In-person event (some speakers via Zoom)
By Invitation Only Free Parking
* Summit is: CLOSED *
Thank You!
👉 Event Results (PDF)
👉 Event Photos(🎬 credit: Adrian Nastase)
The Chicago Romanian Community Summit
In February 2023 - at the first annual Chicago Romanian Community Summit - community leaders, members of nonprofit organizations, churches, businesses, academia and artistic groups came together in a series of panels to engage, collaborate, and strengthen our community spirit.
In the poignant words of Robert Dumitrescu, Deputy Consul General of Romania in Chicago and event panelist, “We strongly hope this is only a starting point of an advancement towards a better, more unified, and more comprehensive representation of our community.”
Event Intro
On behalf of the Romanian Community of Chicago, we are excited to announce this community-wide event. A first of its kind, this annual summit will bring together leaders from of nonprofit organizations, churches, businesses, artistic groups, Moldovan and Rroma, and friends of the Romanian American community. The forum will provide a unique opportunity for community members to connect, collaborate, and share ideas for building a brighter future for the Romanian community of Chicago.
The summit, organized under the auspices of the General Consulate of Romania in Chicago, will feature a variety of interactive workshops, panels, and roundtables that will cover topics of interest to the community.
Learn about:
👉 Community Building
👉 Education & Social Programs
👉 Significant Business Opportunities
Our goal is to provide a dynamic and engaging event that will inspire attendees to take action and make a positive impact.
Date & Time: February 25th, 9 AM - 6 PM
Location: In 2023, this event will be hosted by ROCO Chicago, 5406 N Kedzie Ave.
2023 Summit: Keynote Speakers
Tiberiu Trifan
Consul General of Romania in Chicago
Maria Pappas
Cook County Treasurer
2023 Summit: Community Panel
Mihai Lehene
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Robert Dumitrescu
Deputy Consul General of Romania in Chicago
Adrian Nechiti
Founder, Vox Maris Band
Stefan Cristoltean
Founder, Cenaclu Retro
Dana Bucin
Honorary Consul of Romania in Connecticut, Immigration Attorney, Partner at Murtha Cullina LLP
Bogdan Banu
President and Founder, Romanians of DC
Nubia Willman
Chief Engagement Officer for Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot
Doru Branea
Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York
Steven Bonica
Founder and President, Romanian Tribune Media Group
2023 Summit: Education Panel
Iulian Calinov
Honorary Consul of Romania in Seattle
Mihaela Campion
Founder, Psychotherapy and Transformational Movement and ARCHER
Buni Cocar
Rev. Dr. Pastor Maranatha Romanian Church
Margareta Matache
Director of the Roma Program, Harvard University
Laurentiu Murg
Principal, Logos Christian Academy
Marius Stan
Scientist, Author and Actor
2023 Summit: Business Panel
Alexandru Duta
Founder & CEO, Albiware
Mihai Lehene
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Cristian Luput
Founder & CEO, Optimus Realty
Sotiris Pagdadis
President, Keiretsu Forum Midwest
Vlad Sarca
Partner@Sparking Capital | Serial entrepreneur
Denis Tudor
CEO and Co-founder, Swisspod Technologies
2023 Summit: Summit Volunteers
Onita Circu
Honorary member of ROCO, Gala Fundraising Committee Chair
Oana Dobrean-Urzica
ROCO Executive Director
Diana Dram
Founding Angel and ROCO Business Chapter Lead
Cristina Haidau
Volunteer, ROCO Edu Chapter Lead, Supporter of ROCO
Catalin Maticiuc
Founder & CEO, Forza Companies
Georgiana Merdariu
Chief Engagement Officer
Adrian Nechiti
Founder, Vox Maris Band
Irina Nedeljkovic
RUF Core Team Member, ROCO Events Team Coordinator, "Trips To Romania" Program Manager
Andreea Rebaltescu
Communications Director
Paula Telcian
ROCO Chicago: Community Outreach Liaison
Learn more about our wonderful summit volunteers.
Program
9 AM: Arrivals & Breakfast
10 AM Keynote Speakers
👉 Tiberiu Trifan, Consul General of Romania in Chicago
👉 Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer
10:15 AM: Community Panel: Arts, Culture & Romanian Language
👉 Building a
Stronger Community
👉 Government Relations
👉 Arts & Culture: Celebrating
Our Culture
Moderator:
Confirmed Panelists: Nubia Willman,
Chief Engagement Officer City of Chicago; Dorian Branea, Director of the
Romanian Cultural Institute in New York; Bogdan Banu, Founder of
Romanians of DC; Dana Bucin, Attorney at Law, Honorary Consul of Romania in
Connecticut;
Panel Organizers: Steven
Bonica, Stefan Cristoltean, Adrian Nechiti, Mihai Lehene
12:00 Lunch & Networking Break
13:00 Education, Inclusion, Social Action Panel
👉 Investing in Our
Future
👉 Health, Wellness & Elderly Care
👉 Inclusion &
Inter-confessional Dialogue
Moderator: Prof. Marius Stan
Confirmed Panelists:
Mihaela Campion,Owner, Psychotherapy and Transformational Movement;
Laurentiu Murg,Pediatrician at Access Community Health Network;
Margareta Matache,Director of the Roma Program, Harvard University;
Buni Cocar,Rev. Dr. Pastor Maranatha Romanian Church;
Laurentiu Murg,Principal, Logos Christian Academy;
Iulian Calinov,Honorary Consul of Romania in Seattle;
Panel Organizers: Cristina Haidau, Marius Stan, Mihaela
Campion
14:15 Networking Break
14:45 Business Panel
👉 Networking for Success
👉 Embracing
Innovation
👉 Financial Empowerment
Moderator: Cristian Luput
Confirmed Panelists:
Sotiris Pagdadis, President, Keiretsu Forum Midwest;
Denis Tudor, CEO, Swisspod;
Vlad Sarca, Founder & Partner, Sparking Capital;
Alex Duta, CEO, Albiware;
Panel Organizers: Dana Surcel, Cristian Luput, Dan
Nicolae, Marcel Somfelean
16:00 Networking Break
17:00 Feedback & Closing Remarks
This First Romanian Community Summit will be a landmark event for the Romanian community in Chicago. We look forward to seeing you there!
More Information
- Topics: Learn more
- Event Type: By Invitation Only
- Event Attire: Business Formal
- Parking: Free Parking
- Language:
- The event will be hosted in English and Romanian
- Live translation to English provided
- Refreshments:
- Breakfast and Lunch light refreshments provided
