Since 1989 SACC-DC has offered a platform for developing U.S. – Swedish lucrative commercial ventures and professional opportunities through our network and business and social events. The SACC-DC Newsletter will help you stay on top of what’s happening in the Swedish-American business community and find the perfect opportunity to create new business connections in the greater Washington D.C. area and Mid-Atlantic region. |
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From the Executive Director |
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Dear Friends,
It is always nice to start off the year by welcoming new members! Hitachi Energy has joined as Corporate member (read more below), Grossman, Young & Hammond (immigration law firm) as Business member, and Simon Bergbom and Aapo Salo as Young Professionals. Welcome to SACC-DC! If you know of a business or individual who could benefit from the network and services that SACC-DC provides, feel free to forward them our newsletter. Now is a good time to join, as we have an exciting year ahead.
As our flagship events - the Crayfish party, the SACC DC Open golf tournament and the Holiday party - all occur during the fall, we have been looking for some years now for a spring event that people will want to come back to next year. And the year after that. We may have found that event. The theme is "Scandinavian Innovation" and the event aims to share exciting innovations and collaborations from the Scandinavian Innovation ecosystems of companies, government agencies, innovation hubs, academia and financial institutions, and relate them to industry shifts or political ambitions happening in the U.S.
Please scroll down to Upcoming Events to learn more about the inaugural event taking place on April 27.
The SACC-DC Board is an exciting and distinguished group of members and two of them are featured in this newsletter: Jesica Lindgren is taking over as our new President (hooray!) and Doug Faulkner shares insights to his career in sustainability and a recent article on an exciting milestone that Doug has been involved with.
Happy reading!
Lotta
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We Welcome our new President Jesica Lindgren |
SACC-DC is delighted to announce that as of January 20, Jesica Lindgren has been appointed as President of the organization. Ms. Lindgren, who is a valued member of the board of directors since 2018, succeeds Lotta Kramer, who continues in her current capacity as Executive Director after two years of dedicated service as President.
Jesica contributes with extraordinary experience to SACC-DC, as she currently works as General Counsel at Blue Star Strategies, and advises clients on a diverse range of issues including government relations and legal support. Ms. Lindgren has previously been the Vice President and Director of ResCare, where she also led ResCare’s international Workforce Service group. Moreover, she was a board member of ResCare’s international subsidiaries. Jesica received her B.A. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from American University, where she operated as editor-in-chief of the international law review and was a commencement speaker in 1994. Ms. Lindgren earned an MBA from University of Chicago and is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington. Jesica’s broad expertise is a testament to her capacity to navigate in complex, international settings and to lead with virtue.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Lotta Kramer for her excellent work during her tenure as President and wish Jesica Lindgren the best of luck in the role. SACC-DC is fortunate to have attracted someone as talented as Jesica Lindgren, and confident that the organization is in very capable hands.
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Interview with John Haysbert, Vice President of Government and Institutional Relations at new SACC-DC member Hitachi Energy |
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Please provide a background to your professional career, both with Hitachi Energy and prior commitments.
My name is John Haysbert and I am the Vice President of Government and Institutional Relations with Hitachi Energy in Washington, D.C. I am responsible for leading all US government relations on a variety of legislative and regulatory issues at the local, state and federal level. Previously, I was a Managing Partner, External Affairs and Government Relations with H-Cubed Solutions and a Director, Federal Government Affairs at Duke Energy. Throughout my career, and in my current role with Hitachi Energy, I have worked on a variety of issues to help reduce carbon emissions and deploy technology enhancements that will accelerate the energy transition in the US and globally. As a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, I graduated with an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Me and my wife, Robyn, are active in several professional and community organizations and have a daughter and son together.
Please tell us about Hitachi Energy and where they are in the supply chain of power technology.
Hitachi Energy USA Inc. is a major U.S. and global supplier of products, systems, software, and services to the energy sector and a key stakeholder involved directly and indirectly in the supply chain supporting the electric grid in the United States and North America more broadly. Given the anticipated growth in demand for clean energy, and the need to connect the clean energy sources to the electric grid, grid-related technologies are more important than ever. As a technology and thought leader focusing on grid automation, grid integration, high voltage products, and transformers, Hitachi Energy is a critical supplier to the technology sectors that service the U.S. grid. The company has focused on the production of equipment and systems that will be instrumental in meeting the demand for the collection and transmission of clean energy. Therefore, Hitachi Energy has a strong platform to support grid innovation and clean energy integration through our supply chain.
What potential do you see in the US market in terms of clean energy transition?
Today and in the future, I believe we are in an era where transformational change and the energy transition will shape our world, reducing carbon emissions while providing safe and reliable energy. To advance and deploy clean energy technologies in the US market, collaborative efforts to drive a national transmission plan to deliver new and emerging sources of energy to the North American electric grid will be key for a clean energy transition. Electric vehicles, onshore and offshore wind, HVDC, solar, energy storage, and other renewable resources can plan a key role in reducing carbon emissions and encouraging forward-looking investments. I also believe a clean energy transition will help economic development and job growth in the US market.
As a new member with SACC-DC, what do you hope to get out of the membership?
I would like to see continued engagement and support from SACC-DC on initiatives that support a carbon-neutral future. I hope that SACC-DC will be a great platform for Hitachi Energy to share, with stakeholders, the importance of advancing a sustainable energy future for all. As the pioneering technology leader, I believe the voice of SACC-DC will help us expand collaboration with customers and partners to ensure continued innovation, with the goal of accelerating the shift toward clean, renewable energy sources – for today’s generations and those to come.
To read more about Hitachi's efforts regarding clean energy transition in the US, click here. |
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Member Spotlight: Board Member Douglas Faulkner |
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We highlight this month our Board member, Doug Faulkner, his career championing the bio-economy, his recent article on a major reversal of a federal bio-fuels regulations and his perspective on removing governmental barriers to sustainable economic growth.
Long-time SACC-DC Board member, Doug Faulkner, has spent most of his career fighting to advance the global bio-economy – the use of crops, trees and wastes to make liquid fuels, chemicals and a host of consumer products. His first professional jobs were an intern and then a staffer for his rural Illinois Congressman, himself an early champion for corn ethanol. As a career civil servant in the Clinton Administration, he created a new research and development program for bio-based products and led the creation of the first national strategic vision and technology roadmap for that emerging industry. As a senior political appointee for President George W. Bush, he oversaw the civilian budgets for renewable energy and energy efficiency at the Departments of Energy and Agriculture and spearheaded Presidential biofuel initiatives at home and abroad. Since 2009, as the Founder and President of his own consulting firm, Leatherstocking LLC, he has helped global clients grow their clean-technology markets. In 2018 the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture named him co-Chair of the national biomass advisory committee, where he focused on removing regulatory barriers to the bio-economy. With new proposed regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency that mirror his committee’s core recommendations, he can now claim victory in a decade-long struggle. His article (link below) details that story – and how it could trigger a renaissance for American next-generation bio-fuels in the world-wide race for more sustainable energy.
Press here to see the full article. |
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One important step towards a decarbonized future |
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations and highlight the success of the pioneering collaboration between our members SSAB and Volvo Group. SSAB has created the first ever CO2 emission free steel, an innovation that has attracted great interest among several big companies.
Volvo Group became the first company to incorporate the fossil-free steel from SSAB in their production when creating a new electric dumper vehicle. Thus, Volvo Group has reached an important milestone in generating results and further innovation from the new technology, proving that sustainability and quality can be combined in a profitable manner. The vehicle, which holds a substantial symbolic value, marks an important leap towards a sustainable future and positions Volvo Group and SSAB at the forefront of green transition in the industry. The two companies have surpassed a large threshold and are leading the way for others in the industry, by conveying the groundbreaking impact a well-thought collaboration can create.
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Save the Date April 27
Scandinavian Innovation Forum
Green Supply Chains in a Carbon-free Future
The U.S. Demand for Green Materials and Scandinavia's Supply-Driven Innovations
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In collaboration with the Swedish and Norwegian Embassies;
SACC-DC, together with NACC-MA, the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, invite you to explore the untapped demand for sustainable materials, such as batteries and steel, in the US market, and the Scandinavian supply potential of green production.
Save the date: April 27, 2022, 9 am - 5 pm
Ocean Hall, Embassy of Norway
April 26 evening reception at House of Sweden
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New date: The Stockholm model - a story of successful partnerships postponed
KTH Royal Institute of Technology is collaborating with the City of Stockholm and the Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C. in hosting an in-person event at the Embassy of Sweden. The event was originally planned for January 31 - February 1, but has been postponed to May 9 - May 10 due to the Omicron situation. The topic of the event will focus on how to create societal sustainability by inducing collaboration and partnerships.
More information about registration and the event in general can be found here.
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Introducing the new SACC-DC trainees |
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In the month of January, SACC-DC welcomed two new trainees, Sara Granelli and Noel Rodhe that will help bolster trade and relations between Sweden and the U.S.. |
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Noel Rodhe holds a bachelor's degree in Business & Economics at Lund Universtiy with a major in Corporate Finance, during which he spent his fifth semester as a remote Intern at SACC-DC. Instead of directly pursuing a master's degree, Noel decided to rejoin SACC-DC as a one-year Business Associate in order to make it to D.C. in person and fully experience what it's like living and working in the city. With an interest in business analytics, international business and international relations, Noel hopes to gain valuable experience and knowledge in these subjects while working at SACC-DC. |
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Sara Granelli is currently studying the final semester on her Business and Administration bachelor at Lund University in Sweden, with a minor in organization and leadership. She has previously worked as a lecturer and has experience in B2B and B2C sales. Sara aims to aid the chamber in its work with creating value for the esteemed member during her six-month long internship, while simultaneously expanding previous knowledge and insights from academia. Sara joined SACC-DC in January 2022 remotely from Sweden but aspires to join the team physically in the spring.
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You can read more about Noel, Sara and the rest of the team here.
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Remember to renew your membership for 2022
SACC DC organizes many events throughout the year to give our members access to professional networking. We also tailor trade missions for Swedish companies interested in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. Whether an individual with a keen interest in or connection with Sweden living in D.C. or a company looking to establish new relationships, we can help you reach your next goal.
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