FACC at Palm Beach Strategic Forum 2013

The third edition of the Palm Beach Strategic Forum was held on 8^th and 9^th April at Convention Center, West Palm Beach. A two-day event that brought together leading policy makers, business executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, and civic leaders to discuss strategies to accelerate growth in the economy and develop business opportunities. Participants from across Florida, the United States and the international community gathered to share their views about critical financial, economic, energy and global trade issues.

Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida attended the forum together with Consul General, Ambassador Jukka Pietikainen from New York,. During the two days we were privileged to listen honorable speakers such as Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Canada, E. Gerald Corrigan, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Chairman, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a delightful conversation between Governors Rick Perry, Texas and Rick Scott, Florida. The Chamber representatives, together with Jukka Pietikainen had also a possibility to meet privately with Prime Minster of Namibia, Hage Geingob and Governor Rick Scott. You may see a full list of distinguished speakers here.

Following the Forum, Finnish American Chamber of Commerce organized a reception in honor of Consul General, Jukka Pietikainen.  The event was focused on finding collaborative partners between Finland and Florida with special emphases in Life Science. We had a pleasure of hosting Dr. Matthias Haury, the new COO of Max Plank Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Dr. Bernadette Russell, Provost from Palm Beach State Collage, Michael Gregson, President and Founder of Life Science Technology HUB, Melody I,. Sanger, CEO of Drug Study Institute and many other FACC members and friends.

The event was sponsored by Optimus Consulting Group Inc, providing soft landing services to Finnish Companies in the United States and Polatsek, Counsellors-at-Law, providing Immigration and Naturalization services.

                 

G-Star School of the Arts for Film located at West Palm Beach, Florida, was named number one High School for Film in the World

Each year the Washington Post ranks the best high schools out of 37,000 high schools in the country.  In the just-released report G-Star, the largest Film, Acting and Television Production high school in the nation, had one of the highest advances in the rankings by jumping past 315 other top ranked schools.

Four years ago when Mrs. Kim Collins became Principal she implemented a new educational plan working with each department in the school and the school's administration.  In that four year period G-Star achieved full national accreditation from AdvancED, began a new International Baccalaureate World School Program, and installed a new Digital Media Career Path in 3-D animation and film.  Today G-Star is an "A" rated school that graduates 99% of its students with 97% going on to college.  This past semester 41% of G-Star students have a 3.5 Grade Point Average or above; and 21% have a 4.0 GPA or above.  In addition, the Raindance Film Festival, Europe's largest independent film festival, held in London, UK, named G-Star "The Number One High School for Film in the World".  Also during this time, G-Star built the largest motion picture sound stage in Florida where major film stars, celebrities, and corporate productions (NIKE, Rolex, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.) work with their students as interns on their sets. 

  

The school is committed to helping young people improve their grades, promote a drug-free lifestyle, open doors to new skills, give them pride in their workmanship, keep them in school and focused on attaining a college education, and to encourage them to explore new career opportunities through the "hands-on" training and expertise they ultimately develop in writing, directing, producing and starring in TV programs and film making - and to help create a film and TV industry here in Palm Beach County for their future employment. Those G-Star students who have good grades and good behavior will receive real-world, hands-on experience working on the sets of multi-million dollar feature films, commercials, music videos and more.

The mission of G-Star is “to prepare and educate students to demonstrate mastery in the arts and academics, to achieve physical, social, emotional, and intellectual wellness and to implement career goals and strategies.”

More about G-Star School visit:

http://www.gstarschool.org/newsite/index.html

PBI gets non-stop flights from Montreal, Canada

The Palm Beach International Airport welcomed the inaugural Air Canada nonstop flight from Montreal, Canada this week. Air Canada is flying an Airbus 319, with 120 passengers on its weekly Sunday service to and from Montreal and Palm Beach International Airport. This is the first non-stop flight from Montreal to The Palm Beaches. The flight will depart Montreal on Sundays at 4:30 pm and touchdown in West Palm Beach at 7:50 pm. The return flight will leave Palm Beach International Airport at 8:45 pm and arrive the next day in Montreal at 12:10 am.
Read more here.

New Census Data 2010

The United States has released its new Census data for 2010. The population change for the whole country went up +9.7% and was as per Apri 1, 2010 a whopping 308,745,538 people.
Florida's population growth was even higher and it increased by +17.6% putting Florida on the 10th place on population density by state with its 18,801,310 people.
You may read more about this date here.

ATM that dispenses gold

Boca Raton mall unveiled ATM that dispenses gold. Is the purpose to start exchanging gold in stead of dollars or is it just a great gift idea instead of those gift cards that can get lost you would give a ton of gold!

The gold ATM is made by a German company called Gold on the Go, which had its first machine operational in Abu Dhabi this year, and has had its gold vending machines operating in Germany, Italy and Spain. The one in Boca Raton will be the company's first in America.

You may read more about it here.

Member of the Year 2010 announced

Mr. Timo Vainionpaa with USAsuomeksi.com was given a Member of the Year 2010, plague. Timo has been a vital asset to our organization with his willingness to help in so many different ways and always with great attitude. Not only does he give help when asked but he also takes the initiative and brings suggestions to the table. This is the only way an organization such as our can move forward and create value to our members.
Thank you Timo for your contribution and we look forward of working with you in 2011!!

Palm Beach counties mixed picture in commercial real estate

Investors are snapping up shopping centers and apartment complexes but shunning offices. That’s according to LoopNet’s analysis of investment in commercial real estate in Palm Beach County for the 12 months ended Sept. 30.

LoopNet tracks institutional-grade deals of $2.5 million or more. Its findings:

Sales of retail properties soared to $295 million in the past year from $47 million a year ago. Capitalization rates rose to 7.8 percent from 7.4 percent last year. (The “cap rate” is a common valuation measure for commercial real estate. The higher the rate, the less optimistic investors are.)
Apartment sales rose to $425 million from $134 million. Price per unit soared to $138,234 from $76,856 a year ago, while cap rates fell to 5.6 percent from 6.5 percent.
Office sales fell to $90 million this year from $186 million a year ago. Prices per square foot plunged to $108 from $185, while office cap rates jumped to 9.6 percent from 8 percent.

By Jeff Ostrowski
Source: Palm Beach Post