The first Eastern Seaboard networking event for 2012 was hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), and invited members from the Australian Chamber of Commerce Thailand (AustCham) and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).
Historically, the first networking event of the year is held in Jameson’s Irish Pub, and this year was no exception. Somehow, the hard working Jameson’s service staff managed to keep the members lubricated, and somehow, the hard working Jameson’s kitchen staff managed to keep the buffet full as well as the roast ham and turkey in the carvery.
Chris Thatcher (left), Vice Chairman of BCCT congratulates Chairman Graham Macdonald for his dedicated service to the BCCT throughout the years.
Tamera Nelson, a new member of AmCham and the MD of Caterpillar in Thailand was most enthusiastic about the networking evening, and has a novel way to unwind after a stressful day – she rips round the block in a Cat D10.
The softly spoken ex-governor of AmCham, David Nardone was looking after her, and was happy to say on Pattaya Mail TV that he had no flood problems with his Eastern Seaboard industrial parks.
Simon Matthews (left) (Manpower Group) enjoys a drink with Russell Winn (Achieve Global Thailand).
AA Insurance Brokers were there in force, with Malcolm Scorer (45 kg lighter than before) and Peter Smith (a good British name) who was advising people to check the small print if they re looking for flood cover for their motor cars.
BCCT director Chris Thatcher was enjoying himself, and was delighted that the Pattaya Mail’s book reviewer had picked up on the fact that Chris was featured in Stephen Leather’s new book ‘Fair Game’.
A regular at these networking evenings was Paul Wilkinson, the new Eastern Seaboard GM for JVK International Movers. Other regulars included John Hamilton (Waste Management Siam) and Simon Matthews (Manpower) in the besplattered shirt.
Paul Wilkinson hugs Kim Fletcher, the adoring landlord of Jameson’s.
With the sponsors being the MBMG Group (www.mbmg-international.com), Graham Macdonald was very much in attendance and relishing giving up the BCCT work he has been doing so well for the past 10 years. Newly appointed Eastern Seaboard chairman, David Cumming (GM Amari), was there too, pressing the flesh before the Thailand BCCT elections next week.
The venue sponsor was of course Jameson’s Irish Pub (www.jamesons-pattaya. com) and Landlord Kim Fletcher was holding court from his high chair at the Nova table. It was a good event, Kim, don’t fret.
Markus Wehrhahn (Resource Link Consulting Group) with Simon Shale (Visy Packaging (Thailand) Limited).
Other locals attending included Neil Maniquiz and Nui Ratanaliam from the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. Pattaya resident ‘dog man’ Joe Cox, running the Defence International Security Services was seen chatting with another UK dog man. Did they find each other by wiggling their ears and wagging their tails, I wonder!
Quite a few made the trip down from Bangkok, including the executive director of AustCham Mark Carroll, and lawyer Stephen Frost who is apparently not all that enamored with journalists. Fortunately I had brought my medical hat as well, so we signed off peaceably.
And so the first networking evening drew to a close, the free beer was turned off, and normalcy returned to the pub. Well, at least as ‘normal’ as one can be in an Irish pub with Pattaya’s professional publican, Kim Fletcher running the show.
Bruce Hoppe (Vice President Asia Operations Emerson Electric) and Clive Butcher (Transearch), knights of the round table.
Janya Rattanaliam (Bangkok Hospital Pattaya) and Peter Smith (AA Insurance) speak on matters of health.
John Hamilton (Waste Management Siam) flanked by Gerhard Hein and Dr. Ulrich Stork (Compressor Sales & Services) are confident of Thailand’s economic future.
Paul Wilkinson (JVK International Movers Ltd.), networking with the GKN Driveline boys, Roger Wilson and James O’Sullivan.
It’s good to be back at Jameson’s. Michael North (AJT Holding Co. Ltd.), Kylie Grimmer and Bronwyn Little (Women with a Mission), Maurice D. Bromley (SATCC), Renita Bromley (R2M Trading), Ramesh Ramanathan (Visteon (Thailand) Limited) and J. Lakshmi Narayanan (Alva Aluminium Ltd).
(L to R) Paul Cosgrove, Todd Guest with the boys from MBMG Simon Philbrook and Stephen Tierney looking after Tracy Cosgrove…or is it the other way round?
Shene Van Harten, Ken Bright and Ray D’Silva toast to the success of Bosch Chassis Systems (Thailand) Limited.
Olaf Duensing (DK Duensing Kippen), Jerrold Kippen (DK Duensing Kippen) and Michael Parham (CEA) having a jolly good time networking.
(L to R) John Sim, Regional (West ASEAN KPMG Phoomchai Holding Co., Ltd.); Richard Rome (KPMG Phoomchai Audi Ltd.); Pattra Suttisathiranon, and Maurice D. Bromley, President of the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC).
The Amari Orchid Pattaya team of Ampawan Kuhasak and Patcharin Machima meets the CEA team’s Michael Parham and Jarinya Bunchaiyo.
Jitra Wongjuan (AA Insurance Brokers) poses for a photo with Adrian Sii, Ken Bright and Ray D’Silva, the Bosch Chassis Systems trio.
