AmCham in Brief
The American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic is a non-profit, nongovernment organization governed independently by a board of directors elected from and by its membership. We are a member of the US Chamber of Commerce. We connect around 1500 top executives and company owners representing nearly 300 companies. Our member network spans industries, sizes and nationalities.
Our objective is to improve business environment in the Czech Republic. We can achieve it through networks of our members, business associations, public administration and NGOs we cooperate with. Our members can take an advantage of provided business opportunities, management improvements and advocacy.
- We organize around 100 networking activities annually, including Leadership Cocktails, Seminars, Workshops and Discussions, General Manager Breakfasts and Evenings, Movie Clubs, a Golf Tournament and our Thanksgiving Ball.
- We promote the country with our Czech Republic Overview, and by briefing potential investors. The overview is distributed by Czech government offices around the world and through our network.
- We promote our members through Best Office publication and on our website CzechMarketPlace.cz. The CzechMarketPlace.cz allows our members to promote themselves to thousands of potential partners.
- We advocate legislative and regulatory reform. The Competitiveness Report assesses government policy in six areas using both statistics and opinion surveys. Our members and staff were integrally involved in the complete reform of the bankruptcy act, the new commercial registry process, reform of public procurement, the introduction of social security caps, the original package of investment incentives, more liberal rules for financial collateral, the entry of the Czech Republic into the US visa waiver program.
- We are working with universities and companies to expand research opportunities.
- We serve as a platform for exchanging best practices in managing an organization.
- We continue to expand our CSR project One World, Many Voices, which supports projects that increase community participation and education.
The Chamber is registered in the Commercial Register administered by the Municipal Court in Prague, section A, entry No. 7665. Id.-No.: 481 18 320.
To get more information about AmCham in the Czech Republic, please, send an email to amcham@amcham.cz
AmCham: the Community of Next
Objectives of Our Community
- We aim to make the Czech Republic the best place to do business in Europe by constantly improving the networks between businesses, the knowledge of managing a business, and policy governing business.
- We pursue the next initiative that benefits both the wider business community and Czech society.
- We strive to create the next business opportunity, whether it is a transaction, an investment, or a new government policy.
- We cooperate with governments on the next reform that makes economic policy more transparent, fair, and prosperous for the country.
- We share the expertise and experiences of our community to raise the standards of operational excellence.
Values of Our Community
- We are transparent.
- Truth and trust are our core values.
- We are ambitious. We believe today should be as good as is possible, and tomorrow even better.
- We take initiative. If we identify what needs to get better, we do not wait for others to take the lead.
- We are creative. We search for beneficial new trends of managing the economy, managing the country, or building a better society.
- We are disciplined. Our ideas become reality.
- We are broad-minded. We understand that there are many solutions to any issue, and we listen to others to find the solution that works best for the sustainable and balanced development of our society.
- We have respect for others.
- We excel in every task and in each detail.
AmCham: The Plus Club
Strong communities are built by the efforts of those people who can balance self-interest with public good. The AmCham Plus Club was created to acknowledge such people and the good deeds they have done for all of us. Members of the Pus Club receive a lapel button that they are asked to wear to remind each of us that the health of our society does not begin in the prime minister´s office but in the actions of every one of us each day.
The Plus Club is growing each year as new members are being appointed regularly during AmCham General Assembly held in June based on their long lasting contribution and participation at various AmCham activities and projects.
List of current members:
| Surname | Name | ||
| 1 | Adams | Ronald | |
| 2 | Barliev | Vesselin | |
| 3 | Bartůněk | Aleš | |
| 4 | Bednář | Stanislav | |
| 5 | Benešová | Eva | |
| 6 | Best | Erik | |
| 7 | Bezdíček | Jan | |
| 8 | Boulton-Smith | William | |
| 9 | Brázda | Jan | |
| 10 | Brix | Martin | |
| 11 | Budway-Strobach | Věra | |
| 12 | Červenclová | Daniela | |
| 13 | Chour | Michal | |
| 14 | Clough | Brady | |
| 15 | Colantoni | Andrea | |
| 16 | Dittrich | Martin | |
| 17 | Dobeš | Richard | |
| 18 | Doležal | Jaroslav | |
| 19 | Dostálek | František | |
| 20 | Eisen | Norman | |
| 21 | Fabián | Michael | |
| 22 | Frkal | Tomáš | |
| 23 | Guilds | Christopher | |
| 24 | Hašková Coolidge | Eliška | |
| 25 | Haškovec | Ladislav | |
| 26 | Havrlíková | Zdeňka | |
| 27 | Hejmová | Karin | |
| 28 | Hesselink | Bert | |
| 29 | Hruška | David | |
| 30 | Jabůrková | Milena | |
| 31 | Ježková | Ivana | |
| 32 | Jílek | Dušan | |
| 33 | Jimenez | Emil | |
| 34 | Kačmář | Dalibor | |
| 35 | Kalousek | Jan | |
| 36 | Kanyza | Martin | |
| 37 | Klimeš | Michal | |
| 38 | Klimtová | Dagmar | |
| 39 | Kneiflová | Martina | |
| 40 | Kortán | Tomáš | |
| 41 | Kosturák | Matej | |
| 42 | Krajíček | Ondřej | |
| 43 | Ladmanová | Monika | |
| 44 | Linhart | Jan | |
| 45 | Mach | Václav | |
| 46 | Mališková | Marie | |
| 47 | Malysa | Michal | |
| 48 | Marečková | Monika | |
| 49 | Mařík | Vladimír | |
| 50 | Matoušek | Václav | |
| 51 | Mejtský | Miroslav | |
| 52 | Mullen | Michael | |
| 53 | Muntean | Cristina | |
| 54 | Murray | Darcie | |
| 55 | Nebeský | Michal | |
| 56 | Nevický | Petr | |
| 57 | Nová | Lenka | |
| 58 | Novotná | Jitka | |
| 59 | Novotný | Václav | |
| 60 | Papirnik | Vladimira | |
| 61 | Pardubský | Zbyněk | |
| 62 | Pavlíček | Jiří | |
| 63 | Peterka | Ondřej | |
| 64 | Plch | David | |
| 65 | Rytířová | Lucie | |
| 66 | Schovánková | Soňa | |
| 67 | Servus | Stanislav | |
| 68 | Slavíček | Michal | |
| 69 | Smejkal | Ladislav | |
| 70 | Sokol | Peter | |
| 71 | Soucek | Magdalena | |
| 72 | Soukupová | Hanka | |
| 73 | Spěváček | Michal | |
| 74 | Šrámek | Ondřej | |
| 75 | Staňková | Irena | |
| 76 | Suri | Sanjiv | |
| 77 | Šváb | Filip | |
| 78 | Ťok | Dan | |
| 79 | Trojan | Jeanne | |
| 80 | Valdinger | Jan | |
| 81 | Vilímek | Zdeněk | |
| 82 | Vrba | David | |
| 83 | Watkins | Brent | |
| 84 | Weber | Biljana | |
| 85 | Weinhold | Daniel | |
| 86 | Zahradník | Michal | |
| 87 | Zelová | Jana | |
| 88 | Žlebková | Lenka |
The time and talents of AmCham members are what make the organization thrive. Without the voluntary efforts of dozens of members throughout the year, our organization would not be able to advocate new reforms, organize insightful seminars, and make the connections that bring greater prosperity to the country.
Each year, since 2011, at the Thanksgiving Ball, we recognize members’ acts of social responsibility by awarding the annual Wings Award for a member who has made significant contributions to AmCham activities and the business community as a whole in the course of the previous membership year.
From 2013 we also give a Wings Award to a community leader whose activities have improved the condition of community life in the Czech Republic and have had a positive impact on the public. This is a non-political award, regardless AmCham membership.
Any AmCham member can nominate by sending filled nomination forms to AmCham offices (via email or regular mail). Nomination period usually run from the beginning of September until the mid of October. The final approval of the nominees is made by the AmCham Board of Directors.
Nomination forms:
Winners:
2016
- AmCham Wings for a member goes to Bert Hesselink of CBRE for his long-term chairmanship of AmCham Real Estate Committee and for driving its agenda forward.
2015
- AmCham Wings for Community Leader goes to David Šmejkal of Poradna při finanční tísni, o.p.s.
The Financial Crisis Advisory Centre (Poradna při finanční tísni) is a Public Benefit Organization and a unique example of cooperation of the largest Czech financial institutions/banks on a non-profit platform. By providing a free-of-charge counselling to concrete individuals in personal financial/social crisis and/or difficult life situations, the Centre gives the concept of “corporate social responsibility” a very concrete content.
Under the leadership of David Šmejkal, the Centre provides a high- quality and effective advisory to citizens in financial crisis, in imminent or existing insolvency or subject to execution, and help in submitting applications to be discharged from debts. Thanks’ to David´s efforts, the Centre has already 8 branches in Praha, Ostrava, Ústí n. Labem, Šumperk, Hradec Králové, Litvinov, Česká Lípa, Plzeň and Prostějov. The general aim of David Šmejkal´s advisory services is to make people aware of responsibility over personal finances, teach the wide public how to avoid risks associated with indebtedness and promote responsible borrowing. His team does so through professionally structured seminars, workshops, lectures which they adjust to each specific audience and its experience: schools, companies, social service providers, senior homes, unemployed.
2014
- AmCham Wings for Community Leader goes to Petr Sýkora of Dobrý anděl foundatifon.
Dobrý anděl foundation helps families facing financial distress as a result of illness. In 2011, Petr Sýkora and Jan + Černý set up Dobrý anděl foundation and committed for the first 5 years to pay 25 million CZK. Anybody can become Dobrý anděl (Good Angel) by contributing regularly any small amount of money. Financial contributions from all Good Angels are re-distributed each month down to the very last “penny” to all the families who need it and are registered in this foundation. The operating expenses of the endowment fund are financed out of the private funds of the founders.
- AmCham Wings for a member goes to Zdeněk Vilímek.
2013
- AmCham Wings for Community Leader goes to Jan Lorman of Život 90.
Jan Lorman´s background is in directing theatre and radio broadcasts. In 1990 he set up an organization called Život 90 with a mission to improve the quality of life and general well-being of senior citizens. Život 90 is Jan´s great passion and his work for this organization has been a life-long commitment with significant and far-reaching impact on the community as a whole.
Život 90 cooperates with governmental and municipal institutions in creating programs aimed at social, educational and cultural activities. It provides numerous humanitarian services to enable the elderly to more actively enjoy their lives as members of society.
Mr Lorman´s team has been operating a special telephone line for senior citizens who are in distress or in need of help. Hundreds of thousands of pensioners have confided in the Život 90 helpline over the years of the organization´s existence and have benefited from its valuable advice and guidance.
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AmCham Wings for a member goes to Jan Valdinger of Change Partnership for his long-term contribution and cooperation on AmCham projects.
2012
- AmCham Wings for a member goes to Milena Jabůrková of IBM
Milena is the type of individual who, when there is a problem, does not point fingers at others, but points it at herself and gets to work finding and implementing a solution. She challenges conventional thinking, she views “no” as the first step to getting to “yes”, and considers the government a piece to the puzzle, not a separate and alien power.
Her work in Amcham focuses on making the country a hub of international business. This year, her efforts were integral to devising a better policy for immigration and labor. In the next year as the country continues to find its competitive footing, we are counting on her to help us fill the vacuum in positive economic policy that the continuing political crisis has created.
2011
- AmCham Wings for a member goes to Daniel Weinhold of Weinhold Legal and Dan Ťok of Skanska in that time
Daniel and were recognized for their outstanding efforts to make the public procurement process more transparent and efficient.
Dan chaired the Platform for Transparent Public Procurement and served as its general spokesman. His ability to lead discussions to concrete conclusions, and to coax consensus from the various political parties, government agencies, and civic associations that are members of the platform was essential to achieving the legislative reform and creating an atmosphere of cordiality and confidence that should enable the Platform to undertake further reforms.
Daniel chaired the expert working group on the reform of the public procurement act. His task was difficult: he had to reach agreement on the principles of the reform, work with the government on drafting the reform, and then carefully vet both the government’s proposal and other amendments to ensure that the principles were achieved both in the text and in practice, and that the legislation would have no damaging side effects. His precise work often put him, at times, into the crosshairs of both politicians and other enthusiastic reformers, who did not like it when their big ideas were confronted with the challenge of working in practice. Without hours and hours of his work, along with hours and hours of his patient explanation, we would not have the solid, workable reform that is currently in the hands of the Senate.
News:
- In 2019, AmCham raises CZK 221,900 to help improve digital literacy skills
- At the 2018 Thanksgiving Ball, AmCham members and their guests pledged CZK 267,300 during the Silent Auction
- AmCham raises CZK 336,000 to help orphans get started (2017)
- Thanksgiving Ball raised CZK405.433,- to fund LET´S GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE and THE ENDOWMENT FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM foundations
- Akademie waldorfské pedagogiky gets money from One World Many Voices
- Základní škola Ružinovská - Prague 4 gets money from One World Many Voices (OWMV) - AmCham philanthropic project
- 8 schools have been selected to receive the 2014 One World, Many Voices grant
- 23 school projects request a grant from AmCham One World, Many Voices program (2013)
- Schools supported by AmCham report first progress
- List of program sponsors in 2012
- One World, Many Voices - CZK 520.000 for 11 Czech school projects
- School projects looking for support
- Donate books for school library
- Americká obchodní komora podpoří veřejné prospěšné projekty na českých školách
About
One World, Many Voices is an AmCham philanthropic program to support long term development of the Czech Republic.
Since 2012, the program has been contributing to development of community involvement in the Czech society.
Objectives of the program include:
- increase community involvement of children
- increase communication skills in English language
- foster application of theoretical knowledge in practice by own project realization
From this new grant competition AmCham has supported 11 school projects throughout the Czech Republic in 2012/2013, 9 schools in 2013/2014 and 8 schools in 2014/2015.
In 2015, AmCham Board proposed to dedicate funds (CZK 200,000) raised during the auction in 2014 for projects which:
- use digital technology to increase public access and participation in local communities and
- support high school and university students’ using technology to solve community problems.
Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemics, in 2020, AmCham and Y Soft Corporation used the funds raised in 2019 to donate face masks for doctors.
- Help us identify and develop projects for Silent Auction donations – please suggest project by sending an email at grybova@amcham.cz
- Send us short description of the project, School/NGO/Town involved in the project, why you recommend this project/why this project should be selected. Send us contacts/email contact/phone to school.
Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions - contact Gabriela Rybova at grybova@amcham.cz
The program Facebook pages:
www.facebook.com/OneWorldManyVoices
How to participate? | How to Donate? | Donated Projecs
How to participate?
Who can compete for donations?
Classes or similar school groups from public basic schools and public high schools in the Czech Republic can submit their project proposals.
How much can a school get?
A maximum cap on single projects is not set.
What kind of projects can be submitted?
Submitted projects have to be beneficial for wider community (not only the class), it has to involve the school, local community (public) and a local government organization. Cooperation among kids, teachers, public and municipal government representatives is desired. Projects should have a long-term positive effect and sustainability.
Submitted projects should be prepared by children to a large extent, written in English (up to 3 pages A4 format) and should include:
- Purpose and clearly defined objectives of the project
- Who will be involved and what their roles will be (class, school, local community, public, local government or its office
- Time schedule of realization
- How long the project will last after its realization, project sustainability
- Breakdown of expected budget, including amount of requested donation
Projects should be delivered either to AmCham office via regular mail or via e-mail to Gabriela Rybova at grybova@amcham.cz.
Grants are awarded to individual projects (donation contract to a school). The project has to be realized within 12 months from receiving the money.
The final report in English language and short video has to be submitted to AmCham.
Specific details are published with opening of the grant competition every year at www.amcham.cz, Facebook page and LinkedIn.
How to donate?
Each year money for the One World, Many Voices program is raised mainly during the annual Thanksgiving Ball.
At the Ball the Silent Auction supported by many sponsors and donors is held. Any member company can donate an item for Silent Auction that is going to be auctioned.
Important source of finance for the One World, Many Voices project are donations from corporate tables. Companies that order a corporate table can voluntarily pay extra CZK 10.000 margin that is donated to this project.
For more information contact Gabriela Rybova at grybova@amcham.cz.
Donated projects
Winners of the grants in Fall 2014 (with links to their videos about completed project):
- Cirkevní gymnázium Plzeň - project Underpilsen
- ZŠ a MS Deblin - project University of the Second and Third Age
- ZŠ Chrudim, Dr. J. Malíka - project Change Your School, Change Your Life
- ZŠ Antonína Sochora Duchcov - project Two worlds together
- Masarykova SŠ Letovice - project Let´s get to know our town
- ZŠ a MŠ Traplice - project Grandparents memories
- SOŠ vinařská a SOU zahradnické - project Bridging the gap between the young and the old
- ZŠ Dr. E. Beneše, Praha 9 Čakovice - project Spirit of Čakovice
Winners of the grants in 2013/2014:
- Základní škola a Mateřská škola Stará Ves, okres Bruntál - Art activities for Janovice Castle
- VSŠ a VOŠ v Moravské Třebové - Museum of Military High School in Moravská Třebová
- ZŠ Chrudim, Dr. J. Malíka - Feeling proud while looking out of the school window
- Základní škola Plumlov, okr. Prostějov - The nature trail of Plumlov
- Základní škola T. G. Masaryka Šardice, okres Hodonín - Let´s sing and talk together
- Základní škola Bosonožská 9, Brno - Workout and fitness palyground for teenagers
- ZŠ Davle - Project Park Davle
- ZŠ a MŠ Brno, Kotlářská, Brno - Let´s meet!
- Základní a mateřská škola Kunštát, 32 Brno, Kunštát - Our Victory
Winners of the grants in 2012/2013:
- ZŠ a MŠ Deblín - School as a community centre of the village
- ZŠ Paseka - You can see us but cannot hear us - school theatre group in Paseka
- SŠ, ZŠ, MŠ, Hanácká, Šumperk - The Garden of friendship and understanding
- ZŠ a MŠ T.G.Masaryka Hlavečník, Pardubice - Let's Read
- Základní škola Hranice, okres Cheb - Meeting Park
- ZŠ a MŠ Josefův důl - Learn in nature
- ZŠ a MŠ Kunín, okr. Nový Jičín - The Garden of Knowledge
- Základní škola T.G. Msaryka Mnichovice, Praha –východ - One Step, Many Advantages
- ZŠ Lukov - One World, Many Traditions
- ZŠ Ostrava Poruba, A.Hrdličky - English silent singing
- Gymnázium, Kadaň, 5.května - Mini GLOBE Games
List of donated schools from 2003 until 2011:
Plzeň:
- Benešova ZŠ
- 16.ZŠ, Americká třída 30
- Bolevecká ZŠ
- 31. ZŠ
- 1.ZŠ, Západní 18
- 17.ZŠ, Malická
- 21.ZŠ
- 22. ZŠ, Na Dlouhých 49
- 34. ZŠ, Gerská 32
Zlín:
- ZŠ Emila Zátopka Zlín, Štefánkova 2701
- ZŠ Zlín,Křiby 4788
- ZŠ Zlín,Komenského 78, Zlín – Malenovice
- ZŠ Dřevnická, Zlín
- ZŠ M. Alše
Ostrava:
- ZŠ Ostrava, Matiční 5
- ZŠ O. -Zábřeh. Chrjukinova
- ZŠ O.-Poruba, A. Hrdličky 1638
- ZŠ O.-Poruba, Porubská 831
- ZŠ O.-Hrabůvka, Mitušova 16
Ústí nad Labem:
- ZŠ Stříbrnická
- ZŠ A. České
- ZŠ E. Krásnohorské
ZŠ ESB, Brno
ZŠ Klatovy
ZŠ Emy Destinové, Praha 6
“The travel industry has a long trek to recovery. Tourism is an essential wealth creation industry for the country, and we need to keep as much of our existing infrastructure, such as hotel rooms, as we can so that we can start generating revenue quickly once the pandemic ends. The lull in travel is also an opportunity to increase how much money tourist spend by improving our offer.”
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“What changes caused by the pandemic will remain after it goes away? The increased debt and the expended reserves will change something. So will the forced move into digital commerce and digital offices. The EU is compounding change by pushing digitizing and climate change transformation. All this produces a big range of possible outcomes in the macro that need to be factored into business planning.”
“The importance of modern, transparent, and efficient health care has been made crystal clear over the last year. We should be proud of how well the system responded to the challenge, and prepared to move even faster to improve the quality of health outcomes.”
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“We want to be an innovative economy. Innovation requires higher and more frequent risk-taking for companies, for universities, and for the government. We need to make smart big bets on what technologies can transform industries, and then also be flexible in how we execute. The path to progress often zigs where it is supposed to zag, and we need to be ready for that so that the inevitable unexpected does not derail us.”
“The next year or so will be the greatest challenge of our business careers, and of our community. Many businesses will have to abandon much of their business structure built up over decades of success, and adopt the mindset of entrepreneur sitting in a garage willing his start-up to survive and thrive. The same goes for our downtown areas. It will be a test of our community.”
“We haven’t been living through a plague, to be sure, but some of the same rules, emotions and laws of nature apply as though we were. Regardless of whether a third wave comes or life gets back to something we soon come to call normal, we’ll need some common decency to get through it in one piece.”
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“We need to work to assure Prague’s future as a hub of major corporate headquarters and business service hubs, and to engage the government and other key stakeholders on how to shape a secure energy future.”
“I will support the promotion of the technology sector and champion contemporary working practices and diversity within the country.”
“We must continue to strongly support development of transparency and ethics in the Czech business and public environment. Government and the public sector in general remains far from efficient and operates below its potential.“
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“AmCham should work to influence the development of an “innovative economy” – economy with advanced and high quality production. I also believe in even distribution of the economy, as well research activity to promote development of regions.”
“We are going to come out of the crisis with more debt and radically altered economic behavior from the restrictions. We will see what impact that will have on currencies and investment.”
“Smart technology is one of the promising ways to tackle current and long running challenges, ranging from Covid-19 pandemics to reversing climate change and providing clean energy and water supply. That will ensure the well-being of the Czech and global society as a result.”
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“Manufacturing in the Czech Republic faces a major transition. As compensation spikes upward, production lines will need to become more efficient and more productive. Our facilities will have to become more attractive to employees and more economical.”
“Workforce is the major challenge and the major opportunity for the Czech Republic. We need utilize immigration to drive Czech income growth, and provide greater economic security.“
“AmCham always has pursued policies and investments that will help the Czech Republic increase GDP per capita by 60% by 2025. The pandemic not only puts that goal in doubt, but may change some fundamental aspects of the global and Czech economy.”
“The dynamic evolution of the business environment and technologies is driving major changes. This has been confirmed by a European Commission report which estimates that in the near future, 90% of jobs will require some level of digital skills.”
“We have the ongoing challenge of converting our economy to sustainable practices, and now we also must help the hospitality industry recover from the pandemic and adapt to the changes to Czech consumer habits from the rapid shift to online shopping.“
Nelly Tomčíková
Katarína Bendíková
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