work environments. Clean air is their primary focus, and by protecting people from the harmful effects of industrial work, they contribute to environmental sustainability and more efficient production. With over 75 years of experience, Nederman has helped shape the industrial air filtration industry and is developing the next generation of solutions for clean industrial airflows.
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34th Annual Golf Tournament at Westfields Golf Club |
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On Thursday, October 13th, SACC-DC hosted its 34th annual Gold tournament at Westfields Golf Club. Thankfully the weather held up, and we got an incredible full day of golfing and networking!
We heard welcome speeches by SACC-DC's Executive Director, Christina Lazdins, and President of Nammo, Kjell Kringsjå. Seeing all our members out on the field enjoying a golf game was fantastic. After the tournament, we all came together for drinks and dinner while watching prizes being handed out to the players. We had the pleasure of hearing director Max Bergmann from CSIS talk about European geopolitics. This year the donation went to the Whitman-Walker Institute, and Executive Director Kellan E. Baker joined us at the dinner and gave us a background of the organization. Press here to learn more about Whitman-Walker Institute. We are so happy with the success of this year's event and want to thank everyone who came out to join us on the golf course!
SACC-DC wants to thank our Platinum sponsor, Nammo; our Gold Sponsors, Pillsbury, Kelley Drye, Barnes & Thornburg, Haypp Group; and our Silver Sponsors, Volvo Cars and ABB. We are so grateful for our sponsors that made this event possible!
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The New Swedish Government |
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Image: TT News Agency/Tima Aro
Swedens new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
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Sweden's 2022 general election led to a powershift in government. The then-incumbent Social Democratic government got defeated by the right-wing parties. Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson has formed a right-wing coalition with the Liberal party and the Christian Democrats but will govern with support from the populist right-wing party, the Sweden Democrats. The policy deal between the new government and the Sweden Democrats includes greater police powers and stricter immigration policies.
On Tuesday, October 19, Sweden's new Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, presented his new government. New cabinet ministers include Moderat politician Tobias Billström as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Christian Democrats leader Ebba Bush as Minister of Energy, Business, and Industry. The new government has removed the ministry of enviroment that has been in place since 1987. Environmental issues will instead be managed under the ministry of industry. The former head of the Liberal Party's youth wing, Romina Pourmokhtari, will work under Ebba Bush as Minister of Climate and the Environment. At age 26, Pourmokhtari is the youngest Minister in Sweden's history.
When introducing the new government, Ulf Kristerson presents four major areas he feels requires urgent attention. He talks about fighting increasing crime and dealing with the recession and high inflation. Other challenges facing Sweden's new government are energy supply and the upcoming NATO membership which is still on hold by Turkey.
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International Networking Reception |
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SACC-DC, together with the British American Business Association (BABA) and the French American Chamber of Commerce (FACC), held a wonderful networking reception earlier this month. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet interesting representatives from British and French companies. During the event, a very appreicated gin tasting was held, sponsored by Stockholms Bränneri.
We are looking forward to future collaborations with BABA and FACC!
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Business Services Provided by SACC DC |
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SACC-DC holds a unique position to provide members valuable connections with other member companies or small business, potentially resulting in new collaborations, clients, and partnerships. Read more about our B2B Matchmaking service and how to make a request here.
Your company has the opportunity to be assisted by a Business Associate or a trainee with short-term projects aiming to increase your knowledge about specific markets. Read more about our Trade Services and how to make a request here.
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Don't miss a unique chance to meet and get to know staff and alumni from top Swedish universities, who will give you the insights on high-level education opportunities in Sweden!
The Swedish universities are top-ranked and offer over 1000 Master’s degrees taught in English. Known for its cutting-edge research, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as focus on sustainability, an education from Sweden opens a world of possibilities. Sweden is home to 10 million inhabitants, 5,000 nature reserves, and our capital Stockholm produces the most million-dollar companies per capita in the world, after Silicon Valley. Join us, and learn more about the Swedish way!
Click on the link here to find out more about SIREUS and register for the event!
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SACC Summit in Florida
Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 3-4
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The annual SACC Summit is a key event to support and facilitate economic expansion and business between the United States and Sweden. Gathering business leaders and entrepreneurs together with representatives from 20 regional Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce, the SACC Summit provides a robust platform for customer discovery and business development. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet regional decision makers in Florida, a prime location for business.
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Holiday Party on December 6 |
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SACC-DC is happy to announce that we are hosting a Holiday Party on December 6 at the House of Sweden. Enjoy Christmas drinks and appetizers while experiencing a traditional Swedish Lucia Celebration. For more information and instructions on how to buy tickets, please visit our website here.
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Nordic Innovation & Sustainability Forum 2023 |
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Scandinavian Innovation Forum on April 26th at the Royal Embassy of Norway in Washington D.C. |
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Earlier this year, on April 26th Scandinavian Innovation Forum was hosted at the Royal Embassy of Norway in Washington, D.C. The Swedish- American Chamber of Commerce of Washington D.C. collaborated with the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce Mid-Atlantic, the Royal Embassy of Norway, and the Embassy of Sweden. Scandinavian Innovation Forum highlighted the latest insights into the U.S.demand for green solutions and Scandinavia's supply-driven innovations.
We are happy to announce that we are currently in the early stages of planning next year's event. Because of the success of the Scandinavian Innovation Forum, we decided to create the Nordic Innovation & Sustainability Forum, together with both the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce Mid-Atlantic and the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce, New York. The event will be hosted at the House of Sweden on April 19th, 2023.
If you are working on specific environmental sustainability projects that could fall under the theme of A Sustainable Village and would like to have your project and company highlighted, please contact us at info@sacc-dc.org. We are looking for sponsors and welcome your support and generosity. Thank you.
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Interested in joining the SACC DC community?
Become a member!
Visit our membership page to join as a new member, or renew your membership through the membership portal. SACC DC organizes many events throughout the year to give our members access to professional networking. We also tailor trade missions for Swedish companies interested in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. Whether an individual with a keen interest in or connection with Sweden living in D.C. or a company looking to establish new relationships, we can help you reach your next goal.
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