New Chairman of the Board
GACC Midwest announces the election of Uwe Schoberth as the new Chairman of the Board. He has previously served as Vice Chairman.
Uwe Schoberth is Chief Distribution Officer for U.S. and Bermuda at Canopius, an international specialty insurance group operating globally. Born and raised in Germany and based in Chicago, he brings more than three decades of international leadership experience and has served on the GACC Midwest Board of Directors since 2007. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board of German American Events, LLC (GAE), the organization behind the beloved Christkindlmarket Chicago.
“It is a great honor to be elected Chairman of such a respected and established organization. Especially in times of significant economic and geopolitical change, GACC Midwest plays a vital role as a reliable partner and trusted resource for its members and for German companies engaged in transatlantic business. I look forward to working closely with the Board and the Chamber team to further strengthen the Chamber’s strategic positioning.”
Thank You to Our Outgoing Chairman
GACC Midwest extends its sincere appreciation to Matthias Amberg, CGO and Managing Partner at Rödl USA, who concludes his term as Chairman of the Board and as AHK USA Chairman, representing the nationwide German American Chamber Network.
Through his leadership and dedication, Matthias made a lasting contribution to the Chamber’s development and to advancing German American business relations. Under his leadership, the German American Executive Summit was launched, and key workforce development initiatives were further shaped, including the creation of the German American Apprenticeship & Education Foundation. The Chamber thanks him for his strong commitment and continued support.
New Vice Chair of the Board
Mark Zumdohme, President and CEO of Graepel North America, has been elected Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of GACC Midwest.
Born and raised in Germany, Mark Zumdohme brings a strong transatlantic entrepreneurial perspective shaped by his professional journey in both Germany and the United States. In addition to leading Graepel North America, he serves as Honorary Consul of Germany in Nebraska and has been an engaged member of the GACC Midwest Board. As Vice Chair, he will support the Chairman and contribute to advancing the Chamber’s mission of strengthening German American economic ties.
Meet Our New Board of Directors
Alongside the new Board leadership, GACC Midwest welcomes its newly elected Board of Directors, composed of senior representatives from German and American companies with deep expertise in transatlantic trade, investment, and industry-specific collaboration.
The following members have been elected to the Board of Directors for the first time:
- Rüdiger Dornhof, Wilton Brands
- Michael Fassnacht, Clayco
- Thomas Ginschel, Silesia Flavors
- Ralf Hilpuesch, Ritter Sport
- Heiko Kaufmann, KUKA
- Christoph Schneider, Wintrust
View the full Board of Directors here.
Working closely with the Chairman and Vice Chair, the Board will help guide the strategic priorities of the Chamber and ensure continued value for GACC Midwest members.
About GACC Midwest
The German American Chamber of Commerce® of the Midwest (GACC Midwest), headquartered in Chicago with a branch office in Detroit, was founded in 1963. GACC Midwest is an integral part of the German Chamber Network (AHKs) with 150 offices in 93 countries around the globe. Our continuing mission is to promote German American business relations and to support trade and investment between Germany and the United States, especially the Midwest.
Our organization combines elements of a trade commission, a membership association, and professional consulting services for market entry, apprenticeships in the U.S., and more. With this unique concept in international trade promotion, GACC Midwest’s territory covers 14 U.S. states: the 12 states of the Midwest plus Colorado and Kentucky.
In addition to our offices in Chicago and Detroit, GACC Midwest has three Chapters. Our Chapters in Colorado (CO), Minnesota (MN), and Wisconsin (WI) organize additional events and offer members access to both local and regional business networks.