Download - Axxor robert boerrigter
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Bringing Honeycomb to the USA
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Two great worlds
“Ik hou van Holland” “I love the USA”
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Relevant Bio
Living in two worlds
• Brazil - born in Brazil to Dutch parents• Netherlands - grown up in Netherlands through
undergraduate• USA - Graduate degree (MBA) at UGA, married and worked
through present time • In between (2008 and 2009) ran European office for
Lantech stretch wrappers, case erectors commute to Netherlands
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Confused?
Netherlands (=Holland)• Mother, sister, etc.• Business Partners• Co-workers• History
USA• Wife, children, in-laws• Co-workers• Church• Present
• Dreams? Not sure• Speech? Confused at times• Writing? Sentence structure backwards• Bio-clock? Always catches up (after a few days) – caution• Clothing? May be in wrong place
Worlds may blur at times and it becomes complicated
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Netherlands vs. USA
Generalizations are counterproductive
• Americans are …..• Dutch people are …
….. not helpful
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Perspective
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General advice
What works• Go in with respect• Treat as individual humans• Surround yourself with
expertise
What does not work• Go in arrogantly• Carry prejudices• Assuming it will be the
same• Go in to “learn them”
Go in to be successful in that culture, not to change it
• Seek to understand and you will appreciate much of it and not like some of it
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Axxor NA - team of advisors
BankerBB&T
Jeff Sherman
CPA/TaxHarris, Harvey, Neal
John harris
InsuranceBB&T Insurance
Lea Riddle
LawyerReed Weitkamp, Schell & Vice
Gary Weitkamp
Assemble your team – they will keep you alive
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Some differences
Your team can help you with these
USA • Can start a business virtually overnight – understand state
registrations, local labor laws, tax filings, etc.• Pick the right corporate entity – implications for tax, legal
protection• Less regulated in many areas
– No CAO’s, sickness reporting, etc.• Opportunities are unlimited• Advancement is not determined by age• Understand educational levels and differences
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Some more differences
Your team can help you with these
USA • Regional differences are significant:
– Directness, dialect, customs, larger than in NL• Not all education is equal
– On-line degrees, regional training centers, colleges, universities, rankings, known for specific disciplines
• Labor laws– Sexual harassment (strict), overtime laws (federal
standards, some state), smoking, gun laws, breaks, employment at will (some states), etc.
• Lawsuits– Not uncommon in USA, protect yourself.
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And … some more differences
Your team can help you with these
USA • “Live to work” vs. “work to live” – start with one or two
weeks, end with 3 or 4 weeks• Pensions – up to employer, in general employee
responsible for, no central program• Distances – large. Driving distances can be long,
transportation costs can be high.• Scams – beware!• Prices of foreign parts – can be double of equivalent local
goods. Check before specifying/insisting.• Many incentives are available – they vary by location and
situation
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In conclusion
Always happy to helpRobert BoerrigterPresident, co-owner Axxor NA, LLC2275 Cane Creek ParkwayRinggold, VA 24586+1 (434) [email protected]
• Respect is essential starting point• Many things are not “the same as home”• Realize how much you don’t know• Assemble your team, full disclosure about situation and
intentions, they are on your side!