“Being able to benchmark with other European executives was immeasurably valuable. Quickly gaining knowledge from the EACC about taxes, immigration, labor, legalities and other business considerations helped us avoid roadblocks that could have slowed our business growth. Being integrally aligned with the EACC helped us establish an office in Cincinnati in 2003 with only a handful of employees growing to over 350 employees today. dunnhumbyUSA will continue to support the EACC by Stuart Aitken, our new COO and others within our organization,”
Simon Hay, CEO, dunnhumby
About the European-American Chamber of Commerce-Cincinnati Chapter (EACC):
The European-American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) stimulates business relations and economic development between Europe and the Greater Cincinnati area through initiatives and programs that encourage development, collaboration, networking and education. Founded in 2007 in Cincinnati, the EACC was the first chapter of its kind in the United States and is part of a growing network of chapters throughout the United States and Europe. The EACC leverages its transatlantic resources to provide assistance for businesses interested in exporting goods or services to Europe and actively recruits foreign investment by heightening awareness of Cincinnati abroad as an attractive place to live and work. EACC member companies represent a wide variety of businesses including national, multinational and global companies. In 2010, the EACC received the Ohio Governor Excellence In Exporting award for increasing awareness of exporting as a vital part of Ohio’s economy.
Mission:
To stimulate business and networking relations between Europe and the Cincinnati Tri-State region.
Means:
Achievement of the mission through education, exchanges, trade missions, increasing awareness, enhancing the Southwestern Ohio/ Northern Kentucky/Southeastern Indiana region’s and Europe’s image, providing information and resources, increasing social and personal interaction and improving the European expatriate community’s experience in our region.
Key Partnerships:
• EACC Cincinnati is part of a network of Greater Cincinnati international chambers that include the Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the India-U.S. Business Network, and the Japan American Society.
• The EACC partners with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber on foreign investment business matters and with the U.S. Commercial Service for exporting.
• The EACC Cincinnati works in partnership with EACC Paris, France, EACC New York, and EACC New Jersey.
Vital Statistics:
• The EACC was originally established in 2001 as the French-American Chamber of Commerce, and in 2007 transformed into the first European-American Chamber of Commerce in the United States to include all the countries of the European Market. The EACC is comprised of 160 member companies and 850 active members across manufacturing, services, , education/government, and not-for-profit categories of business, including CFM, Duke Energy, dunnhumbyUSA, Fifth Third Bank, GE Aviation, Luxottica Retail, Perfetti Van Melle, USA, Inc., Siemens Industry, among others.
• 35 new corporations joined the EACC in 2011, with renewal rates at 90%.
EACC Business Outreach:
2012 EACC Conference, Expo & Gala: Skilled Labor Workforce: Held annually in May, the EACC Conference gathers international, national and regional experts including companies from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss a major topic of concern for the membership base. In 2012, the EACC created the opportunity for transatlantic dialogue around the urgent need for a skilled labor workforce in the U.S. Learning from successful European models of apprenticeship programs, the Conference sought to generate potential solutions that would ensure the future economic prosperity of Greater Cincinnati and the United States.
European Country Briefings: The European Country Briefing Series is a quarterly program of the EACC, featuring briefings on European countries/markets in 2012: UK, Eastern Europe and Northern Europe. The series addresses the key issues U.S. companies encounter when looking to do business or establish a European presence. The format is based on an interactive panel discussion with key representatives from the highlighted country as well as case studies from other U.S. companies who have successfully launched a presence within that country.
Operating in Europe Series: Consisting of four distinct, issue specific, seminars, the Operating in Europe Series proactively address key issues U.S. companies face operating in Europe. The content is created from broad-based feedback garnered from Greater Cincinnati companies that have launched European operations or who seek more information for current activities in Europe.
EACC Roundtables: New in 2012, the EACC Executive Roundtable is a forum for local C-level executives to confidentially discuss challenges and experiences of running a transatlantic business with other senior leaders. Also new in 2012, the HR Roundtable is a quarterly forum that addresses strategies for recruiting, engaging and training a global workforce.
Young Professional Global Executive Series: New in 2012, these quarterly roundtable events for YPs, provide an opportunity for interaction with top-level global business executives for professional and personal development.
University Partnership Program: The EACC recognizes the importance of training the future generation of global leaders and has incorporated an educational plan in its strategic priorities that focus on leveraging the EACC’s transatlantic network of resources to:
• Provide internship placements at EACC Member Companies located in the United States and Europe.
• Establish meetings & facility tours for participants of the program at European locations.
• Connect students and faculty with high-level speakers and inspiring business leaders.
Partner academic institutions include Miami University, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
The EACC in the Media:
The EACC has been featured in the media, including the Cincinnati Enquirer, Business Courier, Cincy Magazine and on France Inter French Radio and 98.5 FM Montreal radio in Canada, UrbanCincy, Soapbox Cincinnati, and Building Cincinnati, among others.
