As we approach the end of the year, we feel that it is the perfect time to reflect on our journey as a chamber. In the December edition of our newsletter, we are honored to feature an interview with the four founders of BACoS: Anton Mertens (Arnall Golden Gregory LLP), Jean-Pierre Demeunynck (Syensqo), JP Kalmeijer (COGNEGY), and Geert Voet (Bekaert). In this discussion, they share their memories of BACoS’ early days, some of the challenges they faced, and the vision they had for fostering the Belgian-American business community in the Southeast. Their inspiring stories remind us of the passion and dedication that built the foundation of BACoS and continue to guide us today.
What inspired you or what sparked the need to establish a Belgian Chamber of Commerce here in the region?
A long time ago, we were actually the Atlanta chapter of the Belgian American Chamber of Commerce out of New York. Werner Boel was the executive director back then and the chamber was very vibrant. At that time, the chamber was financed by the State of Belgium. Things evolved later with the federalization of Belgium and suddenly the chamber was not financed anymore. So, the chamber in Atlanta became dormant for about 10 years until we received some correspondence from New York saying that the Atlanta chapter was going to be closed because there was no activity anymore. We thought it was crucial for this region to have a Belgian chamber of commerce, so the four of us decided to revive it. The New York people came down to Atlanta and proposed a plan to keep the chamber alive by operating it from New York. But if we wanted to revive the chamber, we felt that we had to be really serious about it and we didn’t see the system proposed as very sustainable for the Southeast. Ultimately, the Belgian business ecosystem in the Southeast is very different from New York. We have a lot of trading- and manufacturing-based companies here in Georgia. So, we came to the conclusion that it would be better to have our own independent chamber here. JP, who was highly instrumental in the creation of BACoS, came up with the name “Belgian American Chamber of the South” and with the Atomium logo that BACoS still uses today.
What were your first initiatives?
The initial idea was not to be a social club. The focus was on business and networking. Not just for Belgians; American companies were to be part of it too. We started with a relatively straightforward, simple program: we would do so many events per year. Some of them would be related to inviting external people, other would be more social, etc. So, in the very beginning, we had a framework that we were using in terms of how many events we would organize and what kind of events it would be. At the beginning, it was fairly easy but after a while it became a bit of a challenge to come up with new things and things that would really attract people. But we really worked towards making BACoS a permanent institution, rather than a short-lived entity. Ultimately the chamber has done a good job in bringing in folks, and also in expanding because the South is not just Atlanta. You also have North and South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
Is there an early event that you particularly remember?
People still talk about one of the fun activities we had in 2015. The festival Tomorrow World was organized on the domain of the Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills, GA. A beautiful place. We were able to organize a “Behind-the-Scene of Tomorrow World” the day before. We brought the members to the location, we had drinks and food, and then visited the domain. Those were the types of events that we really enjoyed organizing.
Another event to recall in particular dates back from 2012, when we organized a behind-the-scenes visit of the new International Terminal at Hartfield-Jackson, before it was inaugurated. This was a wonderful event we organized together with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (NACCSE), culminating with a sit-down dinner inside the Delta Flight Museum under the wings of vintage planes.
What kind of impact do you feel the Chamber had on Belgian business in the region when you started BACoS?
One of the impacts obviously is that Atlanta is on the map for Belgian companies. Of course, this is not only thanks to BACoS, but BACoS was for instance very involved in the economic mission headlined by HRH Princess Astrid in 2022. BACoS has also been very instrumental in helping Belgian companies get connected to other companies that have been here for long. You know, some Belgian companies have been in the Southeast for a long time, so they can provide case studies to other companies prospecting the region. It's about being able to talk to other Belgians who have made it here, and who can give you advice. It was so important to have a Belgian chamber of commerce here because Georgia is home to more Belgian companies than any other state in the U.S. It was vital for the Chamber to be here. And the pool of Belgian companies is very diverse here, too. If you have an issue, you're always going to find someone that can help you in the community.
Who were your early supporters?
The usual suspects: the Belgian companies that have been in the region for a long time are BACoS’ long-standing supporters. They came on board early on. One of the challenges we faced, however, was that there were also some companies who were already sponsoring the New York chamber, and therefore didn’t feel like sponsoring another chamber. Next to the Belgian companies, the regional trade agencies and the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta have always been very supportive of BACoS.
Next year, BACoS is going to put the "Taste of Belgium" fundraising gala back on the map. My understanding is that the first editions of this event happened many years ago, long before I arrived in Atlanta. What can you tell me about this event?
Yes, there was this wonderful event every year called “The Taste of Belgium” way back when the Chamber was still funded by the State of Belgium and when Werner Boel was the Executive Director. It was a huge fundraising gala for the Chamber, and it required a year-long preparation. The main attraction was Belgian food: the Chamber would bring in a chef from Belgium and have tomates crevettes, endives, Belgian beer and chocolate, etc. It was truly a marquee event. In 1996, right before the Olympics in Atlanta, Eddy Merckx came to the gala, and we raffled off his road bike! The Belgian Ambassador was of course there, and even King Philippe (who was at the time Prince Philippe) attended it. The last edition was the year that preceded 9/11. In 2001, the gala was supposed to take place in September, but 9/11 happened so the Chamber decided to cancel it. After that, the Chamber became less active until the creation of BACoS, about 10 years later.
Now, most of you are still based in Atlanta and are part of the BACoS community as members. What do you enjoy about being part of this community?
The social aspect of it is very enjoyable. The networking drinks are always a good idea because they’re about mingling with folks in the Belgian community that you don’t see every day. The programming is important, of course. You can't have business events where you talk about accounting or law all the time. It’s about finding ideas that can be attractive to a wide variety of people.
Thank you all very much for sharing those memories and insights! It’s because of your vision and dedication that BACoS thrives today, and we are honored to continue building on the remarkable foundation you have laid.