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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) 509-0508R.Boerrigter@Axxor.eu

• 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!