FirstPathway Weblog

Tuesday, May 8, 2012- Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners was honored to moderate the 48^th annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference China Session. Speakers included Damian Felton, U.S. Department of Commerce; Siva
Yam, US-China Chamber of Commerce; Hai Yan Zhang, Gordon Pacific, LLC.; John Powalisz, Sentry Equipment; Shuke Miao, Mortenson China Ltd. and Randall Birchfield/ John Fox of Covance Laboratories, Inc.

During the sessions, Kraft commended the efforts of Milwaukee for expanding international trade, of products, services, education and culture with China.  This year’s highlights included “The Summer of China,” featuring the US Table Tennis Open and The Milwaukee Art Museum’s, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, Cernet’s MOU with The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to bring thousands of students to UWM and the reciprocated gift from the City of Milwaukee to sister city Ningbo.

Earlier that day, during the Wisconsin International Trade Conference Export Awards Luncheon Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker, gave remarks on the regions International activities. In his speech, the Governor encouraged efforts to further increase international trade and investment in our community and expand exports. The Governor also touted the regions job pool, technology and innovation as key factors in attracting business to Wisconsin exporters.

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FirstPathway Partners would like to congratulate our friends, the Beijing Ducks, on their Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship.

On Friday March 30th, 2012, The Beijing Ducks beat the Guangdong Southerners, at home, five games to one, in a best-of-seven series, with six Ducks scoring in double digits. Former NBA superstar, and 2 time All-star, Stephon Marbury led the Ducks
with 41 points.

FirstPathway Partners is proud to support a growing dynamic partnership between the Beijing Ducks and the City of Milwaukee.  In 2006, the Ducks came to Milwaukee to train with the Bucks, and in 2011, Chairman Huo Guanglai and GM Yuan Chao of the Beijing Ducks hosted former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Chairman of the Milwaukee Bradley Center Marc Marotta, and FirstPathway Partners President Bob Kraft at a Beijing Ducks basketball game at the Shougang Steel Arena.

Friday, March 23rd 2012- This week the China Daily published a feature article on Bob Kraft’s momentum in China. Kraft has been working to cultivate relationships and investment between China and the US, for over 10 years. The China Daily sites Kraft as “one of the most successful businessmen in attracting Chinese investment to the United States.” Kraft is Chair of the MMAC China Council and Chairman/CEO, of FirstPathway Partners, one of the largest EB5 investment immigration providers in the United States.

Kraft is honored to be featured in The China Daily, a key reference point for overseas media. The China Daily is considered one of the most authoritative newspapers in China, with the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper. The newspaper has an average daily circulation of more than 400,000 in 150 countries and regions.

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FirstPathway Partners (FPP) was proud to sponsor the 2012 Invest in America Summit in
Shanghai, China. The second annual event, organized by Wailian Overseas Consulting
Group, brought together thousands of EB5 industry leaders, clients, and
agencies. FPP representatives were excited to meet with industry stakeholders
and continue to be committed to the China market.

At the conference, FPP Chairman and CEO, Bob Kraft led discussions and gave lectures advising
clients and agents on investing in the United States and EB5 best practices.
Bob was honored to pop the ceremonial champagne at Saturday night’s banquet.
Also representing FPP were Director of China Operations Dan Redford, and China
Communications Manager Wenbo Yang.

Many thanks to Wailian Group for another successful event!  We look forward to
next year!

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Partner Richard Zagorski and COO Dan Wycklendt of FirstPathway Partners traveled to the Middle East this February to meet with immigration partners, train partner staff and present at seminars throughout the region. Wycklent and Zagorski made stops in India, Bahrain, Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.

To learn more about current offerings and seminar’s near you contact us at info@firstpathway.com.

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This week Milwaukee’s Aloft Hotel was announced number 8 on TripAdvisor’s Travelers choice 2012, Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the United States. The Aloft ranked above hotels like the Hilton New York Fashion District hotel (15) and the W Hotel in San Francisco (24).

The five-story, 160-room, Aloft Hotel Milwaukee is a FirstPathway Partners project which opened in 2009. It is one of 43 Aloft hotels in the United States. The Aloft (Milwaukee), a brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is located downtown at 1230 N. Old World Third St., in the Park East corridor. It is the first Aloft location in southeastern Wisconsin and features 5,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, an indoor pool overlooking the riverwalk, laptop stations,  pool table and the Wxyz Bar in the lobby/lounge area. Nearby attractions include- the Milwaukee River, The Bradley Center (home of the Milwaukee Bucks) and trendy local bars/restaurants.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTrendy

Friday January 20,2012 – United States Senator Ron Johnson visited FirstPathway Partners today to express his appreciation for the significant economic and job creation impact FirstPathway Partners has had on Southeast Wisconsin under the Federal EB5 Regional Center Program. FirstPathway Partners was honored to host the senator and hear his insights. 

Senator Johnson is a United States Senator of the 112th Congress representing the state of Wisconsin, and a member of the Republican Party.  Prior to his election to the Senate, he was chief executive officer of PACUR, LLC, a Wisconsin polyester and plastics manufacturer.

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On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presented a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  In 2006, Milwaukee signed a cooperative MOU with Ningbo, China.

The gift, a beautifully carved, 6 ft., bronze bald eagle, created by artist Mike Capser, symbolizes the American spirit and continued development of a dynamic partnership between Ningbo and Milwaukee. The sculpture will be on display at the Ningbo Museum. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

First Pathway Partners, Chairman/CEO and MMAC China Council Co-Chair Bob Kraft, spoke on behalf of Milwaukee Business leaders at the event.

Last Week, Chairman, Huo Guanglai and GM, Yuan Chao of the Beijing Ducks hosted former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Foley & Lardner Partner Marc Marotta, and FirstPathway Partners President Bob Kraft and Director of China Operations Dan Redford at a Beijing Ducks basketball game at the Shougang Steel Arena. The Beijing Ducks are Beijing’s premier Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) team.

The delegation toured the campus of the Shougang Steel’s Arena, which includes an international basketball gymnasium, training facilities, tennis courts, and engineering academy.

This year the Ducks are led by NBA star Stephen Marbury. We are happy to say that the Ducks walked away with a huge victory and are the early favorite for the CBA championship!

Marotta is a former Marquette University basketball player and Chairman of the board for the Milwaukee Bradley Center, home of the NBA Bucks.

FirstPathway Partners is proud to support a growing dynamic partnership between the Beijing Ducks and the city of Milwaukee. In 2006, the Ducks came to Milwaukee to train with Bucks, building lasting friendships and a long-term relationship. We look forward to welcoming the Ducks back to Milwaukee in the near future.

Today University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Chancellor, Michael Lovell, signed an MOU with CERNET Education Development Co., in Beijing. This MOU will serve to increase enrolment of Chinese students at UWM while also heightening the University’s international profile. “UWM is striving to become more internationally and globally engaged, and is committed to recruiting students from all areas of the world, particularly from vital international partners such as China,” –Lovell. This fits with UWM’s current goal of increasing international enrolment to 3,000 within the next 5 years. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was present in China for the signing

Under the MOU, CERNET will establish a Wisconsin International Academy in Milwaukee to provide support services and housing for the Chinese students studying English through UWM’s Intensive English Program and once they qualify for degree programs within the University. According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “UWM’s Intensive English Program now serves students from more than 30 countries speaking 20 different languages.” There are currently international students, from 94 countries enrolled at UWM.

CERNET Education Development Co., was founded by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China to develop a nationwide marketing network and service support system to actively integrate cooperative high-quality academic or vocational educational service businesses with well-known universities and educational leaders throughout the world. Cernet currently has operations with The University of Massachusetts.

The event received an enormous amount of press both in the US and China, including an article on Sohu.com, China’s largest web portal. Featured  were Bob Kraft, former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, and Marc Marotta.

Read more at Sohu.com

Read More at JS Online