This week, we hosted our New Year’s Receptions in Atlanta and Charlotte and welcomed more than 100 guests at each event.
Different cities, different industry mix, same feeling in both rooms: people showed up ready to connect, compare notes, and build the relationships that make this community so valuable.
Atlanta: strong conversations, clear direction for 2026
Our Atlanta reception at King & Spalding was the kind of kickoff you hope for: familiar faces, engaged members, and conversations that went beyond small talk.
What makes evenings like this special isn’t the venue. It’s the energy in the room: genuine interest in connecting across industries and borders, and a shared sense that even in uncertain times, the right network makes a real difference.
During the reception, we shared a look at what GACC South is focusing on this year: more content-driven programming, practical learning opportunities, and a mix of informal and structured formats that make networking actually useful. The goal stays simple: create platforms that are relevant, efficient, and worth your time.
And yes, trade, tariffs, and geopolitical developments continue to create uncertainty. At the same time, the United States remains a key growth market for German and European companies, and our region continues to be a strong place to invest and expand.
The message from the podium matched the mood in the room. Christian Vorspel-Rueter, Vice Chairman & Treasurer of GACC South, and Vice President of DEUTZ Corporation highlighted why the U.S. remains one of the best places to do business, powered by its uniquely open market. Consul General Melanie Moltmann then brought it home as we raised a toast to growth and opportunity in 2026.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Hosting Sponsor: King & Spalding
Georgia State Sponsor: Baker Donelson
Charlotte: a remarkable mix and a home away from home
In Charlotte, hosted by Hendrick Luxury Group, the diversity in the room was striking in the best way. Leaders and practitioners came together from automotive retail and manufacturing, banking, technology, logistics, consulting, and private equity, many with deep German or European roots and long-standing U.S. market experience.
From privately held automotive groups with nationwide footprints, to integrators working behind the scenes for OEMs, to financial and ERP specialists enabling complex cross-border operations, this was a snapshot of what makes the Carolinas such a powerhouse region.
And the spirit? Optimistic, forward-looking, and focused on opportunities right here at home. In fact, a few comments we heard throughout the evening captured it perfectly. Our guests told us, “There is no other place in the USA I know, where there is a community like this.” Or simply called it a “home away from home.”
That’s exactly what we aim to create at these gatherings: a space where international business feels local and relationships pick up right where they left off.
Thank you to our speakers:
Dan Scallion (Hendrick Luxury Group)
Henning Bruns (ConMoto Consulting), former NC Chapter Director
Henk-Jan van Ettekoven (HUBER Technology), new NC Chapter Director
Thank you to our sponsors:
Hosting Sponsor: Hendrick Luxury Group
Dinner Sponsor: RÖDL
North Carolina State Sponsor: Parker Poe
Next stops on our New Year’s Reception tour
If you haven’t joined a New Year’s Reception yet, we’d love to see you at the next one:
South Carolina (Greer) - February 4
Houston - February 10
Dallas (Arlington) - February 12
Tampa Bay - February 19
See you in the room!
