DR (Danish national television) covered the Danish American Innovation Award 2009 in Santa Monica, November 5^th, hosted by the Danish-American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (DACC). Click the picture below to see the news clip from the event and the interview with DACC President Torben Aaskov (the news clip is in Danish and will open in a new window).

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Henrik Fisker to Receive Danish American Innovation Award 2009 for his Visionary Launch of the Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car Karma

Danish Ambassador to the US, Honorable Friis Arne Petersen to present The Danish American Innovation Award 2009 to Henrik Fisker

Los Angeles, California, November 5, 2009—The Danish-American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (DACC), today announced the winner of the Danish American Innovation Award 2009. The award selection was based on an individual providing outstanding contributions and innovation addressing critical issues with a new approach within the Danish and American communities.

This year, DACC is proud to announce Henrik Fisker, CEO and lead designer of Fisker Automotive, as the 2009 award winner. Fisker Automotive is a new American manufacturer of premium green vehicles that do not compromise power, style or performance to be eco-friendly.

Being a native Dane, Henrik Fisker was nominated for his outstanding contribution bringing the innovative, green, plug-in hybrid Karma sedan to market. “We were both impressed with Mr. Fisker’s design and vision for the Karma as well as his company’s revolutionary business model launching a new American automobile company,” says Torben Aaskov, President of the Danish-American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. Fisker Automotive’s business model is based on outsourced engineering, components and manufacturing focusing mainly on design and marketing activities in-house. “This is truly a first for the industry and one we believe will transform and modernize the US competitiveness in the auto industry,” Torben Aaskov continues.

The award ceremony will take place on November 5th, 2009 at Fisker Santa Monica, CA — the first Fisker showroom and part of LAcarGUY.com family of dealers. The award will be presented by the Danish Ambassador to the United States, Honorable Friis Arne Petersen, “With Denmark being a leading nation of renewable energy initiatives and leadership in a green approach, I’m honored to present Henrik Fisker with the Danish American Innovation Award. Mr. Fisker has for years been a leading designer in the auto industry Worldwide. With his introduction of the Karma as the most advanced environmentally friendly sports car, the nomination was an obvious one,” the Danish Ambassador adds.

Fisker Automotive was recently approved for a conditional loan of $528 million by the U.S. Department of Energy. “I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the entire Fisker Automotive team.  It is a testament to our mission and commitment to excellence. Fisker Automotive’s goals are to help restore the U.S. as a leader in the global auto industry and to eliminate America’s dependence on foreign oil.” says Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive. “We are also developing affordable, plug-in hybrid vehicles we estimate will save more than 821 million gallons of gasoline (43.2 million barrels of oil) by 2016,” he continues.

The award cocktail reception is taking place on November 5th, 2009 in Santa Monica at the LAcarGUY’s showroom at 7:00 PM-9:30 PM. Union Bank is the platinum sponsor of the Danish American Innovation Award 2009. Please visit www.daccsocal.com to register for the event.

PRESS CONTACTS:

DACC:

Crux Communications for Danish American Chamber of Commerce

Charlotte Rubin, +1.858.775.7621, charlotte.rubin@cruxcomms.com

FISKER AUTOMOTIVE:

Russell Datz, +1.714.888.4255, rdatz@fiskerautomotive.com

About DACC

The Danish-American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California is the premier Danish-American business networking organization in Southern California. Our goal is to serve as a forum for the exchange of valuable business information and ideas. We work hard at creating opportunities for our Danish and American member corporations as well as individual business professionals. We offer a great venue for growing business and personal network for our members, and for expanding their business knowledge. More info at www.daccsocal.com

DACC General Membership Meeting 2009 was a reflection on all the things DACC has done over the years. As the Chamber looks to the future in these challenging economic times, we paused to remember the past in order to appreciate and learn from it. At the same time we honored our past Presidents.

Christian Castenskiold, one of the founding fathers of the DACC, took the audience back in time when DACC was founded in 1976, at that time it was named DACC Los Angeles. He emphasized that the story actually goes further back, because the founding was inspired by the Luncheon Club in New York. That club was founded in 1931 and was for many years a center of Danish traditions; it was actually the only Danish club in New York up to 1964. Per Hækkerup, Foreign Minister at that time, suggested forming a Danish-American Trade Council, and a few years later it joined together with the old Luncheon Club and was named DACC.

A good start

Then in 1976, on the 31st of January, DACC in Los Angeles was founded by Gorm Larsen(1st President), Tommy Thomsen, Kenneth Hansen, Roy Bork, Bent Christensen and Christian Castenskiold. On May 24th 1976 DACC hosted a lunch for the Royal couple in connection with the U.S Centennial Celebration. The luncheon was a great success with more than 600 guests.

- The spirit from that first lunch meeting gave us a good start, and our purpose was defined “to stimulate and promote goodwill, trade, and business relations between United States and Denmark”, Christian Castenskiold told the audience at the General Membership Meeting.

Christian Castenskiold was President of the DACC Los Angeles from 1980 to 1984. Furthermore, he was President of the DACC in the Western United States which included L.A, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Denver from 1984 to 1988.

DACC Presidents (left to right)
- Christian Castenskiold (founder and President 1980-1984),
- Mette Haydt (President 1991-1994), – Torben Aaskov(President 2008-present),
- Soren Eilertsen (President 2006-2008),
- Robert Lord(President 1987-1989)

Rejsen begynder i Chicago, Illinois, hvor der blandt andet står dansk billedkunst og design på programmet. Desuden vil Kronprinsparret deltage i en energi- og klimakonference i Chicago, som er arrangeret i samarbejde mellem bystyret i Chicago og Den Kongelige Danske Ambassade i Washington.

Tirsdag den 24. marts vil Kronprinsparret fortsætte til Blair, Nebraska hvor de vil deltage i fejringen af Dana Colleges 125 års jubilæum. Dana College blev grundlagt af danske immigranter i slutningen af 1800-tallet og fik sidste gang besøg af repræsentanter fra kongehuset i 1976, da H.M. Dronningen holdt tale ved forårets translokation i anledning af 200 årsdagen for USA’s uafhængighed.

I Omaha, Nebraska vil Kronprinsparret desuden markere åbningen af en ny stor Novozymes-fabrik i området.

Fra Nebraska fortsætter rejsen til Colorado, hvor H.K.H. Kronprinsen deltager i en sportskonference i Denver. Desuden vil Kronprinsparret markere en ekspansion af Vestas’ forretninger i staten Colorado.

Slutteligt inkluderer det kongelige besøg deltagelse ved den årlige festmiddag hos American Scandinavian Foundation i New York for at fejre fælles rødder mellem USA og de fem nordiske lande.

Yderligere oplysninger vedrørende besøget kontakt:

Ambassaden, Torsten Jansen torjan@um.dk, telefon +1 202 797 53 63
Kongehuset, Lene Balleby LB@Kongehuset.dk, telefon +45 33 40 25 29

Presseakkreditering inden 20.2. Navn, fødselsdato og pasnummer bedes sendt til Heinie@um.dk

When Asbjorn is admitted to hospital, he finds comfort in a painting of a whimsical pig – until it is removed by the request of another patient.GRISEN (THE PIG), An M & M Production
Director: Dorte Hogh, Writers: Anders August, Dorte Hogh, Producers:Tivi Magnusson, Johanne Stryhn Felding, Christain Potalivo

 

The films will open in the following theaters:
 
The Landmark, West Los Angeles
Laemmle’s Sunset 5, West Hollywood
South Coast Village, Costa Mesa
Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, Pasadena 

 

For more information on the films, please visit:

http://www.magpictures.com

 
For more information on showtimes, please visit:
 
THE LANDMARK -
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/

LosAngeles/LosAngeles_Frameset.htm
 
LAEMMLE’S SUNSET 5 -
http://www.laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?thid=2
 
SOUTHCOAST VILLAGE PLAZA -
http://www.regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=17
 
LAEMMLE’S PLAYHOUSE 7-
http://www.laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?thid=6