Ř       Organized multiple events per year (see below)

Ř       Invited hundreds of international and Dutch companies to each event

Ř       Maintained online Member Directory for easier connecting between members

Ř       Profiled numerous companies and organizations in the Connections magazine

15 February 2007:  Kikkoman Factory Tour

• Presentation on Kikkoman, Mr. A. Doesburg, Manager Administration, Kikkoman Foods Europe BV
• Tour of the factory
• Borrel and Connecting time

21 November 2006:  The Sweet Smell of Success

• Presentation and Tour of the CSM Sugar factory in Hoogkerk
• Borrel and Dinner
• Connecting Time

28  September 2006:  Speed Networking

• Speed Networking session—a chance to speak to everyone else in the room in an organized and fun manner; Golden Tulip Hotel, Paterswolde
• Connecting time and borrel

22 June 2006:  Voorwaarts Voorwaarts

• Sailing trip on Lauwersmeer
• Presentation on “The Role of the Dept. of Economic Affairs in Area Businesses” , Mr. Ron Torenbos ROEZ, Gemeente Groningen
• Presentation on “International Programs with Groningen’s Sister Cities”, Mr. John Ebbink, ROEZ, Gemeente Groningen
• Connecting time, borrel, and dinner on board the ship

18 May 2006:  The Business of International Art Exchange

• Guided tour of exhibition “Borek Sipek”, Drents Museum, Assen
• Presentation on “The Business of International Art Exchange”, Mr. Vincent van Vilsteren, Curator
• Connecting time and borrel

9 February 2006:  ASTRON and LOFAR: The Eyes of the Earth

• Visit to ASTRON, Dwingeloo
• Presentation on ASTRON and JIVE, Dr. Eugene de Geus, Director Public Affairs, ASTRON and Dr. Bob Campbell, Head Scientific Operations, JIVE
• Tour of the facilities
• Connecting time and borrel

17 November 2005:  A Nose for Wine and Ahead in Business

• Visit to Baarsma Wine Group, Gorredijk
• Tour of the distribution center and company presentation by co-founder Mr. Peter Wagenaar
• Wine tasting evening
• Networking borrel and hapjes

15 September 2005:  Raising the Bar with Zebra Technologies

• Visit to Zebra Technologies, Heerenveen
• “Raising the Bar”, Mr. Clive Fern, Logistics Manager, Zebra Technologies
• Tour of the facilities
• Networking Borrel

16 June 2005:  International Sea Trade

• Visit to Koninklijke Niestern Sander
• Ride on a speedboat through the Harbor of Delfzijl
• Borrel and fish meal at Groningen Seaports
• Presentation entitled "Significance of Groningen Seaports on the Region Economy”, Mr. Harm Post, Managing Director Groningen Seaports

21 April 2005:  The Do’s and Don’ts of Obtaining Venture Capital

• “The Do’s and Don’ts of Obtaining Venture Capital”, Mr. Patrick Polak, Managing Director, Newion Investments
• Networking Borrel with Indian hapjes

3 March 2005:  Asianization

• “Asianization”, Prof. Dr. Rien Segers, Director Japanese Study Centre, University of Groningen
• Networking Borrel with Dim Sum meal

22 November 2004:  Networking and Challenges

• “Networking…My Way!”, Mr. Chris Devries, Managing Director Corporate Banking, Citibank International
• “Tennis Challenges”, Mr. Stanley Franker, Tournament Director, Challenger Groningen
• Lunch and tennis match during the Challenger Tennis Tournament

7 October 2004:  Internationalization

• “Internationalization: A Business Innovation Process”, Mr. Johan Mekkes, Manager Special Projects, NV NOM

13 May 2004:  Bosnia-Herzegovina: Opportunity or Risk?

·         “Bosnia-Herzegovina: Opportunity or Risk?”, Mr. Jan de Bruin, Managing Director, Straight Interim Management & Organisatie advise

·         Tour of Golden Tulip Hotel facilities and Networking Borrel

25 & 26 March 2004:  CBC Two-day International Company Tour

• Connect International organized a two-day business tour of the Northern Netherlands for the U.S. Consul General, Michele T. Bond, and the U.S. Commercial Attaché, Pamela Ward. The program included individual company visits to American and other international companies and separate Connect Business Club meetings in each of the three northern provinces of Drenthe, Groningen, and Friesland. The meetings were co-organized by Atos Origin and Gemeente Emmen, Syncom, and Gemeente Heerenveen.

25 March 2004:  Connect Lustrum Party

• A gala celebration for five years of making ‘connections’, co-sponsored by the Golden Tulip Hotel, Paterswolde-Groningen

19 February 2004:  Network Your Way to Success

• “Network Your Way to Success”, Mr. Charles D.A. Ruffolo, NetworKING, RIBS Network
• Networking Borrel and Prize Giveaways

25 September 2003:  Flying High for Low Fares from the Northern Netherlands

• “Flying High for Low Fares from the Northern Netherlands”, Mr. David Gering, Sales & Marketing Manager Benelux, Ryanair
• Gave away free trip to London with overnight hotel stay donated by Ryanair and Business+ Travel, Groningen

12 June 2003:  Working in the Netherlands

• “Executive Search”, Mr. Herman Krommendam and Mr. Ger Scholtens, Spencer Stuart, Amsterdam
• “Health & Safety at Work”, Mr. Jan Nijmeijer, Arbo Unie, Groningen         
• “Latest Developments in Dutch Labor Regulations”, Mr. Theo van Maaren, Baker & McKenzie, Amsterdam

24 April 2003:  Doing Business in China

• “Doing Business in China”, Mr. Jan Vlieg, Far East Trade Centre, Groningen
• “History and Tasting of Six Classic Scotch Whiskies”, Mr. Sieger Götz, Bottelier Götz, Assen

21 November 2002:  Tour of the Gasunie building

• Gasunie presentation and tour of the building

26 September 2002:  Subsidies for the Northern Netherlands

• “Subsidies in the North Netherlands”, Mr. Jan Hendrik van Tuil, NV NOM

13 June 2002:  Starting a Business in the Northern Netherlands

• “Starting a Business in the Northern Nertherlands”, Mr. Ron van Gent, Bedrijven Loket
• Organizational profile: International Business School, Mr. Albert Hovius

14 March 2002:  The Art of Effective Communication

• “The Art of Effective Communication”, Mrs. Maureen Jenkins, Imaginal Training
• Company profile: ASUStek Holland BV, Ms. Jenney Man

29 November 2001:  Perot Systems and Groningen Airport Eelde

• Airport Facilities and Tour, Mr. Jeroen Meulendijks, Groningen Airport Eelde
• Company profile: Perot Systems, Mr. John Bavis, CEO

27 September 2001:  The Art of Networking

• “The Art of Networking”, Mr. Charles Ruffolo, RIBS Network

14 June 2001:  New Tax Rules in the Netherlands

• “New Tax Rules in the Netherlands”, Mr. Leen Hooites, Plas & Bossinade
• Company profile: Serendipitas, Mr. Leo Beth

30 November 2000:  Credit Risk Management

• “Credit Risk management in Developing Markets”, Armstrong Building Products
• Company profile: Invitrogen, Mr. Lee Desrogiers, Manager

21 September 2000:  Introduction of the Euro

• “Introduction of the Euro”, Mr. Romantschenko, ABN AMRO Bank