Get Registered Today! Visit: https://www.palcus.org/virtual-conference
Join us for this FREE virtual conference and seize the opportunity!
The 2nd Bi-Annual National Conference was supposed to be held in Miami, Florida this year, however due to COVID-19, we had to cancel our event and decided to take our conference virtual! The theme of this year's conference is "Business Opportunities for Portuguese-Americans" where we will explore the various ways that Portuguese living in the United States can take advantage of programs and opportunities to start a business, buy real estate, invest in a business, and many other opportunities.
We have partnered with the Portugal-US Chamber of Commerce, aicep, the Embassy of Portugal and the Portuguese government to bring together the best experts in each area.
Virtual Conference Series Kick-Off and Overview
Monday, October 12, 2020 - 8:30 AM PT/11:30 AM ET
Learn about all the opportunities that will be shared through the virtual conference sessions, and also hear from two keynote speakers.
Welcome: Angela Simoes, Chair, PALCUS
Opening Remarks: Rita Faden, President, FLAD
Keynote: Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State, and the Economy and Digital Transition
Doing Business In Miami
Monday, October 12, 2020 - 9:00 AM PT/12 PM ET
This year’s PALCUS Gala and Conference was supposed to take place in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we had to cancel everything and as a nod to our community in Florida, we are highlighting the business opportunities in the Miami area in this session.
Moderator: Carolina Rendeiro, Honorary Consul of Portugal and Owner of Connect2Global Consulting
Speakers:
- Eric Olafson, Director, Global Trade and Business Development
- Jim Nares, Section Chief Marketing of Miami International Airport
- Alice Ancona, COO, World Trade Center Miami
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Miami Tech Boom!
Monday, October 112, 2020 - 12PM PT/3PM ET
This year’s PALCUS Gala and Conference was supposed to take place in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we had to cancel everything and as a nod to our community in Florida, we are highlighting the growing tech scene and business opportunities in the Miami area in this session.
Moderator: Carolina Rendeiro, Honorary Consul of Portugal and Owner of Connect2Global Consulting
Speakers:
- Leigh Ann Buchanan, Executive Director of CIC, Venture Café
- Melissa Medina, President, eMerge Americas
- Brian Brackeen, General Partner of Lightship Capital, Former founder of Kairos
- Pamela Fuertes, Executive Director Goldman Sachs, 10,000 Small Businesses
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Why Portugal? Investment Opportunities Abound
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 9AM PT/12PM ET
Portugal has become a hotbed of investment activity, from tech to healthcare, and the government has created an environment that makes doing business easy and profitable. Join us to learn more about how you can take advantage of these opportunities.
Moderator: João Mota Pinto, Director AICEP, USA
Speakers:
- Luís Castro Henriques, President of AICEP
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I'm Not a VC - Can I Still Invest in Portugal? How to Invest? Where to Start
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 12PM PT/3PM ET
You don't have to be a venture capitalist or have hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to take advantage of investment opportunities in Portugal. If you've always wanted to learn how you can make an investment in a specific industry, join us to learn more.
Moderator: Joe Santos, Board Member of Indico Capital
Opening Keynote: Minister of State, and the Economy and Digital Transition, Pedro Siza Vieira
Panelists:
- Stephan Morais, Lead Partner at Indico Capital
- Guilherme Dray, Law Partner, Marcedo Vitorino Associados, Lisboa
- Olga Benquerença, Head of Investment for the US and Canadá, AICEP
- Miguel Fontes, Executive Director, StartUp Lisboa
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Portuguese Women Empowering Each Other
Friday, October 16, 2020 - 9AM PT/12PM ET
PALCUS is launching a national network for Portuguese women called the Portuguese Women's Empowerment Alliance. This Alliance is meant to create a network to support Portuguese women in business, academics, health, and every other way possible. We are better when we help each other. Join us to learn more.
Opening Remarks: Janet Morais, Founder and CEO, Koket International
Moderator: Carolina Rendeiro, Founder and CEO, Connect2Global
Speaker: Jessica Leiter, Best Selling Author, Speaker, Consultant
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PALCUS NextGen Leadership Academy
Friday, October 16, 2020 - 12PM PT/3PM ET
PALCUS is launching an initiative to empower our youth and provide opportunities to learn leadership skills across multiple industries. Join us to learn how you can connect with other Portuguese youth and take advantage of opportunities to grow your career.
Opening Remarks: Daniel DaPonte, Managing Principal, Axis Advisors, PALCUS Director
Moderator: Jordan Thomas, Chief of Staff to Raymond G. Chambers, PALCUS Director
Keynote Speaker: David Simas, CEO of The Obama Foundation
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Virtual Wine Tasting with Rachel Farah Selections
Friday, October 16, 2020 - 5PM PT/8PM ET
Join us for a virtual wine tasting with Rachel Farah Selections! Enjoy 3 wines from Portugal, and a delicious Tawny Port. Get a few friends together, pour some wine and Zoom with us! Cost is $120 per box set which includes 3 wines, 1 port, a recipe card and more. Must purchase by 10/11/2020 to ensure arrival of box set in time for wine tasting.
Opening Remarks: Angela Simoes, Chair, PALCUS
Tasting Guide: Rachel Miers, Founder and CEO, Rachel Farah Selections
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Want to Start a Business in Portugal? The Portuguese Gov Can Help
Monday, October 19, 2020 - 9AM PT/12PM ET
The Portuguese government has launched a program to help Luso descendants throughout the diaspora, return home to invest and start a business. Join us to find out how this program can help you finally achieve your dream.
Moderator: Pedro Vieira
Dignitary Comments: Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities Abroad, Berta Nunes
Speakers:
- Stephen Maciel
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Portuguese Companies Succeeding in the US
Monday, October 19, 2020 - 12PM PT/3PM ET
There is a variety of Portuguese companies in several industries that have successfully expanded their business into the United States. Join us to learn how these companies forged their way to success, and how you can connect with them for business opportunities.
Moderator: Bernardo Goarmon, President of Portugal-US Chamber of Commerce
Dignitary Comments: Eurico Brilhante Dias, Secretary of State Internationalization
Speakers:
- Tomas Almeida – VP Foodservice Sales of Sovena USA
- Carlos Alves, Chief Customer Officer of Outsystems
- Jose Roquette, Chief Development Officer of Pestana
- Pedro Fernandes, General Manager at Amorim Cork America
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Establishing Operations in Portugal: Real World Examples
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - 9AM PT/12PM ET
A number of US-based companies have successfully established operations in Portugal - from software development, to research to manufacturing and more. Join us to learn from these real world examples and why Portugal is a great option to outsource specific aspects of your business.
Moderator: Magda Vakil, PUSCC
Dignitary Comments: Kristin M. Kane, Deputy Chief of Mission US Embassy of Lisbon
Speakers:
- John Melo, CEO of Amyris
- Alberto Weisser, Board Member of PepsiCo, Wine Producer / Owner Herdade dos Coelheiros
- Claudia Kittredge, Senior Director and Portugal Site Leader - Customer Experience of Cisco
- Rui Paiva, CEO of Risk Management Business Unit at Mobileum
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Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Portugal
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - 12PM PT/3PM ET
Have you always wanted to own a home in Portugal? What about turning it into an AirBnB? Join us to learn about the various real estate investment opportunities in Portugal.
Moderator: Claudia da Silva
Speakers:
- Hilda Barros, Owner, HB Properties
- Achille Simo, Agent, Coldwell Banker
- Nelson Ponta Garca, Owner, GrandView Caldeira Azores
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Conference Closing Keynote
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - 1:30PM PT/4:30PM ET
Domingos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal to the US
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PALCUS "Sardines on Toast" - A virtual tasting experience with Portuguese "conservas"!
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - 5 PM PT/8 PM ET
Please join us for a special PALCUS virtual tasting experience with Portuguese "conservas"
Guest speaker: Jose Meirelles In partnership with Portugalia Marketplace and the PUSCC
Order deadline October 14.
In this private PALCUS tasting we will sample six conservas and one olive oil and chef Jose Meirelles will walk us through the conservas. Tasting boxes are $60, (shipping included), there will be a discount for free shipping by using a PALCUS discount code. Once a box is purchased, you will receive the Zoom meeting info with your package tracking number.
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Get Registered Today! Visit: https://www.palcus.org/virtual-conference
Thank you to the National Conference Committee for their work in making this happen! Bernardo Goarmon, President of the PUSCC Magda Vakil, PUSCC Joao Mota Pinto, Director of aicep, USA Carolina Rendeiro, Founder and CEO of Connect2Global and Honorary Consul of Portugal, Miami Joseph Santos, Indico Capital Board of Directors Luisa Pais Lowe, GAID Hugo Gravanita, Embassy of Portugal Janet Morais, Founder and CEO of Koket Claudia da Silva, Coldwell Banker Katherine Soares, PALCUS Jordan Thomas, PALCUS Dan Da Ponte, PALCUS
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PALCUS is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. It was founded in 1991 by a group of successful, forward-thinking Portuguese-Americans with the purpose of providing a singular national voice that would advocate for the interests of Portuguese-Americans in the United States. At the center of their vision was to establish and maintain channels of communication between the government of the Republic of Portugal, via the Embassy of Portugal to Washington, D.C., and the U.S. congressional delegation representing Portuguese-American communities.
Now in its 28th year, PALCUS has been true to its founding principles and much more. Throughout its history, the organization has evolved and matured, guided by a dedicated all-volunteer board of directors representing Portuguese-American communities throughout the United States. PALCUS has worked consistently and tirelessly, weathering changes in political and economic climates, to create and expand its programs. Its activities and events are mission-driven to address the community’s needs in the strategic areas of government affairs, international affairs, educational opportunities, Portuguese language and culture, community outreach and recognition of our community’s success.
PALCUS is a member-supported organization that depends on membership dues for operational and program support. Nevertheless, membership is not required in order to benefit from our programs and advocacy initiatives. We are committed to serving all Portuguese-Americans in the United States who would benefit from our help.
Our Mission
PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States. In this role, we advance the community professionally, politically and culturally, while working to ensure that issues directly affecting our community are addressed through our network of government and community leaders.
Our Vision
In order to create singular national voice to advocate for the Portuguese-American and Luso-American communities-at-large, PALCUS was founded in 1991 as a 501(c)3 non-partisan, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a mission of addressing domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American community. PALCUS strives to conduct an expanding program of research, educational and public affairs activities on salient issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and the Luso-American relationship.