BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Detroit X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Detroit BEGIN:VEVENT UID:33650@arabamerica.com DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20241025T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20241025T220000 DTSTAMP:20241016T193042Z URL:https://www.arabamerica.com/events/building-economic-bridges-gala/ SUMMARY:Building Economic Bridges Gala DESCRIPTION:AMERICAN ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOMES UNDER SECRETARY OF S TATE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH JOSE W. FERNANDEZ AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL BUILDING ECONOMIC BRIDGES GALA IN WESTLAND OCTOBER 25\n\nJose W. F ernandez\, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth\, Energy and the E nvironment\, will speak at the celebration of Arab American achievement an d opportunity\n\nDEARBORN\, Mich. — October 7\, 2024 — The American Ar ab Chamber of Commerce announces Jose W. Fernandez\, Under Secretary of St ate for Economic Growth\, Energy\, and the Environment\, as the keynote sp eaker at the 32nd Annual “Building Economic Bridges” Gala on Friday\, October 25\, 2024\, at the Soho Banquet &\; Event Center in Westland\, Michigan. The gala will gather leaders from business\, government\, and th e Arab American community to celebrate growth\, innovation\, and the vital contributions of Arab American entrepreneurs. Tickets and sponsorships ar e available at www.americanarab.com/bebgala.\n\nBuilding on this year’s theme of Innovation\, Entrepreneurial Philanthropy\, and Energy\, Under Se cretary Fernandez will share his insights on global economic trends and ho w they align with the entrepreneurial spirit fueling Arab American busines ses. His unique perspective will highlight the synergies between economic growth and the Chamber’s mission to create opportunities for businesses in Michigan and beyond.\n\n“The 32nd Annual “Building Economic Bridges ” Gala hosted by The American Arab Chamber of Commerce highlights the in credible achievements of leaders and businesses from local\, national\, an d international arenas who are making significant strides across a wide ra nge of industries” said Bilal Hammoud\, Executive Director of the Americ an Arab Chamber of Commerce. “Our guests will be inspired by their remar kable work as well as finding opportunities to network with visionary prof essionals committed to driving progress and shaping the future.”\n\nAs t he largest Arab American business organization in the United States\, the Chamber continues to play a pivotal role in advancing economic partnership s between Michigan and businesses across the Middle East. “This Gala is not just our biggest event of the year—it’s a celebration of the futur e we are building together\, a future rooted in innovation\, partnership\, and global impact\,” added Hammoud.\n\nFernandez’s appearance at this year’s Gala reflects the Chamber’s growing collaboration with the U.S . State Department and its continued commitment to advocating for the Arab American business community on the national and international stage.\n\n “I’m honored to speak at the ‘Building Economic Bridges’ Gala\,” said Fernandez. “The Arab American Chamber is a crucial partner in prom oting global business engagement\, and I look forward to working together to expand opportunities for businesses in Michigan and across the country. ”\n\nFernandez\, who leads the State Department’s bureaus and offices focused on international policies related to economic growth\, energy\, ag riculture\, oceans\, the environment\, and science and technology\, has se rved in his position since August 2021. He is also the United States Alter nate Governor to the World Bank\, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development\, and the Inter-American Development Bank.\n\nFrom 2009 to 20 13\, Fernandez served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic\, Energy and Business Affairs\, one of the bureaus he now oversees. He prev iously was a partner at Gibson Dunn &\; Crutcher LLP in New York. He fo cused his practice on mergers\, acquisitions and finance in Europe and eme rging markets\, advising U.S. and foreign clients in the telecommunication s\, energy\, water\, banking\, and consumer industries.\n\nMost recently\, Fernandez was an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School\, where he taugh t a course on international business transactions. He also served as the D irector of the Transition Policy Committees for New Jersey Governor-Elect Phil Murphy following the Governor’s election in 2017.\n\nHe was named o ne of the “World’s Leading Lawyers” by Chambers Global for his M &\;A and corporate work\, a “Highly Regarded” practitioner by the  International Financial Law Review\, and one of the “World’s Leadin g Privatization Lawyers” by Euromoney Publications. He has been Chai r of the Inter-American law committees of both the American Bar Associatio n and The Association of the Bar of the City of New York\, as well as of t he Cross-Border M&\;A and Joint Venture Committee of the New York State Bar Association.\n\nA lifelong supporter of the arts and education\, Fe rnandez has served as a trustee of Dartmouth College and NPR-station WBG O-FM\, and on the Board of Directors of Acción International\, the Counci l of the Americas\, Ballet Hispanico of New York\, the Middle East Insti tute\, and the Partnership for Inner City Education. He was the co-founder of TeatroStageFest\, a two-week Latino theatre festival in New York\, and was appointed a Commissioner of New York’s Latin Media and Entertainmen t Commission by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.\n\nFernandez is a Dartmouth Colle ge graduate and earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of L aw\, where he was awarded the Charles Evans Hughes Prize and a Parker Scho ol Certificate of International Law with honors.\n\nVIP Reception and Gala Highlights\n\nThe Gala will kick off with a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m.\, followed by a gourmet dinner\, cultural performances showcasing the richne ss of Arab heritage\, and an awards ceremony honoring trailblazers within the Arab American community. Attendees will have the opportunity to networ k with top professionals and industry leaders\, fostering connections that will shape the future of business and entrepreneurship.  \n\nTickets &a mp\; Sponsorship\n\nTickets to the “Building Economic Bridges” Gala ar e $250 and can be purchased at www.americanarab.com/bebgala. For sponsorsh ip opportunities\, contact Nadia Marinova at nadia@americanarab.com or 248 -342-3732.\n###\n \;\n\nAbout the American Arab Chamber of Commerce\n\ nThe American Arab Chamber of Commerce builds economic bridges by promotin g and empowering Arab American businesses on local\, national\, and intern ational levels. Learn more at www.americanarab.com. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.arabamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2 024/10/c05e18da-d95e-46c6-ae93-ac4689a08491.jpg CATEGORIES:#maqamat END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Detroit BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20240310T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR