Thursday, September 20, 2012 Make Business a Walk in the Park: Fall 2012 International Networking Event and Soccer Game at PPL Park – home to Philadelphia Union
On Thursday, September 20, 2012, the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Union, along with the Chilean, German and Italian American Chambers of Commerce hosted the Fall 2012 International Networking and Soccer Game event at PPL Park in Chester, PA.
Over 80 people attended, representing the four different international chambers. Refreshments were served as executives from Greater Philadelphia’s leading global businesses networked on the Bridge Deck before Philadelphia Union took the field against D.C. United.
Overlooking the stadium and the Delaware River during a beautiful sunset, Charles Carrington, Partner in the Audit and Enterprise Risk Services Group with Deloitte and Membership Co-Chair of the BABC, greeted guests with opening remarks and introduced keynote speaker, Nick Sakiewicz, CEO and Operating Partner of Philadelphia Union. Attendees also heard from Co-lead sponsors Todd Sturza, Managing Director and Team Leader, National Corporate Banking at TD Bank and BABC Membership Co-Chair, and Scott Johnson, Partner, The McConnell Companies.
In addition to enjoying networking opportunities and delicious refreshments, guests also won exciting raffle prizes including: a $100 gift certificate donated by the Starr Restaurant Group to The Dandelion, a British inspired pub in Center City, Chilean wine, German beer, and a signed team jersey from Philadelphia Union.
The BABC would like to recognize and thank Co-lead sponsors TD Bank and The McConnell Companies.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Healthcare Reform Business Breakfast Panel Discussion
On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 over forty executives from multinational companies gathered for the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia’s Health Care Reform — Decisions & Implications for Cross Border Employers business breakfast seminar at The Union League of Philadelphia. Neil Boyden Tanner, Chief Counsel, CIGNA International and prior BABC President welcomed guests and introduced Stephen C. Baker, Leader, Life Insurance & Annuities Practice Group at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP to provide a brief introduction to the topic and introduce the panelists.
This timely, dynamic discussion focused on the new era of US health care reform, and how recent and future regulations will impact global employers and their employees. Leading advisors shared their insight on the tax, legal, employee benefits and insurance coverage aspects and concerns triggered by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), with a particular emphasis on what British companies need to know when sending employees to work in the US and what American companies need to know when sending employees to work in the UK. Christopher Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Willis Global Solutions was the first panelist. He provided a broad explanation of the emergence of health care as a global issue, the new world order, trends, and exploding health care costs. Monice Barbero, Senior Counsel, CIGNA Global Health Benefits discussed US healthcare reform and the expat employer. She provided detailed background about and the global impact of PPACA, and discussed the importance of timing, the impact of key provisions, and the need to carefully navigate the constantly changing environment. Robert Davis, Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP focused his presentation on full time employee status under ACA; employer shared responsibility rules and penalties; key questions regarding health care reform in the near and long term; and IRS guidance.
The three panelists’ thorough presentations provided an outstanding session about the current state of health care in the US and how this affects expats living and working outside of the US and the companies that employ them. A dynamic question and answer session followed the presentations. After the program concluded, all of the panelists were interviewed by David Sells, a business reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Click here to read the article.
Many thanks to the panelists and their companies for supporting this event: CIGNA, Deloitte, Drinker Biddle & Reath and Willis Global Solutions.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Thursday, October 25, 2012 International Breakfast Meeting with Mars, Incorporated & Mars Drinks NA
On Thursday, October 25, 2012, the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia and the Chilean, French, German, Irish, and Swedish American Chambers of Commerce gathered for an international breakfast meeting with Mars, Incorporated & Mars Drinks NA. The meeting featured Victoria Mars, Corporate Ombudsman and Board Member of Mars, Incorporated; Xavier Unkovic, Regional President of Mars Incorporated; and Lindsey LeGros, Director of Business Development of Mars Drinks NA. More than 140 leading international business executives from the region networked, taste tested Mars products, and learned about Mars, Incorporated, a family owned international company with approximately 70,000 associates worldwide in over 73 countries.
Mars’ diverse company profile and unique structure has net sales of more than $30 billion, and six business segments including: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. Mars Drinks provides more than a billion beverages to over 35,000 businesses each year. US headquarters are in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and UK headquarters are in Basingstoke.
The event included taste testing Mars Drinks – coffee, tea and chocolate beverages
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Annual Holiday Luncheon
On Wednesday, December 12, 2012, the British American Business Council (BABC) of Greater Philadelphia hosted its Annual Holiday Luncheon featuring Sir Peter Westmacott, British Ambassador to the United States. Over 180 people gathered for the BABC’s signature event in the Grand Ballroom of The Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia. This special program welcomed Ambassador Westmacott for his first official visit to the City. The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia introduced the Ambassador, and lauded the efforts of BABC event sponsors and Club Level members for their role in promoting the trade and commercial relationship between our region and the UK. The festive lunch was complete with the breaking of Christmas “crackers” at exactly 12:12 p.m. in recognition of the unusual date – 12/12/12. More than 17 exciting prizes contributed to the BABC from local retailers, restaurants, hotels and sports teams were raffled off to lucky winners during the program, including two roundtrip Envoy Class tickets on US Airways between Philadelphia International and London Heathrow Airports generously donated by US Airways – exclusive airline sponsor of the program.
All attendees greatly enjoyed Ambassador Westmacott’s educational remarks about the historic relationship between the UK and US. The Ambassador also discussed more current events, including the challenging economic times we currently face, and the proud role London played in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Many thanks to Co-lead Sponsors GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC and KPMG, and the Exclusive Airline Sponsor US Airways.
