Swiss Center Los Angeles: unique opportunity for Swiss Business in Southern California

The Swiss Center Los Angeles is a new (currently virtual) “Swiss-made” marketing platform led by a team of experienced resident Swiss entrepreneurs who have deep experience in myriad industries, including engineering, travel and tourism, investments, fashion, retail marketing, and more.

The group is dedicated to helping Swiss businesses and organizations – with an emphasis on small- to mid-sized businesses, professional associations, interest groups or organizations – wishing to expand their reach into the Southern California market. Similarly, the organization will be available to aid Southern California entities considering expanding their market reach into Switzerland.

Under the encouragement and guidance of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce/LA, SwissCenterLA is independently organized as a not-for-profit, non-governmental, public-private collaboration, offering business development services in Los Angeles and Zürich, designed to complement the existing network of regional Swiss organizations and to boost Swiss interests in Southern California.

The Swiss Center Los Angeles seeks to play the role of “opportunity scout” by which it will help proactively identify California trends, products, services, and other expertise to help make them more apparent and accessible to its members.

Based in Greater Los Angeles, which has traditionally been an epicenter of Swiss activity in the U.S. as well as a gateway to the Pacific Rim, SwissCenterLA plans to offer core services tailored for its member-clients, including support with event planning, study tours, and other professional concierge-type services. SwissCenterLA plans to provide these services along with a state-of-the-art, Class A trade show- and event space, professional temporary guest offices for visiting professionals, along with, a 380-seat-state-of-the-art screening room, a media & PR center and more.

Maintaining its not-for-profit status, the organization is supported by in-kind and financial donations from corporations and individuals, through sponsorships, grants, membership dues, revenues generated by fee-for-service programs and commissions from outside vendors.

The SwissCenterLA is currently in discussions with management of its proposed location in the prestigious and highly visible “Red Building” (Inauguration planned for Fall 2012), the newest structure among the prestigious Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. Ideally, the Swiss Center Los Angeles offices and gathering space will create a respectful and permanent “EXPO” site for Swiss business owners and entrepreneurs, giving Switzerland an unprecedented opportunity for a remarkable presence in Southern California’s marketplace for years to come.

View from Sunset Boulevard and all major Landmark Hotels = maximum visibility with a constantly changing audience, also considering this building will be featured all over the World and is to become the newest landmark in the City of Angels.The Red Building marks the completion of West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center, designed by world-famous Argentinian Architect Cesar Pelli, known for creating some of the world’s tallest and most famous buildings, as well as other major urban landmarks.

Follow @SwissCenterLA on twitter or on facebook, or visit our pre-opening (virtual) home http://www.SwissCenterLA.org

swissinfo.ch: More coherent policy needed for Swiss abroad

In view of the increasing importance of the “Fifth Switzerland”, the Swiss Federal Councillors suggest creating a unified, coherent and comprehensive approach in regards to integrating the 10% of Switzerland’s population living outside the Country into the Swiss Political scene…

Read the full article on swissinfo.ch

StreetBelt.ch – Made (it) in LA+!

Reto Schürch’s innovative, hip and trendy “Street Belts” made out of recycled Fire Hydrant Markers from various Swiss municipalities is riding a wonderful wave of success, after having showed us his cool belts during the Swiss Park celebration August First.

Two influential blogs picked up the story so far – CONGRATULATIONS to Reto and his colleagues back home in Bern!

Check out the stories on FashionClub.com and HowdyHeidi.com – Well done, Reto!

We had so much fun!

Anne Marie, Thomas und Sarah

Anne Marie aus Schaffhausen ist zur Zeit bei ihrem Sohn und seiner Frau in Los Angeles auf Besuch. Für Thomas das typischste Schweizer Gericht ist eine Bratwurst mit Rösti. „Im Alpine Village gibts die beste Bratwurst in L.A.“, verrät der Küchenchef.

Ernest, Kristen, Dylan and Ernest Jr. (Mother Kuriko didn’t want to be in the picture)

Ernest, a father of three, was born in Los Angeles. However his parents, his mother was from Basel Stadt, his dad from Sankt Gallen, came to Southern California in the late 50s. They had a restaurant “La Petite Suisse” in Westwood between 1966 and 1984.

Chase (kid in Lederhosen) his mom Molly, Erika and friends Michelle and Fili

Molly, her son Chase and Erika are Swiss-Americans. They are dual citizens and carry Swiss passports, however, they have yet to visit the land their fathers came from. Erika’s dad himself hasn’t been to Switzerland since 1968 when he developed polio and found that his homeland is not very accessible to wheelchairs.

Austin, Clint and girlfriend Sammy and their mom Ally

This family from Malibu demonstrates their Swiss pride every year with a trip to the Whittier Swiss park for 1. August celebrations.  Their grandfather migrated from Switzerland to the US when Jack Warner, the head of Warner Bros., loved his cooking so much that he made him his personal chef.

Marlene Parker and Albert Wyss

It’s been years since Albert Wyss has been attending August 1^st celebrations at Swiss park. The massage therapist and fitness trainer to the stars is originally from Kloten and he and his German friend, the comedienne Marlene Parker, were looking forward to a Bratwurst, Rivella and Merengue glacé.

Karin Elsener, Andy Sekler and kids Lukas and Ava

Karen Elsener from Rheineck, SG, has been in the US for fifteen years. Like every year, her kids are looking forward to the crossbow shooting and face painting, the parents come for the Swiss food.

Steve and Christiane would have won the prize for most original costume, had there been such a contest. They’ve met 1974 in Los Angeles and one year later she moved to the US for love. This was their first time in Whittier since these Swiss Park virgins usually spend summers in Switzerland.

THANK YOU for playing the “roving reporter” and capturing the day’s Celebrity arrivals: the Swiss Families attending the August 1st Festivities, Gabriela Tscharner Patao, Former Radio 24 DJ and host of the talk show “Ziischtigs Club” on Swiss TV SF DRS.

Gaby has been living and working in Los Angeles as a journalist and foreign correspondent.

A beautiful Sunday at the Swiss Park…

What a great day at the Swiss Park in Whittier, CA, about 20 minutes East from LA, off the 60. The event was masterfully organized by Lilo Holzer, Community Organizer and Producer of this traditional yearly Get-Together for the Swiss Community in the LA Area. Thank You Gabi Tscharner-Patao with daughter Leilani, who helped with documenting the day; more on that shortly!

The Helvetic.LA / Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce / Swiss Center LA booth was busy non-stop from 10am to 4pm, and dozens stopped by on their way home until 6pm to show support by getting an LA+ T-Shirt or Bumpersticker. (Yes, and online Store will follow shortly for those who forgot, didn’t have cash on hand or couldn’t attend 🙂 ).

It was fun sharing the booth with http://www.StreetBelt.com co-founder Reto Schürch, whose Recycled Fire-Hydrant-Marker-Fire-Hose-Belts were the Hippest item of the day! Reto’s Story is really interesting, knowing he’s been a Goalie for various Swiss Hockey Clubs (yes, he’s good friends with Jonas Hiller), and now involved in StreetBelt.com with two other visioneers, Hans-Jürg Kühni and Ciro Barisi.