May 2 – 3, 2024
- This event has passed.
Event Series:
Economic Summit
Economic Summit
May 2 @ 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Understanding the Past to Build the Future
Registration required by April 29, 2024
A unique forum for delegations from the USA, Czech Republic and Slovakia building on the consequences of modern history related to the period of WWI, WWII, 1968, 1989 and the recent times, with the participation of Miloslav Stašek, Czech ambassador to the U.S. and Radovan Javorčík, Slovak ambassador to the U.S., will be held at NCSML on Thursday and Friday, May 2-3, 2024. This gathering will provide an opportunity to learn more about the present-day possibilities related to specific industry clusters, university research areas, topics of freedom, democracy and immigration in the concerned states and regions. The ambassadors will be joined by other high level American, Czech and Slovak business leaders, university leaders, state policy makers, local policy makers, governmental representatives, politicians, artists, scholars and educators visiting the area to attend NCSML’s annual Preciosa Gala on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, the Smithsonian Affiliate, which will be recognized and celebrated all year long. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is looking forward to building more Transatlantic partnerships.
May 2, 4 - 8 p.m.
Registration and Pre-Event Networking, 4 – 5 p.m.
Vaclav Havel: From Dissident to President, 5 p.m. • Anderson Gallery
Exhibit Ribbon Cutting with Keynote Address by Dr. Martin Palouš, Director of the Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy at Florida International University, Miami
A Night at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
May 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration, 9-10 a.m. • Rozek Grand Hall
10 – 10:40 a.m.
Introduction by Dr. Cecilia Rokusek, President & CEO, NCSML
Welcome Remarks by
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, City of Cedar Rapids
His Excellency Radovan Javorčík, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Embassy of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America
Jakub Utěšený, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago
Dr. Martin Palouš, Former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations and Former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States
Josef Suchánek, Governor of the Olomouc Region, Czech Republic
Doug Neumann, Executive Director, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Jozef Síkela, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic (Video Address)
10:40 – 11 a.m.
Keynote Address by Dr. Jan Svejnar,
Richard N. Gardner Professor of Economics and International Affairs and Director of the Center on Global Economic Governance at Columbia University, New York
11 -11:20 a.m.
Unlocking Potential – Exploring Investment Opportunities in Czechia
Jakub Utěšený, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago
11:20 -11:40 a.m.
Slovak-American Collaboration and Doing Business through Slovak PRO Activities
Vladimir Lackovic, Slovak PRO, New York
11:40 – 12 p.m.
Doing Business in Central and Eastern Europe – Brno as a Gateway
Jan Kubata, CEO, BVV, Brno, Czech Republic
12 -12:20 p.m.
Connecting Iowa to the World and the World to Iowa: The University of Iowa’s Links to the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Russell Ganim, Associate Provost and Dean, International Programs, University of Iowa, Iowa City
12.20-12.40
Prague-Style Astronomical Clock (Orloj) in the US. A Transatlantic Project Fostering Education, Science, Culture and Tourism Opportunities.
Bruce Hamous, NCSML Board of Trustees
12.40-14.00
Buffet Luncheon, Rozek Grand Hall
13.00-13.15
Groundbreaking Ceremony, NCSML Clock Tower Renovation, by the Clock Tower
14.00-14.20
Sharing Best Practices – Czech Direct Investment in the USA
Jan Vintrlik, COO, ALBAform Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
14.20-14.40
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Opportunities in 2024
Ron Corbett, Vice President of Economic Development
14.40-15.00
PepsiCo-Quaker Oats, Present Perspectives
Chad Schweitzer, Productivity Leader QC, PepsiCo, City-Cedar Rapids
15.00-15.20
Business Opportunities in the Olomouc Region, Czech Republic
Josef Tetera, Head of Tourism and International Relations, Olomouc Region
15.20-15.40
Collins Aerospace – Redefining Futures
Nicole M Hubbell, Director, Mission BD Operations Excellence, Collins Aerospace | An RTX Business
15.40-16.00
Sharing Community Impact Data and Advancing the Economic Development Goals of the Region
Amy Alice Chastain, Executive Director, Global Ties Iowa, Iowa City
16.00-16.20
CzechTrade and its Key Export Areas and Activities
Markéta Šebelová, Deputy Director, CzechTrade USA, Chicago
16.20-16.40
The Role of Philanthropy in Civil Society. Czech and American Reality through HEI Experience.
Salvatore Alaimo, Indiana University, Professor, Grand Valley State University; Lisa Dietlin, Philanthropy&Develop. Lecturer, DePaul University, Chicago
16.40-17.00
NCSML TV – Opportunity for Utilizing Positions in the Digital Space Logan Adam Schultz, CEO, Upload Media Group, Cedar Rapids
Conclusions
5:30 p.m. Furdek Special Collection, Grand Opening
Skala Bartizal Library
7 p.m. Performance by Czech mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlů
Rozek Grand Hall
Registration required by April 29, 2024
The National Collection: 50 Years of NCSML
March 16, 2024 – January 12, 2025, Smith Gallery
Postmark Czechoslovakia: Every Stamp Tells a Story
March 23 – May 25, Skala Bartizal Library
Vaclav Havel: From Dissident to President
April 27 – September 29, Anderson Gallery
Groundbreaking Ceremony, NCSML Clock Tower Renovation
May 3, by the Clock Tower
Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau
May 4, Ribbon Cutting
May 4 – September 29, Petrik Gallery
President’s Society Preciosa Gala
May 4, Rozek Grand Hall & WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, IA
Co-organized by:
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, DC
Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, FIU, Miami
Friends of Slovakia, Washington, DC
American Friends of the Czech Republic, Washington, DC
Czech North American Chamber of Commerce & Culture (CNACCC Inc.)
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Czech Center NEW YORK, et al.
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort ®
Albaform