Swedish-American achievement awards to be awarded in the Bay Area, California and the line-up of talent is bigger than ever.

On October 8, the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco/Silicon Valley will host the 2011 Achievement Awards—a gala to celebrate and honor outstanding business achievements in the Bay Area. Featuring a highly successful governor as the keynote speaker and some of Sweden’s most popular artists as live entertainment, this might be the highlight of the fall.
This is the second year in a row that the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco/Silicon Valley, in collaboration with the Swedish Trade Council and the Swedish General Consulate, is hosting the gala event. It'll take place at the City Club of San Francisco, an art-deco treasure in the heart of the Financial District.

The nominees
The 2011 Achievement Awards aim to acknowledge the Swedish presence in the area by spotlighting the successful contributors who promote the links between Sweden and the U.S. This year a total of 39 nominations have been submitted in three different award categories: Business Achievement, Cultural Achievement and Women’s Achievement. The large amount of nominations indicates this young award has quickly established a strong reputation within the Swedish-American business community.
The nominees represent an array of business industries, from finance and IT to medicine and design. The common denominator is their outstanding results in entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation.

A touch of sweden
The award ceremony will be accompanied by an exclusive three-course menu and live entertainment by among others Swedish pop sensation, Anna Bergendahl. The night will also feature keynote speaker, Michigan’s first female governor, Jennifer M. Granholm, a Swedish-descendant and author of the book “A Governor’s Story.” As the governor of a state that was severely hit by the financial crisis, she succeeded in transforming Michigan’s economy by initiating several different projects, tax policies and strategic partnerships that resulted in a creation of 653,000 jobs during her tenure.
“We are very pleased to announce Governor Jennifer M. Granholm as our keynote speaker at this year’s event,” says Nils Welin, chairman of the SACC-SF/SV board. “Her experiences and achievements are valuable for anyone seeking insights into the challenges facing America today.”

Submitted by Marie Alverslid
For more information about the event, see www.sacc-sf.org