First Balkan Media spoke with U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks at the American Balkan Trade Center’s Leadership and Trade Forum about her relationship with the Balkan community, her own family’s immigrant roots, and the importance of connecting Balkan-American businesses with new opportunities.
Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives who has represented Iowa since 2021. A physician and former member of the Iowa Senate, she represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which includes communities in the southeastern part of the state. She is also an honorary member of the American Balkan Trade Center (ABTC), an organization dedicated to strengthening connections between American and Balkan communities through business, networking, and collaboration.
During the Leadership and Trade Forum organized by ABTC, First Balkan Media had the opportunity to speak with Congresswoman Miller-Meeks about the Balkan-American community, shared cultural values, and the role organizations such as ABTC can play in building stronger relationships.
A Strong Connection Through Shared Values
Asked about her relationship with the Balkan community, Miller-Meeks highlighted the active Serbian community in eastern Iowa, part of her congressional district.
“Iowa is known for the variety of immigrants that we have there,” she explained, noting that the region is home to an established Serbian community.
The congresswoman spoke about the connections she has developed with Serbian Americans, including visits to Orthodox churches, and reflected on the values that bring their communities together.
“I’m Roman Catholic, they’re Orthodox. I’ve been to their churches before,” she said. “Very entrepreneurial, very hard-working, very much the American values that my family held.”
Drawing a parallel with her own journey from humble beginnings to a career in medicine and public service, Miller-Meeks emphasized that shared values, hard work, and entrepreneurship provide a strong foundation for meaningful relationships.
She described her experience with the Serbian community as positive and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to continue working with its members.
Her Own Family Story: Roots in Europe
The conversation also turned to Miller-Meeks’ family history and her connection to European culture.
The congresswoman shared that her maternal ancestors came from Bohemia, arriving in Iowa in 1854. Their story reflects the long history of immigration that has helped shape communities across the United States.
She said she would very much like to visit that part of Europe and explained that a planned trip earlier in the year had been canceled because of the congressional calendar.
Asked whether she had explored Balkan cuisine, Miller-Meeks said she had tried some Balkan dishes, although she was more familiar with other international cuisines, including Asian food.
Her reflections offered a personal perspective on how family history, immigration, and cultural traditions continue to connect Americans with their ancestral homelands.
Building Bridges Between Balkan and American Businesses
As an honorary member of the American Balkan Trade Center, Miller-Meeks also shared her thoughts on how the organization can help Balkan-American entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses and develop new opportunities.
For her, one of the most important steps is creating connections between established companies and emerging businesses.
“Having the knowledge and information of the businesses, being able to network with individuals in various different industries and then see where there’s intersections” is extremely helpful, she said.
She emphasized that established businesses need opportunities to learn about new companies, while emerging entrepreneurs benefit from meeting experienced business leaders and expanding their professional networks.
Miller-Meeks believes that providing information, encouraging interaction, and creating opportunities for networking can help businesses identify common interests and areas for cooperation.
These goals align with ABTC’s broader mission of building a bridge between America and the Balkans by encouraging economic relationships, professional connections, and long-term collaboration.
Strengthening the Balkan-American Connection
Miller-Meeks’ remarks at the Leadership and Trade Forum underscored the importance of personal relationships, entrepreneurship, and shared values in bringing communities together.
For Balkan Americans, building connections with elected officials, business leaders, and institutions can help create greater visibility for their achievements and open doors to future opportunities.
Through its work connecting business and community leaders, the American Balkan Trade Center continues to promote dialogue and cooperation between the United States and the Balkan region.
For First Balkan Media, conversations like this offer an opportunity to highlight the people and partnerships helping shape the future of the Balkan-American community.
Advice for Immigrants and Hardworking Americans
Having built a career spanning military service, medicine, and public office, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks was asked what advice she would offer to people who were born in the United States or immigrated here in pursuit of a better future.
Her message focused on preserving the American Dream and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they come from.
“It’s the same thing I give to all people, and that is to make sure that the American Dream exists for everyone, whether you’re born here or you immigrate here because you want that opportunity to succeed on your own,” Miller-Meeks said.
Her words reflect the aspirations shared by many immigrant families who come to the United States seeking opportunity, building businesses, and working toward a better future for the next generation.
For the Balkan-American community, that message resonates with the experiences of generations who have established roots in America while maintaining connections to their heritage and culture.
