FirstPathway Weblog

Monday, November  28,  2011 – FirstPathway Partners was on site to celebrate the construction kick-off of its most recent project, a world class 201-room, 4-star, full-service, Marriott Hotel.  Armed with sledgehammers, Mayor Tom Barrett and FirstPathway Partners Chairman and CEO Bob Kraft were in attendance alongside representatives from Jackson Street Management, Marriott and White Lodging to bring down the first wall on the site that will later be transformed into the new Marriott.

This catalytic project funded in part by the FirstPathway EB5 program will create jobs, enhance the neighborhood and help many deserving family’s make their American dream come true.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2013. It will be the first full-service hotel built downtown in more than 20 years. The project will be located in the heart of the downtown central business district of Milwaukee, WI, USA on the southwest corner of East Wisconsin Avenue and North Milwaukee Street, surrounding the Johnson Bank building.

The iconic $54 Million dollar, 10-story, 197,000 square foot hotel will feature a luxurious high-end restaurant, lobby bar, Starbucks, a jeweler, 15,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space, and 60 underground parking stalls.  Hotel amenities will include a fully equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, business center, concierge service, and gift shop.

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Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, shakes hands with Siva Yam, CPA, CFA, President of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce.

Monday, November 14, 2011 – This week Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners attended the 12th Annual U.S.-China Trade Conference in Chicago sponsored by the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce. The Honorable Yang Guoqiang, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, was the keynote speaker at the event.

FirstPathway Partners is a proud supporter of The United States of America-China Chamber of Commerce (USCCC) , a not-for-profit, bi-national membership organization dedicated to developing increased U.S.-China trade and investment activities by assisting American and Chinese companies, professionals and the general public to better understand the business environments and cultural traditions relevant to successfully doing business in both countries.

Director of China Operations Dan Redford attended “Invest USA,” a forum held in Beijing, by AmCham China. The event highlighted the enormous opportunities for Chinese individuals and companies to export to, invest in, and expand operations to the United States. Present at the event were delegations led by the mayors of Changsha and Xiangtan, as well as the Governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie. We here at FPP are excited to be part of the growing relationship between the United States and China.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, will join Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presents a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  The sculpture will be on displayed at the Ningbo Museum.

For a list of activities surrounding the historic events or to attend an EB5 seminar hosted by Mr. Kraft please contact info@firstpathway.com.

Last month, FirstPathwayPartners COO, Daniel Wycklendt traveled to China on a mufti city tour to educate investors though our latest EB5 seminar series.  This trip marked the 8^th visit by a top ranking company executive this year.  Wycklendt would like to wish a warm thank you to all the gracious investors and agents who hosted him throughout his trip.

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On Wednesday September 28th 2011, Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of USCIS addressed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the importance of immigrants in American competitiveness, growth and prosperity. Throughout his address, Director Mayorkas commented on upcoming policy changes to the EB5 program aimed at streamline the process and delivering meaningful case information on a real time basis.

“We have made significant changes in the way we adjudicate cases in the immigrant investor or EB-5 program, a program that is designed to create American jobs.  We have retained business analysts to support our adjudicators, and received more than 75 applications for additional economists.  We will be hiring corporate expertise, issuing new policy guidance in the next few weeks. And currently we have outstanding a targeted request for proposal to re-engineer our business process from beginning to end. “-Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of USCIS

The policy changes advocated by Director Mayorkas seek to advance those already seeking to access to benefits for which they are eligible, keep pace with the dynamism of modern business and simplify job creation for American citizens.

In one of the strongest indications of the day, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce signaled their willingness to advance the EB5 program, publicizing the movement.

On September 28th 2011,  FirstPathway Partners Director of China Operations, Dan Redford attended a reception hosted by Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder, at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Beijing. The event was co-sponsored by Amway, the Detroit Chinese Business Association, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Redford was invited in recognition of his great work supporting the Chinese community and business development in Michigan. He is a Michigan native and graduate of Michigan State University.

Last month Dan Redford, FirstPathway Partners Director of Operations-China , was featured in Michigan’s Dome Magazine.  His editorial was part of a series offering advice to the state’s chief executive, Rick Snyder on his historic foreign trade mission to China.

In the article, Redford gives deceptively simple advice which has been proven to make or break business relationships in China. His advice is transcending weather you are new to business or the hold the state’s highest office; Above all it comes down to “guanxi — the art of doing business through relationships.”

Redford will attend a reception for Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder in Beijing, China at the end of September.

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FirstPathway Partners would like to welcome Dan Redford to his appointment as Director of Operations – China, as seen in the Detroit Free Press. Redford, fluent in Mandarin, studied at both Nankai University in Tianjin and Shanghai University. In 2010, Dan represented the United States as an ambassador to the Shanghai World Expo.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110724/COL32/107240585/Ron-Dzwonkowski-Michigan-must-become-land-worldly-opportunity

Prof. PU Ying Hua presents gift to Bob Kraft

June 27, 2011- The MMAC China Business Council hosted  The Art of War and the War of Business featuring one of Power Magazine’s, top 100 most influential persons in China, Prof. PU Ying Hua.  Prof. PU is an expert in classical Chinese thought and literature who has written and consulted extensively on business strategy and the Art of War, the famous 2,500 year old Chinese classic. PU is also a direct descendent of the Qing royal family.

Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners is Co-chair of the MMAC’s China Business Council.