March & April /2018
  AlabamaGermany Partnership   
1900 International Park Drive, Suite 105     Birmingham   AL 35243

                   205-943-4772          www.AlabamaGermany.org           E-mail                              
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In This Issue
Remarks from AGP Chair
Photo Gallery
Southern SME Forum
AGP Study Trip to Germany
MöllerTech opens $46.3 million Alabama plant
Evonik Birmingham Expands
Survey for Multiple Language Speakers
 
Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:

 
  
 
 
Mercedes

  
 


 
What to do in Alabama

Please note that the dates are shared to the best of our knowledge. If you plan to attend any of the events - please make sure to check information directly with the host of the event. Thank you! 

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AGP's New Members

Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:


 


     


 
   


 
   
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Remarks from AGP Chair
By Dr. Anna Gramberg, Auburn University


OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Thank you and Danke to everyone who joined us on March 1 in Vance at the Mercedes-Benz Visitor Center for our 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner. Many prominent guests were in attendance: Mercedes President and CEO Jason Hoff, University of Alabama President Stuart Bell, and Chancellor of the System, Ray Hayes; President Cynthia Warrick from Stillman College, and Chancellor Jimmy Baker, the Alabama Community Colleges System.

Also attending were Mayor Maddox from Tuscaloosa, Mayor O'Mary from Jasper, Judge McCollum from the Tuscaloosa County Commission, Alabama State Senators Greg Reed and Gerald Allen, and Secretary of Commerce, Greg Canfield.

Our Consul General, Ambassador Detlev Ruenger, was also with us, and so were Honorary Consul Generals Michael Johnson, Germany, and Mark Jackson, Japan; Stefanie Ziska, President GACC South, and from the German Embassy, Frau Minister Ursina Krumpholz.

And most importantly, our Keynote Speaker, the Governor of the great State of Alabama, Kay Ivey.

A big Thank You goes to our fantastic Executive Director, Tine Hoffmeister, our outstanding AGP Boards, Exclusive Star Sponsor Mercedes, Platinum sponsors Auburn University Research &Technology Foundation, and the University of Alabama System, and to all of our many other sponsors, silent auction donors, and guests who made this special 20th Anniversary Celebration a huge success, with a record attendance of over 350, record sponsorships, and record attendance at our Business Forum-we are truly thankful for your support. Jo Bonner, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development for the University of Alabama System, former Congressman, and AGP VP for Business Development, steered us through the night as our EMCEE.

The next morning, we presented our Business Forum on "Economic Outlook and Tax Reform," and afterwards, Mercedes opened their doors for a tour of their facilities.

Looking forward, we are strengthening the connectivity between businesses and educational institutions through newly established events at Alabama's distinguished universities. We kicked off our new initiative last year with a Connectivity Dinner and Business Seminar at Auburn University, and we will have our second event in August 2018 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, hosted by President Stuart Bell.

And finally - thank you to all you all for attending and supporting our Celebration events, and making it such a huge success-Vielen Dank!


AGP 20th Anniversary Celebration Photo Gallery
 





Thank you to all that came out to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Please enjoy the photos from the night by Angela Karen Photography and Hal Yeager,  Gov. Kay Ivey Staff Photographer. 


AGP Brews & Networking in Mobile



Join us for brews and networking: 

Wednesday
April 18, 5 pm to 7 pm 
Serda Brewing Company
Mobile

The brewery is preparing flights of 4 of their brews for us to enjoy while they talk to us about their brewing style. The brews will be paired with small  Schnitzel sandwiches. Come out for a great night of brews and networking. 


Thank you to our generous sponsor: 



German Mittelstand - Southern SME Forum in Birmingham

 
Monday, April 9, 2018
The Westin Hotel in Birmingham, AL
 
GACC South's sixth "German Mittelstand - Southern SME Forum" will be held on April 9, 2018, at The Westin Hotel in Birmingham, AL. This business-specific event offers a platform to exchange ideas while building relationships with new business and offers the opportunity to gain insights on innovative business practices, in order to successfully strengthen your presence within the U.S. market.

The all-day business conference will feature engaging keynote speakers followed by informative workshops, panel discussions, and plentiful networking opportunities.



AGP Study Trip to Germany







AlabamaGermany Partnership is organizing a study trip to Germany June 17 to June 22. The delegation is limited to 20 participants.

The trip starts with visiting FH Würzburg-Schweinfurt (University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt) to learn about the engineering student exchange between Germany and Alabama. The delegation will get to meet students and faculty from Auburn University and FH Würzburg-Schweinfurt University (FHWS). Plus tour several labs and learn about FHWS worldwide programs like mechatronics. We will meet presidnet Robert Grebner and his team. Second day will include a visit to REHAU AG in Feuchtwangen. Apprenticeship (lehre) has been a long tradition in Germany and we will learn why when REHAU introduce the system and its role in developing a skilled workforce. The delegation will see up close how the company has training classes set up. REHAU is represented in Alabama in Cullman. On the third day, we will visit Daimler AG - the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen with more than 35,000 employees. The delegation will get a two hour tour of the plant and receive a special presentation on electric vehicle production & battery plant. On the last day we will be participating in German-American Business Forum in Stuttgart hosted by the German American Chamber of Commerce. There will also be an opportunity to attend Global Connect - Forum for exports and internationalization.

In addition, the group will also get to experience the German culture with several cultural visits during the trip, and reception/dinners with network opportunities for business development.

Please e-mail   director@alabamagermany.org for full agenda and to reserve your spot (we have only a few seats open). 

Auto supplier MöllerTech opens $46.3 million Alabama plant
By Made in Alabama



Top MöllerTech executives joined state and local leaders for a grand opening ceremony today at the new 150,000-square-foot facility in the Woodstock community's Scott G. Davis Industrial Park, just minutes away from the massive Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Tuscaloosa County.

"This new state-of-the-art plant has been a tremendous effort for everyone involved," said Dr. Gunther Schmidt, CEO of parent company MöllerGroup.

MöllerTech's facility will manufacture interior parts for the next-generation Mercedes SUV's that stem from a  $1.3 billion expansion that the German automaker announced for its Alabama facility in 2015. Mercedes announced a $1 billion investment in 2017 that will  add electric vehicles to its production lineup, as well as a  global logistics center being built near MöllerTech's facility at the Davis Industrial Park.


Evonik expands Birmingham health care business
By Made in Alabama



Following $50 million in investments over the past four years, the Birmingham site is now home to Evonik's global Competence Center for Medical Devices, which aims to develop new system solutions for medical technology and to expand the competencies of Evonik in the areas of biomaterials and medical polymers.

In addition, the company said it is installing a new, high-speed fill line for its extended-release drug delivery business, which focuses on polymer-based microparticles administered through injection or IV.

Evonik has also begun construction of a new RESOMER-brand polymers production facility adjacent to its existing Birmingham location. The new facility will increase production of bioresorbable polymers and add new production clean rooms and a pilot unit for contract polymer research projects.

 
Survey for Multiple Language Speakers 
By Nancy Fae O. King, Student, UAH

I am a graduate student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  My research partner and I are conducting a research study that will probably be of interest to your community.
 
We want to understand the backgrounds, attitudes and goals of Multiple Language Speakers in the North Alabama area. Your responses may help us strengthen a diverse and inclusive culture in the North Alabama area.
 
From March 25 to April 1, 2018, we are inviting Multiple Language Speakers in the North Alabama area to complete a voluntary, anonymous, 15-minute online questionnaire with a chance to win 1 of 4 $25 Amazon gift cards.
 
We will share our research study learning in the Summer of 2018 to all interested parties.



The Researchers:

Franklin Ellis Gossett (Ellis) is a Communication Arts student in the Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Franklin.E.Gossett@uah.edu)

Nancy Fae O. King (Nancy Fae) is a Communication Arts graduate student in the Master of Arts in Professional Communication Program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (NancyFae.King@uah.edu)