Welcome

Welcome to the website of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce - Southeast.

The Finnish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast, Inc. was organized in 1982.

The objects and purposes of The Chamber are to protect, develop, encourage, promote and foster business, financial and professional interests and commercial relations between Finland and the Southeastern United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Tribute to Ambassador John H. Kelly

It is with much sadness that we report to the friends of Finland and members of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast the recent loss of Ambassador John H. Kelly, who passed away on September 15, 2011. 

Ambassador Kelly was a native of Atlanta who entered the U.S. foreign service in 1965.  He had a highly distinguished diplomatic career including serving as Ambassador to Lebanon from 1986 to 1988, and Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern and South Asian Affairs from 1989 to 1991, which included the period of the Gulf War.  He concluded his diplomatic career after service as the United States Ambassador to Finland from 1991 to 1994, an interesting and challenging time in Finland with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the changing political climate not only in Finland, but in all of Europe.  After his retirement from diplomatic service and return to Atlanta in 1995, he joined the Finnish American Chamber as a member of its Board of Directors.  His relationship with the senior political, business and other leaders of Finland proved to be an invaluable asset to the Chamber.  He was able to arrange for high ranking members of the Finnish military and prominent political figures in Finland to travel to Atlanta to speak at the annual Finnish Independence Day Celebration held December 6 each year.  Whenever the Ambassadors of Finland to the United States visited Atlanta, they always made a point of arranging a meeting with Ambassador Kelly.  He was the speaker at the 1996 Independence Day Celebration of the Chamber and a copy of his speech is attached.  That speech remains a treasured archive of the Chamber.  His great depth of knowledge, vast experiences, and genuine warmth and admiration of Finland were readily evident.  While he served as Ambassador in Residence at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech he was a vital and vigorous member of the Board of Directors of the FACC and very actively promoted Finland and provided invaluable guidance to the Board.  He continued to serve on the Board of the Chamber until November of 2010 when he resigned due to his failing health.

It was a unique experience to spend time with John Kelly and discuss matters on a personal level with someone who had flown on Air Force One with seven U.S. Presidents, and was counsel to many foreign dignitaries throughout his long career.  He had that rare and great gift – he could walk with kings but never lost the common touch.

We at the Finnish American Chamber will always remember his character, his love of Finland and the contributions he made to Finnish-American relations and the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast.

John D. Saunders
            Secretary and Past President
            Finnish American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast
            Honorary Consul of Finland
            Atlanta, GA

*****************************************************************************