The last Friday of March saw the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) act as hosts for the combined chambers including the British Chamber (BCCT), the Australian Chamber (AustCham) and the South African Chamber (SATCC).
The event was held at the Hilton’s Drift Bar and Lounge, affording the members spectacular views of Pattaya Bay, in between exchanging business cards and liquid libations.
Being Easter Friday for the westerners, this definitely reduced the numbers at the networking evening, with many away to celebrate Easter with families overseas.
Neil Farrell (Elastomer Products) and Michael Diamente (Dana Spicer).
David Nardone (President and CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development) fell into the position as host, with executive director Judy Benn being away.
The MBMG organization was there in force, with Simon Philbrook (seen without a cricket bat) and Graham MacDonald (now Graham MacDonald MBE) also representing the Seth Efrikken Chamber. Graham said that when he was the president of the BCCT, this took up three days a week. The SATCC, being much smaller, takes up around three hours a month! However, with the SATCC members having increased by 10 percent in the past month, that hourly figure will increase.
David Williamson (Cascade Club) and David R. Nardone (Hemaraj Land and Development).
Other BCCT people attending included Joe Barker-Bennett, the chairman of the Eastern Seaboard division, and Chris Thatcher back to being his normal happy self. CEA and CES were represented by Andy Hall (Kevin Fisher in Myanmar) and the gorgeous Manipa.
AFG members who went on to the networking function included Frank Holzer, George Strampp, Mike Diamente (and wife Rosanne), Richard Jackson, Armin Walter (proud father to a new Ducati Monster) and the resident tooth fairy Stuart Saunders.
Anutra Sinchaipanich, (Caterpillar (Thailand) Ltd.) and Chris Thatcher, (BCCT).
Other Aussies included Paul Birgan and his wife, ship builders, and Scott Finsten, the Harbor Master at Ocean Marina who has a place for their ships.
BCCT Executive Director Greg Watkins was his cheery self, and Simon (the shirt) Matthews (Manpower) and RSM’s Mark Butters were everywhere.
The Amari sent a couple of spies in the form of Sirikorn Chingduang and Patcharin Machima from their sales team, just sizing up the opposition.
Spotted F&B manager Simon Bender from the Hilton, making sure the food was up to the Hilton’s standards, and the warm dim sums with some wasabi were wonderful. Thank you!
The next combined chambers meeting will be held after Songkran and notice will be issued in the Pattaya Mail.
Frank Holzer (ASEAN Manufacturing Finance) and Varaporn Lamai (Hilton Pattaya).
Dr. Iain Corness (Pattaya Mail), Bic Gohil (Ford Motor Company) and Phooritut Uthaiwong (Manpower).
Lada Mahutthanasakul, Preeprem Malasitt and Siyaphas Chantachairoj (Hemaraj Land and Development).
Chutima Konfai (Holiday Inn Pattaya), Thanatnon Intamongkhon (Hilton Pattaya) and Jiraporn Charoenpan (Holiday Inn Pattaya).
Mark Bateman (PRTR Recruitment and Outsourcing (Eastern Seaboard), Jiraporn Charoenpan (Holiday Inn Pattaya) and Kevin Watkins (Piper Plastics (Thailand) Ltd).
Simon Matthews (Manpower Group), Wiriya Pienchob , Ali Adam and Waraporn Lertsakkongkul, (Halcrow (Thailand) Ltd).
Scott Macdonald (RLC Co.) Mike Griffis (Harrington Industries) and Markus Wehrhahn (RLC Co.)
Markus Wehrhahn (RLC Co.) Varaporn Lamai (Hilton Pattaya), Pathitta Utsa (Hilton Pattaya), Scott Macdonald (RLC Co.), and Thanatnon Intamongkhon, (Hilton Pattaya).
George T. Strampp (Automotive Manufacturing Solutions), Philippe Kronberg, (GM Hilton Pattaya). David R. Nardone (Hemaraj Land and Development PCL), Graham Macdonald (MBMG), Apichart Gulati (Blue Sky Developer) and Simon Matthews (Manpower Group).
Michael Parham (CEA), Damien Kerneis (Geodis Wilson Thai) and Andy Hall (CEA Projects).
Stuart Saunders (Es Design), George T. Strampp (Automotive Manufacturing Solutions), Craig Donnelly (MHG (Thailand) Co.), Ramesh Ramanathan (Visteon (Thailand), Duncan Williams (Faurecia Automotive Seating (Thailand) and David R. Nardone (Hemaraj Land and Development PCL).
Stephen Frost, (Bangkok International Associates), Mark Butters, (RSM Thailand) and Graham Macdonald (MBMG).
