The American Balkan Trade Center (ABTC) is organizing a special, formal Black Tie event bringing together business leaders, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and invited government representatives from Chicago and the broader U.S.-Balkan community.
The American Balkan Trade Center (ABTC) is non-profit organization that brings together business executives, institutional leaders, government officials, diplomatic representatives, members of the media, and Balkan-American community leaders to build meaningful connections, exchange ideas, create opportunities, and strengthen relationships between the United States and the Balkan region.
ABTC serves as a platform for networking, collaboration, business development, and cross-cultural partnerships, connecting individuals and organizations with shared interests and goals.
More on https://abtcgroup.org/.
Distinguished guests expected to attend include Ruben Gallego, United States Senator; Mariannette Miller-Meeks, United States Representative for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District; Joe Mitchell, former Iowa State Representative; Frank Podbielniak, Village President of the Village of Posen; Freddie L. Wilson, Mayor of the Village of Ford Heights; Ronald M. Serpico, Mayor of the Village of Melrose Park; Gary Grasso, Mayor of the Village of Burr Ridge; Jimmy Clayton, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Rod Blagojevich, former Governor of Illinois, Zoran Popov, Macedonian ambassador in America, Marko Nikolić, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago, the founders of ABTC, and many others business, political and public figures.
The event will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026 at the Union League Club of Chicago. More info on https://abtcgroup.org/.
