Advantage Valley European Mission - November 2009

Representatives from Advantage Valley, including PCDA’s Gary Walton, Andrew Dunlap of the Charleston Area Alliance and Advantage Valley President Mike Herron participated in a European mission that focused on Sweden and northern Germany in early November.

Eighteen companies responded to a direct mail effort with interest and the group was able to meet with eight of the companies during the one-week mission that began in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The West Virginia Development Office, International Division, and the West Virginia European Office, Sven Gerzer and Holly McGinness were invaluable in this mission. In this photo, Holly McGinness takes part in a plant tour at one of the companies visited during the mission to Europe. No photos were allowed inside the facility.

During our visit, the group had breakfast in the restaurant at the Reichstag (parliament building) in Berlin. By coincidence, the day of our visit was also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The restaurant is located on top of the building, adjacent to the glass dome. From the dome level, you can look out at the Brandenburg Gate. Our group had to move on to our next business appointment and we were not able to join in the festivities of the 20th Anniversary Celebration.