From the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Margaret Ann and I wish you all the happiest Christmas, Hannukah, and holiday season. Thank you to the Swiss and Liechtenstein governments, to our private sector partners, and all our American citizens living and working here, for making this year a strong and successful one in our relationship. Wishing …
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Ambassador McMullen addresses effect of Global Level 4 Health Advisory for Americans in Switzerland and Liechtenstein U.S. Embassy Bern March 20, 2020 Good afternoon, fellow Americans in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I’m reaching out to you in light of the serious situation unfolding across the globe. From Washington, DC to Bern and Vaduz, and beyond, …
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Ambassador McMullen travels through Switzerland to get a fist-hand insight of regions, cultures, businesses and people – and their connections to the United States. His most recent trip took him to central Switzerland, where he visited the Canton of Glarus for a day. Glarus Businesses with Investment in the United States The first visit of …
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For his first official cantonal visit in 2020, Ambassador McMullen visited Fribourg. He values the opportunity to experience different Swiss regions and cultures. He was warmly welcomed by State Chancellor Danielle Gagnaux-Morel. Afterwards, in his meeting with the Cantonal Council, he wanted to hear about topics they are working on and what their most important …
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In his farewell message, Ambassador McMullen celebrates the strong ties between the United States and Switzerland and Liechtenstein, reflects on the incredible accomplishments of the past three years, and, above all, expresses his gratitude to all our partners across Switzerland and Liechtenstein for their continued commitment to our countries’ relationship.
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All photos: © Alain Herzog / EPFL On Monday, December 16, Ambassador Edward McMullen visited the Federal Polytechnic University in Lausanne (EFPL), which celebrates its 50th birthday this year. After a warm welcome and presentation by the EPFL President, Martin Vetterli, the visit proceeded to the laboratory of Prof. Pierre Dillenbourg, where digital and virtual technologies …
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Thank you to the Swiss for helping President Donald J. Trump deliver on his commitment to bringing all Americans home. Ambassador McMullen was honored to present the American flag to freed U.S. prisoner Xiyue Wang, who has been held on false charges in Iran for three years.
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On October 2, 2019, U.S. Ambassador McMullen hosted a reception at the princely winery in Vaduz to celebrate the close U.S.-Liechtenstein ties. “The U.S. and Liechtenstein are great partners in areas to include trade, investment and fighting financial crimes,” said the Ambassador. The event was attended by more than 100 guests. In addition to leaders …
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On Friday, September 20, 2019 in Bern, the United States of America and Switzerland exchanged the instruments of ratification of the protocol of amendment to their double taxation agreement in the area of taxes on income (DTA). The protocol, which entered into force on the same day, represents a milestone in tax relations between Switzerland …
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Nearly 70 years ago, the Museum of Modern Art first envisioned a worldwide U.S. arts program. It was President John F. Kennedy who, a decade later, established the Art in Embassies program at the U.S. Department of State. Now, the Art in Embassies program consists of over 200 permanent and temporary art exhibitions in U.S. …
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On July 2, Embassy Bern hosted its annual Independence Day celebration, commemorating the 243rd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which created a new nation known as the United States of America. The theme of this year’s reception was “America’s Bounty”. In attendance were Swiss government officials, including ambassadors, as well as …
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Ambassador McMullen Remarks for Independence Day Reception July 2, 2019 Representatives of the Swiss federal administration, Representatives of the Liechtenstein government, Representatives of the Swiss Armed Forces, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you all so much for joining us today to celebrate the 243rd anniversary of American independence. We are so pleased to welcome …
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July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission. 50 years later, the U.S. and the world celebrate this historic event which serves as a symbol for human progression and achievement in space exploration and science. The …
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July 8, 2019, Bern – In response to recent news reports, Ambassador Edward T. McMullen has issued the following statement: “I have said from the beginning that I serve at the will of the President and plan to spend one term as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I am, of course, open to the …
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On the first official visit of a U.S. Secretary of State to Bern in more than 20 years, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke of the U.S. and Switzerland as “natural partners.” During his visit from May 31 to June 1, 2019, Secretary Pompeo met Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis for a bilateral meeting and a …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. and SelectUSA Investment Specialist Sandor Galambos embarked on a three-state visit to witness firsthand Swiss investments in the United States. As a first stop, Stadler Rail Executive Chairman Peter Spuhler and CEO USA Martin Ritter hosted Ambassador McMullen at its state-of-the-art facility in Salt Lake City for Stadler Rail’s Grand …
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On May 16, 2019 Ambassador McMullen was part of the bilateral meeting of Swiss President Ueli Maurer and President Donald J. Trump at the White House, where they discussed the Swiss – U.S. partnership, Switzerland’s role in facilitating diplomatic relations and international issues. Pictures: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craghead.
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On April 4 Ambassador McMullen engaged in a public discussion on the trade relations between Switzerland and the United States at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. The event was organized by Foraus Foreign Policy think tank, for with support of the U.S. Embassy in Bern. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities for mutual …
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Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 5, 2019 The United States and Switzerland reached an arrangement on April 5, 2019 regarding the Swiss acting as a protecting power for U.S. interests in Venezuela. Until further notice that the arrangement is operative, the Swiss will not be able to provide services. Where possible, …
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On March 6, Ambassador McMullen visited the University of Zurich , where he first met with the University’s Executive Board. They discussed Swiss-U.S. economic relations, including our mutual focus on Research and Development and innovation, with a view to continuing to deepen relations between the University of Zurich and U.S partners. The University also gave presentations on their …
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I am very happy to be speaking to all of you today. Thank you, Professor Dr. Hengartner, for the kind introduction, and thank you, Professor Dr. Kellerhals, for the opportunity not only to attend this event, but to speak to your illustrious members. It is an honor to be standing at the podium where Winston …
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On invitation by the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Professor Rohini Srihari spoke on February 14 at the International Blockchain Forum in Rotkreuz, organized by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Later, U.S. Ambassador Edward McMullen participated in a panel discussion on the topic with the ambassadors from the Embassies of Canada and the …
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February 6-7, 2019, Ambassador McMullen visited Switzerland’s southern Canton of Ticino to learn about the economic and political life in the region. In addition to meeting representatives of the cantonal authorities, the visit provided insights into the canton’s business, innovation and research activities. To round off his visit, the Ambassador sampled a taste of Ticino …
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U.S. Ambassador Ed McMullen visited St. Gallen last Friday the 8th of February to meet with members of the cantonal government, leading academics at the renowned University of St. Gallen and executives of the SFS Group, a Swiss mechanical fastening and precision tool company with a presence in the U.S. market. University and Abbey Visits …
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2018 was Ambassador McMullen’s first year in Switzerland, and it was a year full of travelling through nearly every Swiss Canton and meeting people from all walks of life. The year started with a highlight, when President Trump visited the World Economic Forum in Davos. It continued with the Ambassador visiting many Cantons, attending Swiss …
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Ambassador McMullen just returned from the United States, where he visited U.S. aerospace companies with deep historical and long-lasting ties to Switzerland. Switzerland and the United States are both leaders in science and technology. This is especially true in the aerospace sector! Ambassador McMullen went to the U.S. to visit U.S. defense industry companies across …
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On December 3, 2018 Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. was pleased to join Ivanka Trump, U.S. Education Secretary DeVos, U.S. Labor Secretary Acosta, U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross, Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, and Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Martin Dahinden for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Apprenticeships in Washington, D.C. Apprenticeships …
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On November 7, Ambassador McMullen hosted the Venture Leader Alumni Event at his residence in Bern. Among the guests were this year’s participants of the Venture Leader program, alumni from previous years, and representatives of the Swiss business and investment communities. Switzerland’s Venture Leaders program is an annual entrepreneurial “boot camp and roadshow” that took …
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On October 18, Ambassador McMullen attended a gifting ceremony in the Swiss mountain village Melchsee-Frutt, where he received a framed copy of the Swiss Federal Charter . The Federal Charter is Switzerland’s oldest constitutional document, in which the central Swiss communities Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden pledged to help each other resist threats of violence and injustice. With this …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. welcomed Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant, and their visiting business development delegation for an investment luncheon at his residence to promote investment in Mississippi. The investment luncheon is part of a three-day visit of Governor Bryant, who met with current Mississippi investors and as well as …
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On September 27, Inficon Chairman Beat E. Lüthi and CEO Lukas Winkler hosted Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. at its site in Balzers, Liechtenstein for a tour of the facility and a discussion on the company’s activities in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United States. Inficon develops, manufactures, and supplies vacuum instrumentation, critical sensor technologies and …
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On September 21, Zurich Insurance Group executives welcomed Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. and Acting SelectUSA Executive Director Brian Lenihan at a breakfast roundtable with Swiss business executives to discuss the companies’ investments in the United States. The discussion also included the Swiss-style vocational program, which some of the companies have implemented at their U.S. facilities. …
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On September 7, Cerbios’ top leadership hosted Ambassador Edward T. McMullen Jr. at its facility outside of Lugano to discuss Cerbios’ business current and future business activities in the United States. Cerbios has been active in the United States since 1982 with an established leadership with its reduced folates products used in oncology. Ambassador McMullen …
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On September 11, OC Oerlikon leadership welcomed Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. at its Balzers facility to discuss the company’s sizable footprint in many states in the United States. OC Oerlikon is a global technology and engineering Group specialized in advanced materials, surface solutions and manmade fibers. Oerlikon has a strong presence in the U.S. with manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Oklahoma, …
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Jack Bowling, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, is running across Switzerland to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF) based in Baltimore, Maryland. Having run across the United States in the summer of 2016 for the same charity alongside a team of 26 others, and having studied for a semester …
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Ambassador Edward McMullen, Jr. delivered closing remarks at the 5th annual Swiss-U.S. Energy Innovation Days (SUEID) on August 22 in Sion. He highlighted the fact that both Switzerland and the U.S. are conducting innovative energy research, which presents an opportunity to deepen U.S.-Swiss cooperation on solving 21st century energy challenges. Previous conferences were hosted in …
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Mr. Andrea Ostineli, Senior Finance Director and Chairman of the Swiss Johnson & Johnson Leadership Team, welcomed Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. at Cilag, a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies in Switzerland, in Schaffhausen. The Cilag/Johnson & Johnson team provided an overview of the company’s overall footprint in Switzerland and the …
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On June 27, Embassy Bern hosted its annual Independence Day celebration, commemorating the 242nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which created a new nation known as the United States of America. We celebrated with great friends, delicious food, and incredible music by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band “Flagship Combo” and …
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Ambassador McMullen’s Remarks for Independence Day Celebration June 27, 2018 Representatives of the Swiss federal administration, Representatives of the Liechtenstein government, Representatives of the Swiss Armed Forces, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you all so much for joining us today to celebrate the 242nd anniversary of American independence. We are so pleased to welcome …
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For the opening of Art Basel 2018, Ambassaor McMullen gave a welcome address at a reception for representatives from Miami Beach at the City Hall in Basel. The Canton of Basel-Stadt has long-standing ties to the United States. In 2002, the Art Basel took place in Miami Beach for the first time, which established an ongoing …
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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visited Switzerland June 6 to June 8, 2018 to take a closer look at its education system, learn about apprenticeships, and meet with experts in the field. Secretary DeVos was invited by Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann to deliver a keynote address at the third International Congress on Vocational and …
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On June 1, Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. attended the celebration of ten years of Disney research in Zurich, Switzerland. At the celebration, examples of the successful collaboration between Disney and the Swiss Polytechnic University, ETH, were shown. With strong ties to the Computer Graphics lab at ETH, the Disney lab in Zurich is influencing video …
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On May 31, 2018, Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. welcomed Fulbright alumni to celebrate the Swiss Fulbright Alumni Association’s 10th anniversary at the official residence in Bern. Ambassador McMullen recognized Karl Safft, Thomas Heinis, Andrè Kudelski, and Martin Naville for their commitment to the Swiss Fulbright Alumni Association. The honorees and Fulbright alumni were joined …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. and the U.S. Embassy staff honored former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Faith Whittlesey with a flag ceremony in front of the U.S. Embassy this morning. Ambassador Whittlesey served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland for nearly five years over two tours (1981-1983; 1985-1988) during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. Ambassador …
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On May 16, 2018, Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. welcomed the Central South Carolina Alliance investment delegation for a business luncheon at the “Zunfthaus zum Rüden” guild house in Zurich to promote the Palmetto State as an investment destination. South Carolina, which emerged as an industrial powerhouse with over $4.8 billion in new capital investment …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. met with Mercuria CEO Marco Dunand and President Daniel Jaeggi to discuss Mercuria’s significant investments in the United States, as well as continued plans for expansion and the creation of jobs at its various operations. Mercuria Energy, one of the largest independent commodity traders in the world, is also one …
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On April 25, Ambassador Edward McMullen attended the official opening of the 32nd annual Geneva Book Fair–the second largest French-language book fair in the world. The Fair attracted 100,000 guests and up to 1,000 authors over five days. The city of New York was honored with a special pavilion and an extensive program of activities. …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. was welcomed by Novartis CEO Dr. Vasant Narasimhan and his team at the Novartis Campus in Basel for a discussion and a campus tour. Ambassador McMullen learned about Novartis’ significant footprint in the United States, as well as the company’s diversified portfolio of healthcare businesses and cutting-edge research in innovative …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. participated in a panel discussion with industry leaders at the Zurich Economic Impulse event on Swiss-U.S. relations with a focus on innovation and regulation. Ambassador McMullen highlighted the robust economic ties between Switzerland and the United States spurred by both countries’ innovative economies, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. was welcomed by ABB CEO Dr. Ulrich Spiesshofer at ABB for a guided tour at the Zurich facility. Ambassador McMullen saw first hand the power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance. ABB has a very robust presence in many states in …
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Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. welcomed officials from Ernst & Young, Kuehne + Nagel, Parker Poe, the Charlotte Chamber, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Swiss business community at his residence to discuss areas of interest pertaining to investment opportunities in the United States. Participants included business officials that either have investments in the United …
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On March 19, Ambassador Edward T. McMullen, Jr. was welcomed by Stadler Rail Executive Chairman Peter Spuhler and CEO Dr. Thomas Ahlburg to tour the Stadler Rail manufacturing facility in Bussnang. Mr. Spuhler and Dr. Ahlburg provided an overview on Stadler Rail’s activities in Switzerland and Salt Lake City, Utah, where Stadler Rail is establishing …
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On March 23, Ambassador Edward McMullen, Jr. hosted Indiana Commerce Secretary Jim Schellinger and current and prospective Swiss investors at his residence for lunch to promote investments in Indiana. Indiana is home to 38 Switzerland-based companies. Swiss affiliate companies employ approximately 11,300 Indiana workers, accounting for six percent of all Indiana jobs supported by foreign …
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At the U.S. Embassy’s chili cooking competition last week, Ambassador McMullen’s recipe took home the top prize in the meat and bean category. The Ambassador is a passionate cook and now he invites you into his kitchen to share with you how he makes the timeless American classic—best served with a topping of shredded cheddar …
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February is Black History Month in the United States. It’s a time to celebrate the significant contributions African Americans have made to the U.S. and the rest of the world. This month, Ambassador McMullen would like to highlight a few historical and cultural figures from his home state, South Carolina. In the field of Science: …
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U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Edward T. McMullen, Jr., presented his Letters of Credence in Bern on Tuesday, November 21. Edward T. McMullen, Jr. was appointed by President Donald Trump and approved by the United States Senate as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. On Tuesday, November 21, Edward McMullen presented his Letters of …
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This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 20 January 2017 The past 2.5 years have been truly exceptional for me and my family. That is because of the people of Switzerland and Liechtenstein: the students, …
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On December 5, Ambassador Suzi LeVine and Eric LeVine visited Uzwil Oberstufe to learn about the students’ participation in the GLOBE program . Second-year students presented their research on leaf growth which they had gathered over the course of the school year. Their attention to data integrity and keen observation skills demonstrated how much young people can accomplish when …
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Since the dawn of our democracy, the American Dream has been about opportunity and the fact that anyone from anywhere in society can pursue and achieve a life where they are safe to live, love, and be happy. What I love about this is that we’ve also exported this as a global dream! But in …
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On Tuesday, November 15th, Ambassador Suzan LeVine delivered a speech at Akademie der Generationen, a forum for learning based in Solothurn. More than 150 participants from businesses, government, education and even students from a local high school came to hear her address: “Switzerland and the U.S: Learning Together.” Ambassador LeVine highlighted the strong and enduring …
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Dialogue at ABB with Ambassador LeVine and Eric LeVine. Before an audience of more than female 50 management level ABB staff, Ambassador Suzi LeVine and her husband Eric LeVine held a dialogue with Chief Human Resources Officer Jean-Christophe Deslarzes about the importance of diversity in the workplace. Not only is a diverse team important for …
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U.S. Embassy Bern hosted an all-night election watching party starting midnight on November 9. Democracy enthusiasts, friends of the United States, students and journalists came to the event which was open to the general public. The evening celebrated not only the American presidential election but also cultural exchange: two Swiss bands entertained guests with bluegrass …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 This is the English translation of the recent OnePage.li magazine – a Liechtenstein magazine in German. It was written by me, Suzi LeVine, U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 In the spring of 2005, I went to Washington, D.C. with an advocacy group to encourage Congress to support the issues about which we cared. …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 A Presidential election is broken down into three parts – the pre-election, the primary season, and the general election. The pre-election season is when candidates …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 What is Grassroots Campaigning? And how, exactly does grassroots work – especially as it blends with big data? These examples best demonstrate this combination: Grassroots …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 During the general election – which we’re in right now – one of the most challenging things can be parsing the news – especially given …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, if you are a citizen and 18 years or older, you can vote. Also – the process of voting in federal …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 Election night 2008 will be forever etched in our minds – yes, because of the results. But also because it was a great moment of …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 October 2016 1789 — George Washington is unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors. 1870 — Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution …
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On October 20 and 21, Ambassador Suzan LeVine and her husband, Mr. Eric LeVine, hosted a high-level delegation from Microsoft headed by President Brad Smith as well as a JP Morgan Chase executive. Microsoft had expressed particular interest in how the Swiss Vocational Education and Training system works, meeting with apprentices, and comparing programs to …
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On September 27, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Mr. Eric LeVine, visited Thurgau Canton. They met with representatives of the cantonal government, Deputy President Carmen Haag, Minister Cornelia Komposch-Breuer, Minister Dr. Jakob Stark and Minister Walter Schönholzer in Frauenfeld to explore avenues to broaden bilateral cooperation. They discussed the strategic importance of the region …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 2 October 2016 Eric and I just filled out our ballots and celebrated our right to a voice and a vote! This year was especially exciting because I’ve …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 September 2016 Today, Eric, my son and I had the chance to attend and participate in the Interreligious Women’s Parliament held at Bern’s House of Religions. It was an …
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Dear Heidi, dear spiritual leaders, dear fellow people who care about making the world a better place — ladies and a few gentlemen — thank you so much for inviting us here today to the House of Religions for this Women’s Interreligious Congress! It is such an honor to be here among you! First, I …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 18 September 2016 In my first few months of this position, many asked me whether I intended to visit all 26 of the Swiss Cantons. I didn’t and …
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On August 26, 2016, Senior VP and CEO Power Services Paul McElhinney and his team welcomed Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine and her husband, Mr. Eric LeVine, at the GE plant in Birr. Ambassador LeVine and Mr. LeVine toured the plant and met with a number of apprentices who were working on different elements of the …
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On August 29, 2016, Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine and her husband, Mr. Eric LeVine, met with CEO Dr. Christoph Loos and his team at the Liechtenstein-based Hilti facility in Schaan to discuss Hilti’s footprint in the U.S. as well as its vocational education program in Liechtenstein. Hilti is a leading manufacturer and supplier of …
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U.S. Embassy Bern has led a series of initiatives over the past year in celebration of the U.S. National Parks Service’s 100th anniversary. On one hand, the goal of these activities was to highlight the value our two countries share of protecting and enjoying the great outdoors. On the other hand, U.S Embassy Bern wanted …
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On Tuesday July 19, the U.S. Embassy welcomed U.S. cycling team Trek-Segafredo for a coffee break as part of their rest day activities in Bern. The team, which includes Swiss rider and local hero Fabian Cancellera, U.S. rider Peter Stetina and current #2 in the overall race, Bauke Mollema, stopped by the Ambassador’s Residence where …
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Ambassador Suzan LeVine led the largest delegation from Europe to the third SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., June 19-21, 2016. Ambassador LeVine and 60 delegates from Switzerland joined President Barack Obama( Remarks by the President at the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit ), Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker ( Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit ), Secretary of State John Kerry, and other administration officials at the Summit, designed to promote the …
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Following an invite by Mattias Nutt to join the local GRTweetBier meet up, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, decided to spend a whole day in Chur and get to know the capital of Canton Graubünden. Their visit started off at a training session of the Kantonspolizei Graubünden. They got to see the trainees in …
Read More» I was asked to speak this evening briefly about what tradition means to Americans. When I hear that word “Tradition,” I’m reminded of the musical, Fiddler on the Roof – have you seen it? As an American Jewish woman descended from eastern European Jews, it had a special meaning for me growing up. The musical …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 17 July 2016 One of the Swiss companies that has chosen to deploy their Swiss apprenticeship model in their US facilities is Mikron Automation. They kicked off their …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 17 July 2016 <This is a note I received from Mikron Automation in Colorado from one of their summer interns with her reflections on this chance she is …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 17 July 2016 <Mike Gunner is the General Manager for Mikron Automation in Colorado. With the catalytic energy provided by the Mikron CEO in Switzerland, Mike and team …
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Excellencies, State Secretary Dell’Ambrogio, Members of the National and Cantonal Governments, Damen und Herren, and fellow people who care about the world Guten Abig, Bonsoir, Buena Sera, Buno Saira Before I begin my remarks, I want to give special thanks to a few folks. To my amazing husband and family – You inspire me every …
Read More» Bonjour! Thank you, Dr. Moser (Farnaz) and Professor Vetterli. It is such an honor for us to be here with you today! I’d like to introduce you all, also, to my husband, Eric. As a woman leader, I want to make sure you all meet the person who supports what I do. He is a …
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Thank you Zurich Pride for the invitation to be here today to address this amazing group! In the fall of 1995, I moved in with Eric LeVine. We were 26 years old, unmarried and happy as could be – especially since he was (and is) a great cook and I am a great eater! By …
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On June 11, Ambassador LeVine, along with her husband Eric, led a delegation of diplomatic representatives in the Zurich Pride march. Before the march kicked off, Ambassador LeVine delivered opening remarks , addressed this year’s Pride theme – TeamForLove — focusing on the love that binds all families together regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation. She …
Read More» Professor Guzzella, Professor Zuber, esteemed members of academia and members of the business community, I couldn’t be more grateful for today’s invitation and the opportunity to address you here, and to learn from you as our two nations work together to address one of the greatest challenges in human history: climate change. As many of …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 1 June 2016 When I first met Martin Senn, he shared with me the mantra for the work he oversaw at Zürich Insurance Group: “We Care”. His adherence …
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On May 25 Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, visited the customs museum in Gandria, to view the special exhibition organized by the anti-piracy organization Stop Piracy. The exhibit, “Beguiling Appearance, Murky Shadows, ” focuses on the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. Along for the visit were Swiss musician IVO and Cecile Drexel from …
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On May 24, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, traveled to Zurich to meet with members of the Zurich Cantonal Government and talk about the growth of Swiss start-ups. While there, they also met with the South Pole Group to learn more about how the private sector can help reduce carbon emissions. Later, the …
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Inflection Point Thank you so much to Academic Director Dr. Ron Daniel, the Board of Directors, and, of course, Webster Geneva’s director Dr. Clementina Acedo for the invitation and honor to be here with you here today! To the 137 new graduates and your family and friends who are here today – congratulations! Scholars, Graduates, …
Read More» On May 3rd, Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine and her husband Eric LeVine welcomed an investment delegation at their residence to discuss the many advantages the greater Houston area has for foreign companies. Participants included representatives from Conroe/the Greater Houston Partnership as well as a select group of Swiss business leaders. The greater Houston area is …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 28 April 2016 This blog is guest written by my husband, Eric LeVine. Apart from being a successful entrepreneur and technologist, Eric has also focused heavily on Jewish …
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On April 27, 2016, Ambassador Suzan LeVine, her husband Eric LeVine, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder toured Switzerland’s leading skilled trades training center and met with government and business leaders as part of Governor Snyder’s European investment mission focused on strengthening trade relationships and creating jobs. Ambassador LeVine, Mr. LeVine, and Governor Snyder visited Libs, …
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On Tuesday April 26, Ambassador LeVine and her husband Mr. Eric LeVine visited the Adolphe Merkle Institute at the University of Fribourg. The visit consisted of a round table with graduate and post-doc students followed by a presentation to students, professors, institution leaders, and cantonal officials. In the round table discussion on work-life continuum, Ambassador …
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As part of the Embassy’s ongoing educational outreach, Ambassador Suzi LeVine and her husband, Eric LeVine, visited the Academy for Journalism and Media of the University Neuchatel. She gave a presentation to students who are pursuing a Master’s degree in journalism in a class taught by SRF presenter Stephan Klapproth and RTS Editor-in-Chief Patrick Nussbaum. …
Read More» On April 20, Ambassador Suzan LeVine, her husband, Eric LeVine, as well as an investment delegation from South Carolina welcomed a distinguished group of Swiss business leaders from medical, life science, IT, renewable energy, machinery and space industries at an investment forum in Bern. In her opening remarks, Ambassador LeVine highlighted South Carolina’s diverse market, …
Read More» On April 19, SICPA Chairman and CEO Philippe Amon and his team hosted Ambassador Suzan LeVine and her husband, Eric LeVine, at its Prilly office. Founded in 1927, SICPA is one of Switzerland’s true success stories. The company provides secure identification, traceability and authentication solutions and services to governments – including the ink for U.S. …
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As part of our youth outreach campaign, Ambassador LeVine and her husband Mr. Eric LeVine visited schools in Sion, Sierre, and Zurich on Wednesday, April 13, and Thursday, April 14. The Ambassador spoke about the American presidential election system, explaining how delegate selection, primaries and caucuses, and grassroots organizing contribute to democratically electing a leader …
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On April 5, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, traveled to Valais to meet with local officials of the canton of Valais. During the visit, Ambassador and Mr. LeVine met with President Jacques Melly, Vice-President Esther Waeber-Kalbermatten, Cantonal Chancellor Philipp Spoerri, President of the Valais parliament Nicolas Voide, Cantonal Prosecutor of Valais Nicolas Dubuis, …
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Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric LeVine, met with Impact Hub Zürich members on Thursday, March 10, to learn about how this socially-engaged entrepreneurial community supports start-ups. Program Director Niels Rot gave a tour of Impact Hub’s latest office space dedicated to helping young companies collaborate and contribute to a better world, and facilitated a dialogue with representative …
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Embassy Bern places a high priority on meeting with Swiss students to discuss U.S. policy, the work of the Embassy and to share information on current developments in the U.S., such as the presidential elections. As a part of this ongoing educational outreach, Ambassador Suzan LeVine, along with her husband Eric LeVine, visited two schools …
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On February 22, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, traveled to Basel to meet with local officials of the canton of Basel Stadt. During the discussion, the Ambassador highlighted recent progress in introducing the Swiss apprenticeship model to the U.S. with the collaboration of Swiss firms. While in Basel, Ambassador LeVine met with the …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 13 February 2016 A couple of weeks ago, I had a sequence of experiences over a 4 day period that really demonstrate the strength, innovation, and investment in …
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On February 10, Ambassador Suzi LeVine met with students of the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz who participate in the ConnectUS program. The Ambassador gave the students an overview of the U.S. presidential elections, focusing on how the U.S. primary and general election works and the importance of grassroots voter mobilization. She also explained how the U.S. and Switzerland …
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On Wednesday, February 10, MassChallenge launched the opening of its start-up accelerator program in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking to the crowd of more than 350 entrepreneurs and hopefuls, Ambassador LeVine described the fundamental elements to cultivating a rich culture of innovation: remove the stigma from failure because it is an important aspect of learning. Not only …
Read More» Ambassador LeVine, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu, and Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Martin Dahinden join representatives of Zurich North America and Harper College to mark the official launch of an innovative, first-of-its-kind U.S. apprenticeship program for the insurance industry. Zurich North America is a participant in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship …
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Every day as she interacts with people in Switzerland, Suzi LeVine, U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, gets questions about the U.S. election. Here are the most frequently asked questions and her answers — just as the U.S. Presidential election begins in earnest: Monday, February 1 is the Iowa caucus, the first chance for voters …
Read More» On January 29, 2016, Ambassador Suzan LeVine joined Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann at Biogen’s next-generation biologics manufacturing facility Groundbreaking Ceremony in Luterbach. Founded in Switzerland, the now Massachusetts-headquartered biotech company is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Switzerland with the construction of this new site, slated to be operational in early 2019. George A. Scangos, CEO …
Read More» On January 5, Ambassador LeVine kicked off the annual Zurich Winterrede series organized by the Karl der Grosse Center and the City of Zurich. In the free speech tradition of the Hyde Park Speaker’s Corner, Winterrede invites speakers from the world of arts, politics, science and diplomacy to speak their minds from a window overlooking …
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Hope Lives but it Needs Your Help Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo? Oh – sorry – the last time I saw a window and balcony used for an address, it was for Shakespeare…. Thank you so much to the City of Zurich and the Zentrum Karl der Grosse for the honor of having this Window …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 28 December 2015 Below is the English version of my opinion piece that published Sunday, December 27, 2015, in Schweiz am Sonntag. The question posed by Schweiz am …
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On December 8, 2015, Ambassador LeVine travelled to the Canton of Jura to meet with local officials. While in Jura, the Ambassador visited the towns of Porrentruy, Delemont, and Glovelier. In Porrentruy, the Ambassador LeVine toured the technical division of the Jura Center for Education and Training. There, she was able to witness first-hand the benefits …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 6 December 2015 I had the opportunity to contribute an article on Meine Weihnacht (my Christmas) in Die Weltwoche – a major Swiss publication. I’m appreciative of this …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 30 November 2015 This week, leaders from across the globe are gathering in Paris for COP 21, the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 3 November 2015 It is National Apprenticeship Week in the United States this week. Why? Because President Obama said so (in this Proclamation ). Okay – that’s all well and good, but …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 23 October 2015 On a recent trip to Ticino, Eric and I took the opportunity, along with some of my Embassy team, to visit the southern Swiss border …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 27 September 2015 Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had a chance to view collaborations between our nations to explore frontiers that are key to our curiosity …
Read More» On September 24, Ambassador LeVine welcomed legislators and officials from the State of Utah to the U.S. Embassy Bern to discuss economic opportunities for Swiss businesses in Utah, economic opportunities for Utah businesses in Switzerland, and bilateral workforce development. A number of Swiss companies currently do business in Utah, and a number of additional Swiss …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 21 September 2015 Last year, I introduced the concept of Cheshbon Nefesh in this post (accounting of the soul) – where one looks back at what they’ve accomplished and looks …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 11 September 2015 It was an early morning in Seattle and my husband and I were carpooling across a bridge over a lake in Seattle when the radio …
Read More» On September 7, Helsinn CEO Dr. Riccardo Braglia greeted Ambassador SuzanLeVine at Helsinn’s Biasca plant in Ticino, Switzerland. During the visit, Ambassador LeVine discussed Helsinn’s position in the global pharmaceuticals market, its footprint in the United States, and the challenges it faces doing business in the United States. Ambassador LeVine also met the leadership of …
Read More» On September 3, Ambassador LeVine spoke to an audience of more than 200 business executives and dignitaries at a business symposium on Mount Pilatus in central Switzerland. Attendees included high ranking business officials, Swiss politicians, and academics. Switzerland’s Vice President Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann was also in attendance. During her keynote address, Ambassador LeVine highlighted …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 12 August 2015 The question “How would you describe Liechtenstein to a farmer in Kansas in three sentences?” was recently asked as a part of an interview I did …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 9 August 2015 “We have not inherited this land from our forebears, we have borrowed it from our children.” In other words, we study the past so it …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 3 July 2015 On Friday, June 26, I had the honor of speaking at the 20th anniversary commencement of the Executive MBA program between the University of Rochester …
Read More» Excellencies, Ambassador Guex, Ambassador Frick, Ambassador Hamamoto and Ambassador Wood from the United States Mission Geneva; Damen und Herren, Grüssich Mittenand, Welcome! It is such a pleasure to look out and see all of you here and to have you celebrate the birthday of the United States of America with us! Before I go into …
Read More» Members of the Chamber, Excellencies, Friends, Colleagues – thank you once again for the opportunity to spend this evening with all of you. Before I begin my brief remarks here, let me give a special thank you to Martin Naville and his exceptional management team at the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce – within this country, there …
Read More» Rochester-Bern Executive MBA Commencement Address: As Leaders – 10 Ideas for Your Business Repertoire Thank you so much to the University of Rochester and the University of Bern for the invitation to be here with you all on such a special and important occasion! It’s especially meaningful for me to be here at the graduation …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 20 June 2015 It was incredible to be there with my fellow members of the global diplomatic corps and to have such a stupendous crowd gathered from across …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 14 June 2014 On my recent visit to Liechtenstein, I had the opportunity to visit 2 companies, meet with students at the University of Liechtenstein, and sit down …
Read More» Ambassador LeVine and an investment development delegation from the state of Colorado welcomed a distinguished group of Swiss business leaders from aviation, life science, IT, fashion, machinery, and energy industries at an investment forum held at her residence in Bern. In her opening remarks, Ambassador LeVine highlighted Colorado’s vast and diverse market, favorable demographics, highly …
Read More» The Swiss Economic Forum welcomed Ambassador LeVine at a speaking event on the Swiss dual-track Vocational Education and Training (VET) program. Ambassador LeVine was joined by Swiss government officials, private industry and from Swiss universities. The panelists stressed the fact that in Switzerland apprenticeships are valued as a great alternative to a college education with …
Read More» On June 4, Dr. Alicia Soderberg, Professor in Astrophysics at Harvard University and one of the first scientists to observe supernovas – the catastrophic death of a star — spoke with students at Gymnasium Hofwil in Münchenbuchsee about her work. She went into detail about how she detected the supernova. She was one of the …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 1 June 2015 On this, the first anniversary of my landing here (2 June 2014) – I want to thank all of you across Switzerland and Liechtenstein for welcoming me …
Read More» (Following introduction) Thank you so much…. It is a real honor to join you here this afternoon. Before we begin, I want to quickly recognize and welcome my counterpart from the Swiss Embassy, Ambassador Martin Dahinden, as well as my friends and colleagues from the United States Department of Commerce – Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 17 March 2015 The Jewish holiday of Passover commemorates the Exodus story, which shares that, thousands of years ago, Moses led my ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 4 May 2015 In 1776 and 1848, when the United States and Switzerland were founded – respectively, they were among very few democracies. Over the centuries, how we …
Read More» Patrick Firmenich, Vice Chairman of the Board, and Gilbert Ghostine, CEO, welcomed Ambassador LeVine and her team to the Firmenich Research facility in Geneva. Swiss and family-owned, Firmenich is the world’s largest privately-held fragrance and flavor company and number two in its industry, with $3 billion in sales in fiscal year 2014. The company has …
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On April 30, Feintool CEO Heinz Loosli hosted Ambassador LeVine and her team at Feintool, headquarters in Lyss, Switzerland. Feintool develops and manufactures tools and presses, as well as high-precision, custom parts and components for the global automotive industry. During the visit Ambassador LeVine and Feintool staff discussed Feintool’s footprint in the USA as well …
Read More» Thank you for including me in this opening of the mosque at this unique and wonderful institution, the House of Religions. Though we have many different backgrounds represented here today, I believe the fact we are all sharing this room is testament to the peace and solidarity we are all working toward. This is an …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 6 April 2015 Over the past 10 months, I’ve made a concerted effort to visit those Swiss companies with or considering a meaningful US footprint. A few weeks …
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The U.S. Men’s Soccer Team, in Switzerland for an International Friendly match against the Swiss National Team, invited Ambassador LeVine and representatives of the Swiss Special Olympics team to a training session in Zurich on Sunday, March 29. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann welcomed Ambassador LeVine and four Swiss Special Olympians, Numa Nunez, Mauro Facciolo, Fabienne Waelti …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 12 March 2015 A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Firmenich, a unique and wonderful company in Geneva who has a major footprint in …
Read More» On March 6, Roche CEO Severin Schwan greeted Ambassador LeVine at Roche headquarters in Basel. Operating two divisions – Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics – and employing over 20,000 people in the United States, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare. While at Roche, Ambassador LeVine met with a number of U.S. citizens in a town hall …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 8 March 2015 Here’s the link to watch the speech. A couple of weeks ago, I visited Gymnasium Oberaargau (or Gym/O) in Langenthal. As I’ve said many times, students ask phenomenal …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 8 March 2015 I have always (literally always – as I know that the year I was born was when James Taylor was getting traction) loved James Taylor’s …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 8 March 2015 There are many articles coming out now that are heralding the end of Ebola – or at least a dramatic reduction in the What is …
Read More» On Thursday, February 26, Ambassador LeVine visited the Bildungszentrum Langenthal to meet students and educators and talk about current U.S. policies, the U.S. school system, and how women’s empowerment has expanded the range of life choices men and women can make in the 21st century. Ambassador Suzan LeVine and the Embassy delegation were greeted by …
Read More» On February 26, Ambassador LeVine and U.S. Embassy staff visited Bystronic Laser AG’s headquarters in Niederönz. They were met by Bystronic’s CEO Alex Waser and CCO Jean-Pierre Neuhaus, who gave them a tour of the facilities. During the tour, Ambassador LeVine learned about the company history and saw a demonstration of some of the equipment, …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 22 February 2015 If I only do one thing during my time as Ambassador – that one thing – the very top priority and essence of my job …
Read More» On February 11, 2015, Ambassador LeVine welcomed a high-level investment delegation from Jefferson County, Colorado at the U.S. residence in Bern. Attendees at the gathering included leading members of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, as well as executive members of the world renowned Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus , which has its North American headquarters in …
Read More» On February 4, Ambassador LeVine addressed over 400 officials from the travel and tourism industry from Switzerland, Germany and the United States at the Visit USA Seminar at the Mövenpick Hotel and Conference Center in Regensdorf. Ambassador LeVine highlighted some of the top travel destinations in the United States, including the “two Washingtons” — Washington …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 5 February 2015 On Sunday night/Monday morning, even though my Seahawks didn’t win the Superbowl, I feel like I had a big win because I got to learn …
Read More» Over 50 Swiss American Football fans and enthusiasts joined Ambassador LeVine at her Residence in the early morning hours of February 2 for a Super Bowl viewing party. Athletes from the Swiss American Football National Team, players and managers from several of the Swiss league teams, sportswriters, and fans gathered at the Residence to watch …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 1 February 2015 What follows is the English version of an op-ed that ran today – February 1, 2015 – in the NZZ am Sonntag . Why do I have a passion …
Read More» Thank you so much, Esther, for that introduction and for the opportunity to be here with you today! Please allow me to acknowledge a couple of people in the room before I begin: Former Federal Councillor, Elisabeth Kopp, and Norman H. Gershman, Photographer and initiator/founder of the Besa-Project – thank you so much for all …
Read More» On January 15 Ambassador LeVine spoke to more than 70 participants at a luncheon in Geneva jointly organized by the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and the International Club of Geneva. In her remarks, Ambassador LeVine highlighted her priorities, including increasing economic ties between Switzerland and the United States, encouraging more cooperation on security and development …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 9 January 2015 On Wednesday, I had the incredible honor of being invited to present to and have a conversation with the UBS Moms@Work group – an affinity …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 5 January 2015 One of the core values we share between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United States is a deep respect for the environment. Therefore, as we head …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 3 January 2015 I have found in this job that the only commonalities across weeks are that they are very varied and that they give me the opportunity to …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 31 December 2014 Goodbye 2014 – What an extraordinary year you have been! Welcome 2015 – I’m looking forward to seeing what you bring! So much has happened, …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 27 November 2014 One of the traditions my family practices during Thanksgiving is to take a moment to recognize that for which we’re thankful from the previous year. …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 23 November 2014 This week was a great example that, in this job, no two weeks, nevermind two days, are the same. It was also an example of …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 16 November 2014 I don’t know about you, but I find that, no matter how much time I plan before I need to make a train, I get …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 10 November 2014 I suspect that some non-zero percentage of my blood is coffee (albeit decaf). I had my first latte during my first major job interview and …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 22 October 2014 “It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is.” – Chief Justice John Marshall in Marbury v. Madison …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 1 October 2014 Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to see an extraordinary amount of power here in Switzerland – but not the kind of power …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 29 September 2014 I know this post is about the United States, but before I kick into gear on Direct Democracy in the US, I want to quickly …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 28 September 2014 In his UN General Assembly speech , President Obama spoke about partnerships and how, only by coming together, would we be able to address the world’s toughest challenges as …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 24 September 2014 Tonight starts Rosh Hashana – the Jewish New Year. Shana Tova! A Sweet New Year to all! This will be my first time spending the …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 11 September 2014 Last week – on Sept 4th – I had the extreme honor of closing out the Tages-Anzeiger Women’s Forum. This was a daylong event with …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 10 September 2014 I arrived in Switzerland 100 days ago. Listening. Learning. Absorbing. I came in with abundant knowledge gained from briefings, I had traveled to Switzerland twice …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 4 September 2014 I don’t very often have a complete turnaround in my thoughts and perceptions (I suspect that’s the case with most people). Fortunately, I went into …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 16 August 2014 Okay – maybe the title is a bit much – but by the end of my visit there, I was feeling pretty excellent. Summary: Last …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 7 August 2014 Direct Democracy has some variation in its application across the world, but is fundamentally the concept that the people get to make the law. Representative …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 4 August 2014 In my recent Independence Day remarks , I talked about the solid foundation we have for the relationship between our nations and that we need to remember to celebrate …
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July 30, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. CEO Markus Bucher and the members of Pilatus’ board welcomed Ambassador LeVine to the Pilatus manufacturing facility in Stans, Switzerland. As the sole Swiss company that develops, produces and sells aircraft to customers around the world, Pilatus plays a critical role in Switzerland’s aviation industry. Its flagship aircraft, the single-engine …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 29 July 2014 One of the first questions I’m asked is whether I plan to visit all 26 cantons during my time here. Well – I have some …
Read More» Petra Jenner, Country Manager at Microsoft Switzerland, welcomed Ambassador LeVine at the Microsoft campus in Wallisellen, Switzerland on June 30. During the visit, Country Manager Jenner and Ambassador LeVine discussed the advantages of having been in operation in Switzerland for the past 25 years, the role of social media, talent recruitment and the importance of …
Read More» Monday, July 21st Nima Farzan, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of immunization technology firm PaxVax welcomed Ambassador LeVine to PaxVax’s newly acquired facility near Bern, Switzerland. In spite of the facility’s recent renovation and long and storied history as part of Swiss vaccine technology legend Crucell AG, the facility was facing closure. …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 18 July 2014 On Wednesday, I was honored to be able to attend the Montreux Jazz Festival and got a chance to see Stevie Wonder – WOW – …
Read More» On July 10, Ambassador LeVine visited a team of Google software engineers in Zurich, the largest Google engineering center outside of the United States with over 1300 employees. During the visit, Engineering Vice-President Oliver Heckmann outlined Zurich’s competitive advantage in attracting global talent, including access to top research institutions (i.e. both Swiss Federal Institutes of …
Read More» On July 10, Ambassador LeVine visited the Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd (or “Swiss Re”), one of the world’s largest and most successful reinsurance companies. During the Ambassador’s visit she discussed U.S. priorities in Switzerland with Swiss Re’s COO Thomas Wellauer, as well as the significant role Swiss RE has played in recent U.S. crises including …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 6 July 2014 Has it really only been a month? And did all that happened this past week really only happen within 7 days? It feels like just …
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Guten Abend, bon soir, buonasera! Now that I have delivered my credentials to Prince Alois of Liechtenstein last week and President Burkhalter here two days ago, I can welcome you to the Residence in my official capacity as the US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I especially welcome Ambassador Guex and Ambassador Frick. Before anything, …
Read More» On July 1, Ambassador LeVine addressed the Annual General Meeting of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce. Ambassador LeVine was joined by Swiss Ambassador to the United States Manuel Sager as well as former Deutsche Bank CEO and Swiss national Josef Ackerman. In her remarks, Ambassador LeVine highlighted the vital and active role the Swiss-American Chamber …
Read More» On June 30, 2014, Ambassador Suzan LeVine visited the Swiss Landesmuseum in Zürich, where she met with Marco Castellaneta, Head of Museum Operations, Dr. Heidi Amrein, Head of Collections & Documentation and Pascale Meyer, who gave the Ambassador a tour of the museum. The Ambassador enjoyed the opportunity to not only hear more about Swiss …
Read More» On June 30, 2014, Ambassador Suzan LeVine met with members of the Swiss Game Developers Association (SGDA) and Game Design Students for a roundtable discussion. The group shared their thoughts on the current state of the Swiss game developing scene and told the Ambassador about the challenges and possibilities they face in Switzerland. The SGDA …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 25 June 2014 On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit CERN in Geneva. I went for two reasons: As a self-professed geek… well – that’s reason in and …
Read More» On June 23, Tom Intrator, President & CEO and Dominique Le Doeuil, VP Finance of Cargill International SA welcomed Ambassador Suzan LeVine to the company’s headquarters in Geneva. Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services throughout the world. In total, Cargill has over 143,000 employees in 67 countries. Cargill has been in …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 20 June 2014 Can you imagine what it must have felt like to be General Ralph Tate Sr. when, while piloting a search plane, you see the flare …
Read More» Ambassador LeVine spoke to more than 150 attendees at a “Welcome to Zürich” luncheon organized by the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce. She told the crowd that she planned focus during her tenure on increasing economic ties between Switzerland and the United States, encourage more cooperation on security and development around the world, and increase awareness …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 16 June 2014 Seattle: Switzerland/Liechtenstein The 2nd most popular question I’ve received since I’ve been here has been “Doesn’t it rain a lot in Seattle?” Well, yes it …
Read More» Ambassador LeVine and members of the U.S. Embassy participated in the Zurich Pride to march for equal rights for LGBT members of the Swiss community. She was shown around by the Vice-President of Zurich Pride, Alan Sangines. Attending the Zurich Pride as part of her listening tour, Ambassador LeVine discussed with several groups the issues …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 12 June 2014 Yesterday, my e-reader became a part of the permanent collection at the Museum für Kommunikation . I was profoundly honored to have been asked to donate my device, …
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On June 12, 2014, Professor Jürg Dual, President of the Swiss American Society, welcomed Ambassador Suzi LeVine to the organization’s Annual General Meeting at the Au Premier Restaurant in Zürich. Ambassador LeVine‘s remarks were warmly welcomed by the attendees, as she outlined a general view of her priorities as Ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality …
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Today, on June 11, 2014, U.S. Ambassador Suzan LeVine donated her eReader to the Museum für Kommunikation. The Ambassador’s use of the electronic device for her swearing-in on May 30th, 2014, caused an international stir. In her remarks, Ambassador LeVine explained her reasons for using her eReader at the swearing-in ceremony and noted that she …
Read More» This post is part of an archived series of blogs called The LeVine Line, written by former Ambassador Suzan G. LeVine during her time at U.S. Embassy Bern. 10 June 2014 Welcome! I’m incredibly humbled and honored by this opportunity to build bridges between our nations! In light of that, for my inaugural post, I want …
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Ambassador Suzi LeVine has arrived in Bern by way of London and Zürich along with her family. The new Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein greeted the local U.S. Marine detachment and spoke briefly to the press at the Chief of Mission Residence in Bern.
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