On the eve of the festive dinner on the occasion of the end of the 10th anniversary conference Meeting G2, on Friday in the Crystal Hall of the Westin Hotel, the "MG2 Excellence" awards were given, within the framework of which the Meeting G2 Association gave special recognition to people who have contributed to Croatia economically.
A total of 10 exclusive awards were given to 10 successful Croatian men and women, five returnees to Croatia and five from other countries of the world. The award is intended to recognize people who strengthen economic ties between Croatia and the diaspora, and who have achieved exceptional business success during their professional careers.
The laureates are:
- Branka Čubelić, a returnee from Australia to Zrin, owner of the wedding organization company Dreamtime Event Croatia
- Bernard Cecelj, a returnee from Switzerland, who started the production of mattresses and beds in Međimurje about 20 years ago,
- Matt Darko Sertić, a returnee from the USA who founded several successful companies in his native Sisak, including the first private business incubator in Croatia - PISAK.
- Miljenko Mike Grgich (awarded posthumously, so niece Maja Jeramaz took over the award) – Croatian emigrant from California, USA, founder of the world-famous winery "Grgich Hills Cellar".
- Tomislav Kuljiš, founder and CEO of the leading retail chain and supermarket chain Hipremaxi SA in Bolivia,
- Tony Kerum (the award was accepted by his daughter Jennifer), founder and owner of one of the best catering companies in Hollywood "Tony's Food Service"
- Anthony Toni Nebula, (the award was accepted by his daughter Jerka) Croatian-American innovator and entrepreneur of Croatian origin, inventor of the Maglite lamp
- Luke Jurčević - owner of several successful technology companies, mostly in the medical sector, in Australia. President of the Western Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
- Niko Ilić, Croatian entrepreneur from Austria, owner of a construction company and president of the Association of Croatian Entrepreneurs in Austria
- Cyril Zovko, a returnee from Canada, participated in the construction of hundreds of buildings in Canada, is the owner of the first shopping centers built in Zagreb under the name Importanne.
Two special prizes were awarded:
- "MG2 Essence" for Mara and Josip Hrgetić, returnees from Venezuela who started the MEETING G2015 conference project in 2 together with a couple of other Croatian returnees and local Croatians from Zagreb
- "MG2 Loyalty" for Nenad Nemeta, a member of the second generation of Croats in Macedonia, who is the most loyal visitor to Meeting G2 conferences - he did not miss any of these 10.
Each of the winners was presented with a statue of the stone sail of Mate Croata, and during the presentation, the president of the organizer, Association Meeting G2, Antun Krešimir Buterin, said the following:
"As part of our jubilee 10th business conference, we organized everything in the spirit of the number 10 - in two days we had 10 interesting panels, and we ended the conference with the awarding of 10 special awards. We didn't really want to celebrate our birthday with them, but the successes of our fantastic Croatian businessmen from the diaspora who - either returned to Croatia and started successful business projects, or still live in their new homelands where they built business empires - like the Maglica, Grgich and Kerum in the USA. It is a great honor for us that all the laureates came to accept the awards in person or sent their successors - the winners came from Australia, Bolivia, USA and Austria. Although they operate in different industries and countries, they all constantly promote Croatia, strengthen economic cooperation between the homeland and the diaspora, and make us all proud. Together, we can and must learn from people like this, because with their knowledge and mindset, Croatia can and must become an even more successful, richer and happier country.", concluded Buterin.
Photo: PR
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