Brigitte VantieghemChair of the Board
About BACoS
Who we are.
A private, non-profit, bilateral chamber under the patronage of the Consul General of Belgium in Atlanta, supported by Flanders Investment & Trade and AWEX.
Our mission
We connect the Belgian-American business community in the Southeast, focusing on Belgian companies and individuals.
We’re a local relationship platform for Belgian and American business across the South, at every company size and every career stage. We help Belgian companies investing in the Southeast with information and introductions, and we point US companies looking at Belgium to the right national and regional bodies.
GeorgiaAlabamaFloridaKentuckyNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaTennessee
Board of directors
Volunteers who made the move themselves.
Gilles HardyTreasurer
Frank OorreelBoard Member
Ana Elena PallaresBoard Member
Alexander SoenenBoard Member
Christophe Van GoolBoard Member
Philip VervloesemBoard Member
Nina-Marie GevaertExecutive Director
Our story
From a dormant chapter to the chamber of the South.
- 1990s
Where it began
The Atlanta chapter of the Belgian American Chamber of Commerce in New York is a vibrant hub, led by Werner Boel and funded by the Belgian state.
- 1996
Taste of Belgium meets the Olympics
Right before the Atlanta Olympics, the Taste of Belgium gala welcomes Eddy Merckx, whose road bike is raffled for the cause.
- 2001
A long pause
The September gala is cancelled after 9/11. With state funding gone, the Atlanta chapter goes quiet for about ten years.
- 2012
Back in action
With the Dutch chamber, a behind-the-scenes visit of Hartsfield-Jackson's new international terminal, ending with dinner at the Delta Flight Museum.
- 2013
BACoS is born
Anton Mertens, Jean-Pierre Demeunynck, JP Kalmeijer and Geert Voet revive the chapter as an independent chamber. JP names it and designs the Atomium logo we still use.
- 2015
TomorrowWorld
Members go behind the scenes of the TomorrowWorld festival at Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills, the day before it opens.
- 2022
A royal mission
BACoS hosts a walking dinner for the Belgian economic mission to Atlanta led by HRH Princess Astrid.
- 2023
Tech comes to town
A delegation of 60 Belgian business leaders visits Atlanta to explore technology collaboration.
- 2026
A new chapter
The Taste of Belgium gala is back, and the board sets a new strategy: a chamber for every professional, with BACoS Launchpad.
Based on our conversation with the founders, December 2024.
Partners
A wider network on both sides of the Atlantic.
BACoS has relationships with many social, business and government organizations, and we will be happy to connect you to them.
Chambers & investment agencies
Community & media
Contact
Come say hello.
Emailinfo@bacos.us