In this second edition of the Maple Brief we feature one of our members, Mitchell D. Anderson, introduce you to our new corporate and individual members, and inform you of the latest events and news from our community.
Member Profile: Mitchell D. Anderson
CEO at Verretex, Entrepreneur and Impact Investor
A Canadian based in Lausanne, Mitchell D. Anderson is a physicist and serial entrepreneur who is currently solving the composite plastics waste problem. His aim is to help restore the ecological integrity of our environment by empowering innovation in green technology. He has been investing in green technologies and crypto-currencies since 2011.
Individual member of the CSCC since 2016
What made you start your new company, Verretex, and what do you do?
Verretex is a pivot for me and my technical team from my previous company, Composite Recycling. I originally created Composite Recycling to develop and commercialize cutting-edge technology to make glass fiber plastic recycling possible, but the company evolved into more of an operational SME which purchases recycling units and operates them, and wasn't focused on developing technology of its own. My team, who was still passionate about solving this problem, pivoted into another unsolved portion of the value chain, the regeneration and upcycling of the glass fiber that comes out of the recycling process. With our technology, we can significantly increase the value of the recycling products and reduce CO2 emissions up to 78%.
How long have you been in Switzerland?
After graduating with my PhD in physics at Queen's University in Kingston Ontario, I came to Switzerland in 2014 for a postdoc at EPFL. I fell in love with Switzerland and the Lake Geneva region, so my wife and I decided to stay. After finishing my postdocx, I have been a serial entrepreneur currently founding my 3rd swiss company, Verretex in order to create green glass fiber textiles.
CSCC President Addresses Neuchâtel Junior College's Class of '24
On June 14th, Mehdi Sentissi, President of the CSCC, addressed Neuchâtel Junior College's graduating class of 2024.
Mehdi exhorted the grade 12 graduates to embrace the opportunities afforded by university, and to approach higher learning with the same enthusiasm and curiosity that brought them to Switzerland.
"In the world of business, as in life, connections matter," said Mehdi. "The friendships and networks you have built here will be invaluable as you progress in your careers. Cherish and nurture these relationships, for they will be your allies and support system in times of need and in moments of triumph."
Neuchâtel Junior College, a long time corprorate member of the Canadain Swiss Chamber of Commerce, offers one year experiential education in Europe where students follow the Ontario, Canada curriculum to complete grade 12 or a gap year and receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Upcoming Events
Open Air Kino im Marzilibad
Monday July 22 to Friday July 27, 2024
Marzilibad Bern
As the sun sets on a balmy summer evening, unwind in a cozy deck chair amidst a magical atmosphere or cuddle up on your picnic blanket. Then, under the starlit sky, enjoy a film on Bern's stunning outdoor screen!
Each year, film lovers near and far delight in six cinematic treasures from a selected country against a backdrop like no other. Immerse yourself in the culture of the featured country through its cuisine, musical performances, and overall ambiance. This year's featured country is ....CANADA!
The CSCC is proud to support Marzili Movie by promoting the festival with our members and Maple Brief subscribers.
The golf enthusiasts of the Swiss-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, together with Switzerland Global Enterprise, are pleased to invite you to a friendly golf tournament in St Blaise, at the Neuchâtel Golf & Country Club.
Partners are welcome to join us for golf or dinner, and for the curious there will be the possibility of an introduction to the game.
We're growing! A warm welcome to the following new corporate and individual members.
New Corporate Member - Université de Montréal
Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Université de Montréal ranks among the top universities worldwide.
With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, UdeM attracts over $500 million in research funding every year, making it one of Canada’s top university research hubs.
Founded in 1878, the University today brings together some 67,000 students, a faculty of 2,300 and a network of 450,000 active graduates around the world. It is dedicated to building an environment conducive to research and interdisciplinary cooperation. Its efforts have made it the 4th largest university in Canada in terms of research activity.
The major philanthropic campaign, L'heure est brave, is a direct extension of this impact. We are entering - are already in - an era of profound socio-cultural, technological and ecological change that demands commitment. Thanks to its influence and powerful ecosystem, the Université de Montréal is playing a leading role in building tomorrow's world.
A reminder that Individual Memberships include our exclusive, searchable Members Area. If your profile has not been initiated please contact us at info@canwiss.ch to set it up.
If you do have a profile, please ensure that it is up to date and select the applicable categories to make it easier for others to find you. Once logged in to the Members Area, members can search based on location, type of business and more.
We will be refreshing our website for 2025! Help us make it great by letting us know why you visit our site, what tasks you want to do there, and what information you hope to find.
On a lovely June 27th evening, about 60 people got together to celebrate Canada Day and network at the Bauschänzli Biergarten & Grill. It was great to see so many new faces!
Annual General Meeting - Geneva
On June 12, 2024 about 30 people joined the Chamber's Annual General Meeting held at the Aéroport de Genève followed by a networking cocktail on the airport’s beautiful Terrasse Panorama.
It was our new president Mehdi Sentissi's first time chairing the AGM. He marked the departure of Dan Breeze, VP Zurich, from the board after 9 years of dedicated service, and welcomed new board members Christian Tétrault, Mike Fritz and Sonia Thomson, who have been elected to terms of 3 years (2023-2026).
The chamber's finances are in healthy standing and it's main objectives for 2024 and beyond are to continue to offer events and information relevant to our community and to grow our private and corporate membership. We thank all of our members for contributing to our success and look forward to a great year ahead!
Wine tasting - Luzern
On May 29, 2024 a dozen members and non-members gathered at RootWy die Vinothek in Root, near Luzern, for a tasting of wines from German-speaking Switzerland.
Participants from Hünenberg, Sins, Hochdorf, and Meggen appreciated the opportunity to make new connections close to home and find out about each other's business activities and community involvements. A few others made the trip out from Zürich. Catherine Ambert was the lucky winner of a bottle of Rosé from the Zürichsee region!
The Chamber was happy to try out a first event in the Luzern-Zug area and get feedback about your interest. Thanks for having joined us!
Daffodil Cocktail - Geneva
We had a great evening at the 2024 Daffodil Cocktail with a breath-taking view of Geneva as our backdrop.
Mike Fritz presented an analysis of the attendees to get the evening started, which clearly showcased the diversity of our group, but also our common bond of fostering cross-Atlantic business relationships between Switzerland and Canada.
Congratulations to Fabio Annovazzi who won a pair of tickets for travel anywhere in Air Canada’s North American network (including Hawaii).
Organizing an event that's of interest to the Canadian Swiss business community? Have news and job opportunities to share? Drop us a line to have your news included here.
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