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German American Business Outlook (GABO) - Illinois

  • Event

March 10, 2026 | 3:00 PM CT

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Event details:

  • Event Start: March 10, 2026 · 3:00 PM CT
  • Event End: March 10, 2026 · 6:00 PM CT
  • Location: HARTING Americas (1370 Bowes Rd, 60123 Elgin, IL)
  • Language: English
  • Parking: Free parking on company lot
  • Participation Fee: GACC Midwest Members: $50
    Non-Members: $65
    *Please note: Registration at the door is $65
    *Online registration closes on March 10 at 3:00 PM CT.
    Ticket includes GABO survey results presentation/panel discussion and appetizers/refreshments.

What are the biggest challenges German subsidiaries in the US face in 2026? What’s going well? 

The German American Business Outlook (GABO) is an annual survey of German-American business relations directed at German subsidiaries in the US assessing current economic developments and trends in transatlantic business.

Join us in Elgin, Illinois at HARTING Americas on March 10 for the live presentation and discussion of the results of the German American Business Outlook (GABO) survey and learn what German companies in the US predict for the coming year.

 

Conducted by the German American Chambers of Commerce, this US-wide survey is one of the most important economic indicators of German American business relations.

 

Our panel of executives will discuss the results of the survey and what they mean for German subsidiaries in the Midwest. 

Panelist

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    Raphael Strzelczyk

    CFO, CS-COSMOS STIHL Manufacturing Inc. After studying Finance in Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, Raphael started his career in Mergers & Acquisitions at EY and PwC. He joined Jenoptik AG in the Strategic M&A department and subsequently built up the Corporate Investment practice at the STIHL Group. There he was responsible for the global M&A, Joint Venture and Venture Capital activities. In 2023 he took the role of CFO at CS Cosmos STIHL Manufacturing Inc in South Chicago Heights, IL overseeing all administrative functions. CS Cosmos STIHL Manufacturing is a leading supplier of mufflers and exhaust systems in the outdoor power industry. CSM supplies to OEM manufacturers of hand-operated power equipment for different applications such as lawn mowers, tractors, snow throwers, chain saws, and blowers. The expertise and high level of integration in industrial processes enables CSM to further provide engineered solutions for a broad range of stamped and deep-drawn parts, such as edger blades, clutch drums, concrete chains, guide bars, electromechanic components for battery packs, and complex mufflers from handheld to tractor applications.

    cs-mfg.com

Moderators

Proud Event Partner - HARTING Americas

HARTING is the gold standard in connectivity for industrial environments and mission-critical applications. As the pioneer in connectivity, HARTING combines the quality and customer service of its family-owned operations with a global footprint backed by in-region manufacturing facilities and local teams with deep engineering expertise. With a reliable and robust approach to connectivity for any environment, HARTING enables improved efficiency and sustainability and future-proofs the businesses of today to power the innovations of tomorrow.

More Information to Come

Proud Event Partners

  • Roedl & Partner

Event Host

  • HARTING Logo

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