2026 Economic Summit

A unique international partnership forum for delegations from the United States, Czech Republic and Slovakia, building on the consequences of modern history while focusing on the present-day economic opportunities, organized by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) and co-organized/supported by NCSML partners that include: Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, D.C., Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, American Friends of the Czech Republic, Washington, D.C., Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy at Florida International University in Miami, Czech North American Chamber of Commerce & Culture in Atlanta, Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, et al.

Held at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Preliminary Program

3rd Annual Economic Summit

Shaping Opportunities for Our Collective Future

Day 1: April 30, 2026, 4-7 p.m.

Registration, Rozek Grand Hall, 4-5 p.m.
Exhibit Opening with Keynote Address, From Needle and Thread to UNESCO: Women’s Painting Manuscript of Kovačica Naïve Painting, Rozek Grand Hall, 5-6 p.m.
Pre-Event Networking, Rozek Grand Hall, 6-7 p.m.

Day 2: May 1, 2026, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall
Moderated by Dr. Dalibor Mikuláš, Vice President and COO, NCSML

 
Registration, Rozek Grand Hall, 9-10 a.m.

Welcome Remarks, 10 a.m.
Dr. Cecilia Rokusek, President & CEO, NCSML
His Excellency Miloslav Stašek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Embassy of the Czech Republic to the United States of America
His Excellency Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Embassy of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America
 
Keynote Address by
Dr. Tomáš Sedláček, Former Advisor to President Václav Havel, Director of the Václav Havel Library, Prague, Czech Republic
Tomáš Sedláček gained international fame for his award-winning, bestselling book, Economics of Good and Evil: The Quest for Economic Meaning from Gilgamesh to Wall Street (Oxford University Press, 2011), which was translated into 22 languages, and received the prestigious German “Wirtschaftsbuchpreis” at Frankfurt Book Fair for its original philosophical contribution to economics.
 
US & International Panels, 10:40 a.m.
Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, City of Cedar Rapids
Nicole Crain, President, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Des Moines, IA
Juliet Abdel, President & CEO, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Vladimír Lackovič, Special Representative to the U.S. for Trade and Investment with the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), New York
Monika Vintrlíková, CEO, ALBAform Inc., Czech North American Chamber of Commerce & Culture (CNACCC Inc.), Atlanta
Jakub Utěšený, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago

Šimon Pánek, Executive Director, People in Need (largest Central and Eastern European NGO), Czech Republic
Šimon Pánek is a Czech humanitarian leader who co-founded People in Need and serves as the executive director of People in Need, the largest Central and Eastern European NGO. He first came to prominence as a student activist and leader of anti‑communist regime strikes during the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Under his leadership, People in Need has gained international respect for delivering humanitarian aid and supporting human rights in crisis zones and restrictive authoritarian states across the globe.

Orloj Angels Dedication and Unveiling, 1 p.m. Buresh Immigration Clock Tower

Lunch served by Peppercorn Food Company, Rozek Grand Hall, 1:15 p.m.

US & International Panels & B2B Meetings, 2:15-4:30 p.m.

Conclusions
Concurrent Public Concert, 7 p.m. (Additional Registration Required), WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall

NCSML Concurrent Events (Additional Registration Required)

Four Tenors Concert

May 1, 7:30 p.m. Rozek Grand Hall

John Mica Special Book Collection Opening (Free to the Public)

Exhibit Ribbon Cutting with a Keynote Address

May 2 at 11 a.m., Skala Bartizal Library

New Bohemia Walking Tour with Mark Stoffer Hunter

May 2, Beginning at Rozek Grand Hall

6th Annual Preciosa Gala

May 2, at 5:30 p.m., Rozek Grand Hall & WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall

NCSML Legacy Brunch

May 3, WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall

NCSML Exhibits

Woodcut Mozart, Anderson Gallery

From Needle and Thread to UNESCO: Women’s Painting Manuscript of Kovačica Naïve Painting, Petrik Gallery

Dressler Pottery from the Nic Bernstein Collection, Smith Gallery

Matters of Record: Framing History, Skala Bartizal Library

John Mica Special Book Collection, Skala Bartizal Library

Faces of Freedom: The Czech and Slovak Journey, Jiruska Gallery

Sleger Family Immigrant Home