'Beyond Plastics' is an encounter program between the City of Berlin, Germany, and the City of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on the topic of plastic waste management. The goal of this program is to create effective transatlantic connections, especially between decision-makers in the plastics industry, to stimulate and advance plastic prevention and proper plastic waste management initiatives in society, government, and industry.

A Berlin-based delegation will be visiting Atlanta in a four-day trip, to provide cultural and knowledge exchange among city officials, state officials, researchers, and businesses working in the field of plastic waste. This will be followed by an Atlanta-based delegation trip to Berlin. This trip will include visits to relevant facilities and agencies, public symposiums, panel discussions, cultural explorations and more.

Both in-person trips will be preceded by info webinars that serve as an introduction to the topic and discuss local approaches, current initiatives and challenges in each city. This info-webinar is designed for all residents of the cities of Berlin and Atlanta with an interest in the plastic waste management, especially those work in public institutions, universities, schools, private companies, etc. Join this info-webinar to learn more about the Beyond Plastics program and the City of Atlanta's plastic waste management goals and initiatives. 

This intercultural exchange is part of the Transatlantic Program. The Transatlantic Program is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany with funds from the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Learn more about the Transatlantic Program below: 

here 

GACC South Members and Non-Members: Free

Hear a business update from one of Upstate SC's largest trading partners.

Nearly 140 German companies call Upstate SC home, representing nearly 30% of the total international firms in the region. Knowing this, it probably comes as no surprise that Germany supports the largest number of jobs in the Carolinas among other international employers.

What is fueling the jaw-dropping foreign direct investment from Germany? And what impact does the current energy crisis have on the transatlantic economy and developments between the Carolinas, Germany, and other EU countries?

Join the European American Chamber of Commerce - Carolinas, GACC South: German American Chamber of Commerce Southern U.S., Upstate SC Alliance, and World Affairs Council Upstate to get those answers and discuss updates on current market developments. Melanie Moltmann, German Consul General in Atlanta, and Matthias Hoffmann, CEO of GACC South, will speak openly about the business relationship between Germany and South Carolina.

A networking reception will follow the discussion.

The United States is undergoing an Electric Revolution. The Biden Administration has set a goal for half of all car sales to be electric or hybrid by 2030. To support such an ambitious goal, both federal and private sectors are heavily investing in the development of sustainable electric infrastructure throughout the country. The Southeast and its automotive corridor is on the forefront of EV research and development, manufacturing, and investments.  

The GACC South is hosting the Transatlantic Electric Mobility Forum, funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, to highlight and discuss the exciting expansion of the electrification of transportation in the Southeast. This in-person conference will feature expert keynotes from both sides of the Atlantic, presentations by German EV-related companies, and networking with important stakeholders in the region.

Conference Highlights

• Current e-mobility developments & projects in Tennessee and Alabama

• Expert Speakers from Germany & the US

• Excellent Networking opportunities, free breakfast and lunch included

• EV Solutions made in Germany

• Panel Discussions

Preliminary Agenda

08:00 am Registration and Breakfast

Opening Remarks & Introduction

08:30 am “Welcome”
Matthias Hoffmann, President & CEO, German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., Inc.
Melanie Moltmann, Consul General, German Consulate General Atlanta 08:40 am “E-Mobility in Germany”
Frank Müller, Head of Main Office 09:00 am “E-Mobility in Tennessee and Alabama”
State Representative, State of Tennessee (inquired)
Greg Cranfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce 09:20 am Breakfast Keynote: International Cooperation in ‘Electrifying’ the EV Market
EV-OEM (inquired) 10:00 am Coffee Break

Block 1: The EV Revolution and the Supply Chain Shift

10:15 am Stakeholder Keynote Block 1
EV-OEM (inquired) 11:00 am Drei Bond 11:10 am EJOT 11:20 am Heraeus Battery Technology 11:30 am Kayser Automotive Systems 11:40 pm Q&A & Panel Discussion 12:30 am Lunch Break

Block 2: Expanding the Charging Infrastructure in Tennessee & Alabama

1:30 pm Stakeholder Keynote Block 2
Utility Company (inquired) 2:15 pm Coneva 2:25 pm Heidelberg Amperfied 2:35 pm Voitas 2:45 pm WITT 2:55 pm Q&A & Panel Discussion 3:45 pm Closing Remarks 4:00 pm End of Event

About our German Companies

The Transatlantic Electric Mobility Forum event is part of a week-long business delegation from Germany on the topic of Sustainable Mobility, funded by the Market Entry Program of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). The initiative aims to promote the support for German technologies in foreign markets by connecting them to local stakeholders, consultants, and business partners.

Click here to learn more about the Market Entry Program

German Companies:

• A Kayser Automotive Systems GmbH

• AMPERFIED GmbH

• coneva GmbH

• Drei Bond GmbH

• EJOT SE & Co. KG

• Heraeus Battery Technology GmbH

• Voitas Engineering GmbH

• WITT Solutions GmbH

GACC South Members & Non-Members: FREE

The German American Chambers of Commerce Apprenticeship Conference and Award will be held in Atlanta, GA on November 10. Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the conference program will focus on workforce development strategies and key projects. A high point of the event will be the GACC Apprenticeship Award ceremony, during which one company will be honored for their leadership and innovation in workforce development excellence in their implementation of a German-certified apprenticeship program in the US. The award honors their investment in education and the creation of valuable career pathways. 

Target audience: educators (technical college representatives, high school college and career academies); manufacturers (C suite, HR, plant managers); economic developers; political stakeholders 
 

Keynote Speaker: 

Melanie Moltmann, Consul General at German Consulate General in Atlanta

Confirmed Speakers: 

Workforce of the Future

-Larry Alford, Region Manager, Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Preparing for FDI

-Justin Haight, Industry Partnerships Manager, United Way of Greater Atlanta

-Manuele D’Aversa, CEO, & General Manager,  Linde + Wiemann

Agenda will be announced soon!

GACC South Members and Non-Members: Free

Develop leaders to build the culture that drives behaviors to exceed company goals. It is critical to understand the part that psychological safety plays in retaining top talent.

About this Event:

Develop leaders to build the culture that drives behaviors to exceed company goals. It is critical to understand the part that psychological safety plays in retaining top talent. The data is overwhelming in favor of trust and inspirational style leadership that drives employee engagement.

Stop hiring for skill and firing for behaviors, and learn the path to excellent company culture. Learn how Q-Works hears from industry experts on how to best retain employees.

Some light food and drinks will be served during the event. 

In partnership with: Q-Works

GACC South Members: Free
Non-GACC South Members: $20

Where is your company heading in these challenging times? Supply shortages, soaring prices, and volatile market: this is unlike everything CEOs, Company Owners, and Decision Makers have seen before. In this complex environment companies need to redefine their growth strategies. Participants will learn about key top management trends in North America and Europe and success stories with a practical approach to bring a company to the next level. Strategic Planning nowadays include Profitable Growth, 80/20, Cash Management, Market Penetration, and a Great Place to Work.

Participation possible IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL.

In-person networking (Houston) to start at 8.30am CST. Webinar (virtual) to start at 9am EST / 10am ET / 4pm MEZ.

GACC South Member Price: FREE
Non-GACC South Member Price: $10

The proposed European Supply Chain Directive and various statutes in EU countries are designed to monitor and enforce a system to prevent violations of environmental, global warming and human rights statutes. These require EU companies to audit their products and services providers along the entire global supply chain, including all direct and indirect business relationships.

Many US companies will become directly or indirectly subject to scrutiny, compliance, and burdens from this Directive and its implementation, as well as current statutes.

At an applied level companies must have a detailed illustration of their existing supplier arrangements. Businesses that are well primed now will have the best prospect of successfully implementing global agreements to comply with these complex, expansive, and potentially conflicting supply chain due-diligence laws.

Join us October 12, 2022 when we will outline the latest developments of the EU Supply Chain Directive and Key Elements of the EU, German, French, Netherlands, and UK laws. We will address how to prepare for the new regulatory requirements, including:

• Obligations, directors’ duties, civil liability and sanctions.

• Who does the EU Supply Chain Law apply to?

• How will the Directive impact small and mid-sized companies?

• How can you assess your supply chain for a preliminary analysis of operations?

• Are there high-priority sector lists and how to address them?

A networking reception will immediately follow this program. 

Our Speaker:

Steven Thal is a Principal at Offit Kurman and head of the firm’s German practice area. Steven has an extensive practice in international corporate and commercial transactions, with particular concentration in U.S. and European cross-border transactions.

Mr. Thal advises German, Swiss, and Austrian companies and individuals on cross-border transactions and United States legal issues. He has represented numerous large and mid-sized German-based multinational corporations. Mr. Thal, both a U.S. and German citizens and is admitted in New York and Germany.

GACC South Members: Free
Non-GACC South Members: $20