MERLIN Award GalaClick here for this year's Merlin Awards Gala!
The Annual MERLIN Award Gala is the Chamber’s signature event and has become one of its greatest traditions. Named after one of the founders of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Peter H. Merlin, Honorary Director of GACCoM, this festive gala evening takes place annually in an exclusive and elegant location in downtown Chicago.
Approximately 300 top executives of the German American Business community of the Midwest and their guests attend this event. They experience a distinctive evening that starts with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by an elegant dinner and a special musical performance.
The highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Annual MERLIN Award, presented by the Chamber to honor those companies that the members of GACCoM have nominated and the judges have selected as exemplifying outstanding achievements in German-American business.
MERLIN Award
GACCoM members nominate companies in the German American Business in the Midwest that offer a unique product, innovative service or breakthrough technology, or feature exemplary international business practices and consistent creative management.
A group of independent judges who are members of the German American Community decide on which companies should receive the award. In addition to receiving the award at the gala the winners receive a one year complimentary membership with GACCoM and are recognized on our website, in the German American Trade magazine, and our e-newsletter ChamberBrief.
Silent Auction
The Silent Auction takes place during the cocktail reception. Last year guests bid on items ranging from high-end German manufactured lamps to an enormous German chocolate basket to airline tickets to Europe. Companies interested in donating and receiving exposure through this event, on our website and, our magazine can contact Lauren VanderBerg at vanderberg(at)gaccom.org or +1-312-644-2662. Your donation could be something your company manufactures, a service you provide or a give-away of your choice. We are open to suggestions and welcome your creativity. 
Economic ForumAround 150 executives get together every year for the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest's Annual Economic Forum, which takes place at the beginning of each year. Top speakers from both sides of the Atlantic discuss current economic developments in the international and, in particular, the German-American business world. Attendees come from a variety of industries, companies and backgrounds, including insurance, banking, legal services, automotive, engineering, food and fashion.
Past Speakers include:Past Speakers include:
- Michael Backfisch, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Handelsblatt, Düsseldorf, Germany – Germany’s top business newspaper
- Sean Clark, President - BrainLAB Inc., Westchester, IL
- Frank Dettke, CFO - Porsche Enterprises, Lisle, IL
- Dr. Theo Freye, President - Claas North America Holdings, Omaha, NE
- Ralf Gerbershagen, Chairman, Motorola GmbH, Taunusstein, Germany
- Dr. Thomas Klier, Senior Economist - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Vince Lapinski, CEO - MAN Roland, Westmont, IL
- Frank Mueller, President - Behr America, Troy, MI
- Dr. Axel Nitschke, Chief Economist – German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Berlin, Germany
- Wolfgang Rubrecht, General, Manager, Siemens Energy & Automation, Elk Grove Village, IL
- Dr. Holger Schmieding, Managing Director and Co-head of European Economics - Bank of America, London, UK
- Dr. Jochen Schmitz, Former CFO - Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Hoffman Estates, IL
- Thomas Seifert, President - Optima Machinery Corporation, Green Bay, WI
- Diane Swonk, Senior Managing Director & Chief Economist, Mesirow Financial, Chicago, IL
|
|
|
