We all made it through the last years, shadowed by continuous challenges and new negative highlights in the news.

But nothing stopped us and our businesses from growing and becoming stronger and more motivated than ever.

We could also feel this through the amount of new members, which we welcomed in the year of 2023.

Let's welcome our new Members!

If you are a new member and haven't sent us your information yet, it is never too late.

We can introduce you in our next Newsletter.

If you have been a member for many years, we can always re-introduce you too.

Online exposure is a part of your membership and we are happy to help you!

Wolfgang Wehen

Sheraton Miami Airport Hotel and Executive Meeting Center

"Born in North Germany into a Hospitality family. Both my brother and sister also started in the Hospitality business. I completed the classic Hotelfachmann (Hotel Management Assistant) and additionally the Koch (Chef) apprenticeships. Afterward, I lived and worked in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, London, and again Germany before I moved to the US in 2000. 

I started at Turnberry Isle (A Mandarin Oriental Hotel in 2000) before I became part of the team to open the Diplomat Hotel in Hallandale. With Starwood Hotels, I moved on to New York City working for W and Westin Hotels from 2005 to 2013 before returning to Miami. 

In the last 10 years, I have been involved in independent and branded properties and currently am the General Manager at the Sheraton Miami Airport.

I live in Biscayne Park and am married with an 11-year-old son, love cooking, gardening, and cycling."

Michaela Kennedy

Forum Consulting Inc.

"My name is Michaela Kennedy. I was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, and have lived in South Florida for several decades. My husband, David, and I, live in Delray Beach in Palm Beach County.

I'm a seasoned Strategic and Operational Business Professional with a strong focus on managing cash flows and overseeing financial projections for small to mid-cap businesses. My career journey has taken me through a variety of dynamic environments, from entrepreneurial ventures to early-stage startups and M&A activities, all while maintaining a keen international perspective.

My educational background includes a dual degree consisting of an M.B.A. in Investments and a Master of Science in International Business from the University of Miami, along with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

As Principal Consultant at Forum Consulting Inc., my own consulting firm, I specialize in optimizing strategies, fostering partnerships, financial due diligence, valuation modeling, and corporate communications across a diverse range of industries, including biotech, SaaS, real estate, medical clinics, cannabis, and more, always with the objective of fostering growth and expansion.

Alongside my consultancy work, I continue to operate as a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Florida, introducing my international relationships to high caliber professionals in the real estate industry.

In prior roles before launching my own firm, I have prepared and conducted due diligence for businesses entering the U.S. market. I have also identified acquisition targets for an educational company in the real estate and securities industries for European expansion.

At Deutsche Bank AG my focus was the creation proprietary mutual funds for distribution through DB financial advisors, contributing to the bank's financial offerings. Prior to this, I was with Salomon Smith Barney, where I managed client portfolios encompassing equities, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities.

Prior to this I was part of a US based team that successfully facilitating IPOs of South American companies on NASDAQ. Through the contacts established in Chile, I conceptualization and then lead the team for sourcing, branding, and creation of a celebrity branded skincare line.

My first foray into the finance industry was in the music distribution industry in Miami. The company grew from $63 million to $790 million through vertical and horizontal acquisitions over a five- year period. I often referred to my experience at this company when I attended graduate school, saying out loud, “Oh, is that what this is called. Yes, I can do that. “

I am an eternal optimist and curiosity is my greatest joy. I look forward to meeting many of you in person at our upcoming events."

Christian F. Schoepp

Obront Corey, PLLC & Schoepp.

Christian F. Schoepp is a respected and experienced attorney who works in a variety of practice areas throughout Florida. He is well known for aggressively representing his clients' interests and speaks English, Spanish, and French. 

Obront Corey Schoepp, PLLC is one of South Florida’s premiere boutique litigation firms. Our clients range from sophisticated banks and financial institutions to small businesses and high-net-worth individuals seeking passionate counsel and representation in South Florida’s ultra-competitive business markets.  Our attorneys are successful litigators and trial lawyers with a proven track record of providing aggressive representation and competent guidance to our valued clients.

Reinhard Benditte

"My family and I lived in various countries/ states such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Virginia, New Jersey and Florida and relocated more than twenty times. As Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer, I faced a number of challenges including restructuring, cash flow improvements, carve outs and mergers. During the last 20 years, I also served on various Boards.

Achievements include substantial procurement savings, successful integration of acquired companies, drastic cash flow improvements, successful carve-outs and restructuring, implementation of target costing, implementation of new IT SW, introduction of productivity and supplier improvement projects, lease business improvements, logistic process changes, change management, successful profit improvement etc."

The Aicomp Group is an expert in ERP solutions for the packaging industry, specializing in complex SAP variant configuration and SAP cloud solutions. With offices in Germany, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and North America, our group of over 80 professionals brings more than 20 years of project experience to packaging manufacturers. Aicomp provides expert-level consulting and development services that enhance their customers' software systems by installing, setting up, and streamlining their business processes, enabling them to respond quickly to their customers' needs. Aicomp continuously develops upgrades for its software solutions with the goal of long-term customer satisfaction.

Aicomp was founded as Aicomp Consulting GmbH in 2000 by 5 SAP specialists in the Swabian Alb region of Germany. From the start, we have maintained a primary focus: variant configuration for the packaging industry. Our first few years yielded a ready-to-work industry solution with pre-configured system modules. In 2003, the foundation of our American operation was laid with the opening of Aicomp Consulting, Inc. in Memphis, TN. We subsequently established a second location in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. With these two locations in the U.S., we have engaged in numerous successful projects with some of the largest packaging manufacturers in the Americas. By 2006, years of project work resulted in what is today Aicomp's most important innovation - VCPowerPack. At its core, VCPowerPack is a product configurator, seamlessly integrated into SAP ERP systems. Building on this, important improvements for the packaging industry have been introduced in recent years. These include process, data and integration optimizations for improved quotation generation and master data management. Over the decades, Aicomp has constantly worked on new technical advances, which has expanded our focus to areas such as cloud technologies and machine learning.

Aicomp's success lies in its employees. Many of our employees come from the packaging industry and bring their expertise and passion to customer projects. Our seasoned project staff are consultants and developers whose broad industry and product knowledge has enabled us to offer customers a comprehensive range of solutions. We treat every customer equally and meet them at eye level, regardless of whether they are a large corporation or a medium-sized company.

"We want to build on our success since 2000 and continuously strengthen our footprint in the packaging industry, as well as be a full-service and solutions provider for the packaging industry."

Total Well-Being, Inspired by Nature.

The Palms Hotel & Spa combines genuine service, laid-back sophistication, and oceanfront serenity into an award-winning independent resort, where wellness and sustainable practices are at the center of each guest experience. Green Globe certified and a member of Beyond Green, the resort offers a unique destination for AVEDA spa experiences, natural gourmet dining, and unrivaled beachfront relaxation. With 251 spa-inspired guest rooms and suites as well as 8,000 square feet of space for meetings, weddings, and special events the Palms Hotel & Spa will enchant you with a tropical ambiance and barefoot sophistication, no matter if you are visiting for business or pleasure.

The German American Business Chamber of South Florida and their members are now a member of the Turkish Airlines Corporate Club. 

Now members of the GABC will be able to enjoy the benefits that Turkish Airlines provides when purchasing airline tickets originating from the USA or GERMANY, to any of their more than 340 destinations around the world. 

Reservations and ticketing must be done through the selected ticketing agency:

Four Seasons Travel - Contact: Maria Luisa Varela

Phone: 305-604-9800

Email: marialuisa@fourseasonsmia.com  -

Agency Address: 605 Lincoln Road, Suite 410 Miami Beach FL 33139

The benefits you get when your tickets are issued with the GABC’s corporate code are:

• Exclusive discounts on fares
• Extra baggage allowance on international flights
• Flexibility to change flight routes and dates depending on your booking class with no penalty
• Access to Fast Track lines in Istanbul
• Check-in at the Business class ticket counters

For more information about fares and benefits, please contact Maria Luisa from Four Seasons Travel.

Website Corporate Club

Cindy Cyrus

Cindy is a German born highly successful, energetic and passionate Broker Associate with Compass. Cindy belongs to the “2022 America's Best Real Estate Professionals” and has been honored with the “Top 1.5% of Real Estate Agents Nationwide” award.

Cindy's track record of success is built on her astute market knowledge, her international sphere of influence, strong negotiation skills and exceptional client dedication. Cindy focuses on residential, commercial and international real estate.

Prior to joining Compass Cindy was an Elite Awards Member with Engel & Völkers - a premier International Real Estate firm. She served as a member on the Broker Advisory Board. 

Cindy definitely understands the very specific needs of homeowners, investors, local and international buyers - having moved 28 times herself. Cindy's astute market expertise greatly supports her clients to achieve their goals.

Cindy has an extensive background in Senior Management of Deutsche Bank’s head office in Frankfurt, Germany. Throughout her career, she traveled extensively and distinguishes herself through significant international business relationships.

Her international expertise combined with strong sales skills and experience in sales allow her to identify business opportunities very quickly with investors, developers, builders and business owners.

Cindy lists properties internationally. She has listed very unique properties such as a castle in Germany, a mansion in Switzerland, islands in the Pacific and even a property in Asia. Cindy goes above and beyond for her clients with a tremendous amount of energy.  

Cindy relocated to Florida in May 2013, inspired by her numerous visits to Florida Sun Seminars. During her initial years in the Sunshine State, from 2013 to 2014, she was also an active member of the Florida Sun Magazine and started visiting GABC meetings.

Dr. Michael Plevan

Originating from scenic Bavaria, Michael is an engineer at heart, a patent attorney by choice, and a dedicated problem-solver for his clients.

Michael holds a mechanical engineering degree and a PhD in chemical engineering from the prestigious Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). After completing his doctorate, he returned to his Bavarian roots and began his foray into the world of intellectual property in 2015. With the in-depth work experience he acquired at a Tier 1 IP firm in Munich until 2022, Michael has become a well-rounded and knowledgeable expert in the field.

In 2020, Michael embarked on a new adventure, moving to the United States and marrying his lovely wife. This transatlantic journey not only enriched their personal life but also provided valuable insights into the unique business landscape of the US. With a firm grasp of European IP systems, Michael recently launched his own patent practice in 2023 with offices in Miami, London, and Munich.

Specializing in assisting US clients who require IP consultation in Europe, Michael is your go-to expert for navigating the complexities of German and European patent and trademark matters.

Anne Schneider

Founded in 1996, Currencies Direct has become a leader in the FX industry providing foreign exchange and global transfer solutions. With over 20 global offices across five continents, Currencies Direct is well-equipped to assist customers with their foreign exchange and international transfer needs. Currencies Direct has an award-winning affiliate program designed specifically for professionals that assist international customers in the areas of Real Estate and global migration.

Anne Schneider is a highly motivated German native sales professional with exceptional client service and management skills. For the past 30 years, she excelled in numerous positions across industries with a focus on real estate, account management and international business. As sales executive she was ranked Global leader in revenue generation by cultivating enterprise client partnerships.

Anne relocated with her family from Germany in 2021 to Sarasota, Florida and has joined Currencies Direct USA as Business Development Executive. She holds degrees in International Business Management and Political science from UCLA, Los Angeles where she launched her professional career.

Still a European at heart, Anne embraces other cultures and enjoys spending time bringing people together and making new connections.

Oliver Scharfenberg

Wer sind wir?

Das USIQ United States Institute for Quality hilft Unternehmen in den USA in drei verschiedenen Bereichen:

Mitarbeitergewinnung und Mitarbeiterbindung

Dies geschieht, indem im ersten Schritt die Beschäftigten vom USIQ nach deren Meinung befragt werden. Im zweiten Schritt werden die Leistungen des Arbeitgebers in einem HR-Interview bewertet. Anschließend erhalten die Unternehmen eine Auswertung der Mitarbeiterbefragung in Tabellenform, plus die passenden Arbeitgebersiegel zum Beispiel als „Top Employer (USIQ)“ oder „Family-Friendly Company (USIQ)“. Ergänzt wird es um eine passende Pressemeldung / Blogbeitrag und eine Urkunde.

Neukundengewinnung und Kundenbindung

Dazu wird im ersten Schritt eine Kundenbefragung durchgeführt. Im zweiten Schritt findet ein kurzes Online-Managementinterview statt. Anschließend erhalten die Unternehmen eine Auswertung der Kundenbefragung in Tabellenform und damit wertvolle Informationen über die Kundenzufriedenheit. Außerdem erhalten diese die passenden Gütesiegel „Top Service (USIQ)“. Auch hier gibt es eine passende Pressemeldung / Blogbeitrag und eine Urkunde.

Messung und Kommunikation von Nachhaltigkeit

Wir erfassen in einem Nachhaltigkeitscheck die Nachhaltigkeit von Unternehmen. Der Standard „Sustainable Company (USIQ)“ basiert auf ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Zielen. Grundlage für die Standardentwicklung war die ISO Norm 26000, welche nicht für eine Zertifizierung entwickelt wurde und als Norm lediglich einen Leitfadencharakter hat. Außerdem basiert der Standard auf den von den Vereinten Nationen entwickelten Sustainable Development Goals. Im Rahmen der Bewertung werden weitere Standards wie ISO 14001, ISO 50001 und zum Beispiel die ISO 9001 bei der Bewertung berücksichtigt.

Was suchen wir?

Als offizielle Zertifizierungsgesellschaft zertifiziert die SQC-QualityCert GmbH sind seit vielen Jahren Unternehmen nach den Standards des DIQP Deutsches Institut für Qualitätsstandards und -prüfung e.V. und verfügen über eine große Bandbreite an Kunden https://www.sqc-cert.de/referenzen/.

Zum Marktstart in den USA suchen wir einige Unternehmen, welche wir mit einer kostenfreien Zertifizierung im Bereich Kundenservice oder Mitarbeitergewinnung ­unterstützen können.

Es entstehen den Unternehmen von unserer Seite keine Kosten!

Als Gegenleistungen bitten wir im Anschluss um die Beantwortung unserer ca. 15-minütigen Onlinebefragung. Hier wollen wir herauszufinden, wie zufrieden die Unternehmen mit dem Angebot waren, damit wir unser Leistungen optimal an den US-Markt anpassen können. Die Kosten für eine solche Zertifizierung betragen in Deutschland eigentlich zwischen 2500 bis 5000 Euro.

Sie haben Interesse an einer kostenfreien Zertifizierung?

Dann senden Sie uns bitte eine kurze Nachricht an SQC-QualityCert an:

anfrage@sqc-cert.de  

Per E-Mail, wir melden uns dann gerne bei Ihne

edding

Long-lasting, versatile, expressive, creative: these are the words that describe the values of the edding group.

The company was founded in 1960 in Hamburg, Germany. Their very first product - the legendary all-round marker no.1 - served as a blueprint for generations of markers to follow. Today, edding’s products are sold worldwide in more than 110 countries. This success is based on two brands: edding and Legamaster.

edding represents variety and expertise in all matters relating to color, primarily due to the range of markers and writing implements. From the classic permanent marker to special-purpose products such as the UV or aerospace marker as well as products for DIYers and creative types, the range includes more than 180 markers. Approximately 80% of edding products are manufactured in Europe, mainly Germany.

On the other hand, the portfolio of Legamaster includes classic and electronic products for visual communication, such as whiteboards and smartboards, as well as devices that enable digital authentication.

Not only known for permanent markers - discover the creative diversity of edding!

Whether for paper, fabric, ceramics, stone, metal, canvas or wood, for precise fine writings or coloring large areas, for numerous different materials and versatile applications, edding offer over 300 specific creative products. It’s edding’s goal to help you express yourself, let your ideas flow and add your personal touch with the certainty to achieve an expert result with every edding.

Successfully working and presenting in the office.

The range of products by edding therefore covers the perfect pen for every individual presentation technique in the office - from the classic whiteboard marker in black, the flipchart marker, all the way up to the glass board marker.

Lennart Hector from BL Consulting Group

"Welcome to BLCG and H2W, your ERP and digitalization consulting partner. We specialize in customized ERP and cloud solutions, leveraging digital technologies to prioritize customer needs and enhance business operations.

Our team of consultants utilizes best practices in ERP, AI, automation, and hybrid cloud technologies to drive data-driven decision-making and ensure reliable business operations. With expertise in industries such as aerospace, automotive, machine construction, and discrete manufacturing, we offer end-to-end solutions, change management, and technology consulting to help our clients achieve sustainable growth and profitability through digital transformation."

Asime Albota with

Albota Furniture & Reupholstery

"I moved to US from Germany in 2015. 

While in Germany, I was involved for over 17 years in family owned construction

Business.

I discovered that my passion was interior design. I like talking with clients, and help them achieve their dreams when it comes to interior design.

While I was working for a well established local Miami reupholster and furniture manufacturing company, I decided to craft my own path and open my own furniture and reupholster company the “Albota Furniture & Reupholstery LLC”.

Although the company is new, my business partner and our employees have over 30 years experience. We carefully select and hire the most experienced and skilled persons. We are taking pride in our craft and we ensure that our products are of best quality with an easy concept: 

Find the best experienced and skilled workers that deliver the best quality and products to our clients and use the best available materials and fabrics (mainly imported from Europe).

There is no project too small or too big for us, we focus on quality and customer satisfaction."

The Maxhaust Active Sound System simulates and reproduces amazingly realistic sounding engines and futuristic e-sounds via the vehicle's characteristics, such as engine speed and load. Diesel, gasoline engine or electric car? With our system, you will experience a sonorous, rich exhaust sound that can be retrofitted to your vehicle!

Sebastian Lang from Lang & Schwander

About Lang & Schwander:

Led by business partners Sebastian Lang and Marcus Schwander. Lang & Schwander is a Swiss-American company specializing in Hotel Interior Design and custom Hotel FF&E manufacturing. Their team of 75 employees is spread across three strategic offices, with their headquarters based out of Miami FL. In addition to Designing hotels throughout the US, LATAM, and the Caribbean markets, they have over 16 years of experience specializing in the engineering and manufacturing of a broad range of FF&E commodities including casegoods, upholstered goods, vanities, decorative lighting, mirrors, window treatments, and artwork. 



Their ID and FF&E services are complimented by on-site coordination and robust project management services that can take a hotel project all the way through installation and punchlist.  Their services are available a la carte or combined as a turnkey offering, providing hotel owners and developers with a streamlined approach to hotel interiors. L&S works on independent hotels and branded properties alike, in the lifestyle to upscale sectors, and they are generally approved by all major brands.

About Sebastian:

Sebastian was born in Luxemburg and raised throughout Europe. He received a Bachelors of Science at the Swiss hospitality school, Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL). As Head of Interior Design and Business Development, he aims to position Lang & Schwander globally as a highly service-oriented contract manufacturing and interior design company.

Dirk Saecker with Four Corners Real Estate



Dirk Saecker is a highly accomplished and respected professional in the real estate industry, boasting two decades of dedicated service and a track record of unparalleled success. With a passion for properties and an unwavering commitment to his clients, Dirk has established himself as a trusted figure in the world of real estate.

Dirk’s journey in real estate began in the early 2000s, where he started as a fresh-faced agent eager to learn the ropes of the industry. Over the years, he honed his skills and expertise, swiftly climbing the ranks to become a top-performing realtor in his region.

Throughout his career, Dirk has facilitated countless transactions in the residential, commercial, and investment sectors. His ability to connect with clients, understand their unique needs, and offer tailored solutions has earned him a loyal and diverse clientele. Dirk is known for his deep knowledge of local markets, trends, and regulations, ensuring that his clients make informed decisions.

Dirk’s 20-year tenure in real estate has also seen him adapt to the changing landscape of the industry. He has embraced technological advancements, staying ahead of the curve with digital marketing, online listings, and virtual property tours. This adaptability has allowed him to provide exceptional service even in challenging times.

His genuine concern for the well-being of those he serves extends beyond closing deals; he strives to make a positive impact on the lives of his clients and the communities in which they reside.

With 20+ years of experience under his belt, Dirk Saecker is more than a real estate veteran; he's a trusted advisor, a skilled negotiator, and a valued member of the industry. His journey from rookie agent to esteemed professional stands as a testament to his dedication and passion for the world of real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, Dirk’s expertise is a valuable asset for anyone seeking success in the real estate market.

Moving to the United States from Germany in 1990, Mr. Saecker understands how to navigate cultural differences in business be it European,

American, and Latin.

He is fluent in both German and English and conversationally fluent in Spanish. Prior to real estate, Mr. Saecker worked in the Travel industry, starting his own Hotel & Marketing firm, Tour Company, and Travel Agency along the way. Currently residing in Coral Gables, Dirk Saecker has two beautiful daughters, and is a proud resident of his vibrant, multicultural city Miami.

Dominique Pando Bucci With Pando Bucci Law

About Pando Bucci Law, PLLC Pando Bucci Law, PLLC, is a Miami Beach-based business and investor immigration law firm.

Led by principal attorney and Alexander von Humboldt Fellow Dominique Pando Bucci, Pando Bucci Law represents entrepreneurs,

professionals, and investors in their visa journey to live and work in the United States.

Pando Bucci Law primarily focuses on EB-5 and E-2 investor visas. The EB-5 visa program offers foreign investors the opportunity to obtain U.S. green cards by making substantial investments in job-creating enterprises. The E-2 visa program is designed for individuals who wish to invest in and manage a business in the United States and is known for its flexibility and relatively lower investment thresholds compared to the EB-5 program.

Pando Bucci Law also assists international clients in obtaining visas across a variety of business categories, such as H, L, O, P, TN, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, National Interest Waiver, and PERM labor certification petitions.

Pando Bucci Law provides high-quality legal representation and attentive client care. We are multilingual and speak German, English, Spanish, and Italian.

About Dominique

Dominique was born and raised in Bonn, Germany, and moved to Miami Beach nearly 25 years ago. She is a German Chancellor Fellow (Bundeskanzler-Stipendiatin) of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Dominique graduated in the top 4% of her class and earned magna cum laude honors for her Juris Doctor law degree from the Florida International University College of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the FIU Law Review legal journal.

Dominique is regularly invited to speak on immigration issues at the local and national level. Her articles have been published by legal news source Law360 as Expert Opinions as well as by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), an association of more than 18,000 immigration attorneys.

Dominique currently serves on the AILA National U.S. Department of State Liaison Committee, which meets in person with the State Department in Washington, D.C., to discuss pressing issues affecting consulates worldwide. She is also an assigned observer of the AILA National EB-5 Investor Committee. Dominique previously served as Chair of the AILA South Florida Business and Investment Committee.

Please feel free to connect with Dominique via WhatsApp at (786) 232-3268 or via email at dominique@pandobuccilaw.com.

Aileen Carpenter with Carpenter Law

Aileen Carpenter is a German/American dual citizen. She is the founder of Carpenter law. She created the firm to directly offer clients efficient and creative litigation and pre-litigation solutions that secure faster results. Aileen has lived and worked on four continents and attributes her adaptable and innovative litigation tactics to her international background. She has provided pro bono legal advice for the D.C. Bar’s small business clinic and advises small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs on starting a business, taxation, and other corporate structure issues and remedies. Aileen is also a graduate of Emory University school of law where she was recognized as Emory's 2019 graduating woman of excellence.

Reinhard Benditte

Reinhard Benditte has had a long standing (42-year) career within Siemens AG’s Divisions and Subsidiaries around the world. During his time, he and his family lived in Germany, Australia, Canada and the USA.

In 2014, Reinhard retired after 42 years working in various industry and in various countries. During the last 20+ years he was successful in turnaround management of the various companies he was assigned to.

We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Benditte as our member and admire his career which included lifelong challeges of moving every four years, as well as his new beginnings here in Miami!

Ayleen Bulanik

"My name is Ayleen and I moved to Miami because my husband got a job offer here. And now my new chapter starts here. 

I am an open, communicative, flexible and determined person.  

My friends would say I am funny, loyal and honest. 

In my free time I do a lot of sports with road biking, tennis, swimming and endurance sports. 

I also spend my free time with friends and family. 

During my time at Reischmann in retail, I learned a lot and received more training in these areas: Customer Service and Visual Merchandising.

While working at Reischmann, I visited the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the evenings to further my education, in 2015 I successfully completed my further education. To apply my newly acquired knowledge in practice, I started a new position as store manager at Esprit. Here I have developed myself further, as I had personnel responsibility and purchasing for the store.

In the summer of 2016, I took a 6 month sabbatical to travel. I was traveling in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. After returning from my trip, I worked as a store manager again for 2 months. In May 2017, I then started a study at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, unfortunately I could not complete my business administration for personal reasons.

I started with the company as a trainee. The trainee program lasted a whole year. This time was very instructive for me, as I was able to develop enormously both personally and professionally. Above all, the rotation between different departments, as a central component of my trainee program, helped me to acquire many skills in a wide range of areas. My responsibilities as a Junior Sales Manager included independent customer support throughout Baden-Württemberg, budget planning, conducting annual meetings with customers, creating sales and limit plans, new customer acquisition, collection feedback, visual merchandising, preparing and following up on monthly orders, and training at the point of sale.  As Senior Specialist Reorder Performance, I am the direct connection between sales, the NOS (Never Out of Stock) and B2B-Shop Team. I review and control the NOS bestsellers for the entire wholesale and inform the Sales Managers to push direct sales. Equally, I evaluate reorder figures against budget. Here we create measures to increase sales. Other responsibilities include: briefings for the NOS & Collections articles, creation of forecasts about the sales of NOS articles per half year, monthly exchange, and feedback with the NOS department, support, and visual merchandising of key customers in southern Germany.  

I am looking for a position that offers diversity and teamwork. I like to work in sales and marketing because I feel at home in this area. 

My biggest dream would be to work in the event sector, I love organizing events, in my job in Germany but also privately I like to take the helm when it came to organizational topics. 

Sincerely, Ayleen"

Yovita Ivanova

Yovita Ivanova is a Senior Manager at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT - an UN-affiliated organization). She is a Bulgarian-born economist and researcher with an extensive professional background in areas related to climate change, biodiversity, and green economy.

She has spent various years working on sustainable business and investment models providing environmental impact services to companies and impact investors working in the Amazon rainforest. YOVITA graduated from the University of Economics in Sofia, Bulgaria with a Masters degree in Economics and has a second Masters Degree in International Relations from University of Miami.

Prior to her work at CIAT, she has held various high level government positions in Peru (e.g., Adviser to the Vice Minister of Agriculture in Peru), but also worked in Europe and Latin America for several United Nations agencies.

Yovita is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Global Affairs at the New York University (NYU) and a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) teaching courses on economic growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

She is fluent in German and 4 other languages. She has a passion for music (piano), tango, healthy life style and traveling.

Christina Hawkins

"I have been majority of the time in Europe except for Germany, but I have a German mother-in-law for 14 years, we have hiccups moments but we all love food and cooking... I am originally from China, Shanghai, studied at Moscow State University Russia, and moved to US, Florida for 20 years this year.

I’ve been in the finance industry for over 25 years, from being a financial analyst at Exxon Mobil and other multinational companies to now a financial advisor at New York Life Insurance Company. I’m handling business and personal wealth & retirement planning, business solutions, as well as group or personal life insurance & long-term care insurance… Hope I could find bilingual & solid finance background people to strengthen my team.

I love to make new friends, love yoga, swimming, delicious food, traveling, movies, and volunteering.

I am now living in Boca Raton and my husband operates the restaurant “ Fries to Caviar” in Boca."

Antonia Mekiska

"My name is Antonia Mekiska and I’m attending a LL.B in Law and Economics at University of Mannheim in Germany where I expect to graduate with the first state examination in civil law in June 2023. The degree program is a mixture of law and business administration with a focus on business law. During my studies and besides the law part I had the chance to attend to several management, finance and marketing classes.

Furthermore I had the possibility to choose among different areas of focus for my major, where I chose Management and Media Law, in which I also completed my bachelor thesis in 2022. This helped me to develop a great interest for these subjects. In 2017, during my high-school studies I attended a international language school in Washington D.C, where I improved my English skills in speaking and writing.

After graduating from high school and before I started my university studies in September 2019 I spent some time abroad where I had the opportunity to join an international law office in Miami. I was able to assist attorneys with legal matters in the field international law, especially international securities and antitrust matters. Besides the legal part, I did several researches and organizing tasks. In addition to that I did another Internship in a Advertising Agency in Frankfurt, where I assisted in Project Management and Product Research. This has especially enhanced my researching and communication skills, as well as my ability to work in a team.

I have always wanted to experience working in an international environment, due to my great interest in international business practices in the US as well as for the American culture. In terms of availability, I would be able to start the internship from the 1st of October 2023 for a period of three month but I am also open to extend the internship. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Benjamin Mock

"My name is Benjamin Mock and I’m a Law and Economics graduate from the University of Mannheim and I am looking for a position as an intern in your company. During my studies, I joined several courses in management and finance to learn more about business practices, the analysis of the global economy, the correlations between different markets as well as their impact on organisations. This helped me to develop a great interest for these subjects and is the reason why, when I had to choose among different areas of focus for my major, I chose management.

For me personally, I´ve always held a huge interest for international markets and economies and I have always wanted to experience working in a global and innovative environment, to turn my passion into my profession. Learning directly from the experts at your company would be an unmatched opportunity in which I hope to improve my knowledge and skills in the field of international business relation, international management and the American culture.

I genuinely believe that one of the leading factors for a company’s success are its employees and their diversity which offer new perspectives and ideas. This is one of the reasons why I am a huge supporter of employee development programs because it can help companies to evolve from within and align everybody’s motivation.

In the months between January and April 2023 I am participating in an internship program at Koehler Group in the field of private equity and real estate management and consulting. In this program I will gain experience in the fundamental practices used in the financial industries while improving my skills in business valuation, market research, due diligence and business-related analysis.

For the time between May and August 2023 I am enrolled in another internship program at Accenture in the field of strategy consulting. There I will learn the different approaches of high-quality consulting services for national and global companies and gain a deeper understanding of the organisational structures and how to deal with market related challenges within a company.

This year I finished a course in professional Data Science by IBM, in which I learned the necessary knowledge and programming skills, relevant for the job as a professional Data Analyst. I would love to give my newly developed skills a chance to thrive in practice on real world analysis tasks.

During my studies I was hired as a working student in corporate tax at KPMG Germany where I was able to assist attorneys and accountants with legal and tax related matters. Furthermore, I learned about how to prepare and conduct research, related to specific client issues and I had the chance to work in a professional environment. This program has honed my researching and analytical skills, increasing my theoretical knowledge of markets and clients.

After my high school years, I explored a strong interest in Leadership and Entrepreneurship. I had the opportunity to start several small operations. From January 2021 to September 2022, I managed an e-commerce store which specified in selling high quality apparel and vintage designer goods. To start a business during my studies was a challenge which I addressed deliberately. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful”, this is the reason why I’m not afraid of an intense workload and I’ve always strived for excellence.

Due to my trilingual education (German, English, Spanish) I´m at ease with any social interaction and communication. In terms of availability, I would be able to start the position from the 1st of October 2023 for a period of three month and I am generally open to extend the internship.

Clean Miami Beach is dedicated to keeping our community and natural habitats free of garbage and harmful pollutants with a focus on single-use plastics. The goal is to teach residents, and educate the youth of today, how everyone can reuse, re-purpose, and reduce the consumption of plastic. By growing the local volunteer community, Clean Miami Beach will provide a clean place for residents, visitors, and a safe environment where our beautiful wildlife can thrive.

Clean Miami Beach seeks to continue providing the Miami-Dade community with: healthy outside activities, ways to connect with nature, stable social interactions, a platform for education, community service hours, and mentorship opportunities.

Since March of 2019 Clean Miami Beach has hosted 220 beach cleanups, removed over 64,877 pounds of trash, and inspired and educated over 8,079 volunteers.

Clean Miami Beach offers various programs for companies and schools:

Public Cleanups

Sponsorship opportunity for organizations/corporations

-One public cleanup, location and date predetermined by Clean MB

-Clean MB will include your logo on on the event flyer, and promote your organization before, during and after the cleanup on social media

-Five members from your organization may join the event

-Your Organizations may table at the event to promote the brand/products/services

Private Cleanups

-One private cleanup, location and date determined by your organization in cooperation with Clean MB

-Clean MB will promote your organization before, during and after the cleanup on social media

-Scientific data collection (sorting and documenting of trash) via App ‘Clean Swell’ from the Ocean Conservancy

-gret marketing opportunity

Classrooms on the Sand

-school program where we educate the students about the importance of a healthy ocean

-includes beach cleanup and watershed module

Webinars 

-online presentation about Clean MB’s work, what is plastic, how does it end up in the ocean, how does it affect our wildlife, locally and internationally, 

why is plastic everywhere and what can we do to tackle this issue on its source

High School Presentations

-in person presentation at high school about Clean MB’s work, what is plastic, how does it end up in the ocean, how does it affect our wildlife, 

locally and internationally, why is plastic everywhere and what can we do to tackle this issue on its source

Further New Members:

Benjamin Bach

Ludwig Haderer

Lourdes Heinz

Harald Lopez

Oliver Neumeister

Harald Schwarz

Phillip Spickenbaum

Claudia Valtl

Ulf Schabacker - Baucon Coating US

Thiago Fiuza - Schryver Logistics USA

Theodor Stein - Seashore Marketing

CPA Alexander J. Evans | Alexandra Peters for One Sotheby's International Realty | Nickel Goeseke for Cervera Real Estate | Tony Zwicker for DeLaRocca Corp. | Ellen Von Geyso P.A. Heinemann Americas | Hellmann Worldwide Logistics

Silver International Realty | Lufthansa Industry Solutions

Lehtinen, Schultz, Riedi PLLC | Rhenus Logistics | META Storage Solutions Miele, Inc. | Toscana Divino | Visa Business Plans | Christian Schoepp for OCS Law  I Wolfgang Wehen for Sheraton Miami Airport  I Michaela Kennedy for Forum Consulting LLC

Click on above names for more information

GABC Management

Leonie Vallerius

With over 10 years of experience in the business management, marketing, and event management, Leonie Vallerius is managing each department of the GABC, being responsible for setting up and launching marketing projects, events and campaigns for both the GABC's members and the organization’s growth and success.

Leonie is your main contact for any membership or GABC related matters.