Finland’s primary trading partner has shifted from Russia to the USA. Finland has signed trade agreements with specific US states, including Minnesota. What does this mean the economy of Finland? What is the impact of Finnish technology and innovation on companies in the U.S.? How is Finland assisting Finnish companies grow in the U.S.? This session will discuss the implications of Finland’s turn to the U.S. in terms of trade and investment.
Presenters include:
Co-moderators: Steve Riedel and Elaine Kumpula
Jarmo Sareva, Consul General of Finland in New York
Peter MacKeith, Honorary Consul of Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas
Kate Olinger, Director, Industry and Regulatory Affairs at Uponor
Luke Gaalswyk, CEO of Ever-Green Energy
Panelist Bios:
JARMO SAREVA
Jarmo Sareva was appointed Consul General of Finland in New York effective September 1, 2022. Prior to his appointment to New York, Mr. Sareva served in Helsinki as Finland’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs from 2021 to 2022 and as Finland’s first Ambassador for Innovation from 2018 to 2021.
Ambassador Sareva brings to his position a wealth of experience from both multilateral and bilateral diplomacy. From 2006 to 2018, he served in various positions at the UN in New York and Geneva, including as Director of the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
Ambassador Sareva’s previous diplomatic experience includes serving as Director for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation in Helsinki and as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN in New York, as well as postings in Moscow, Washington, D.C., and Vienna. In the early 2000s, he served as the Chef de Cabinet of the President of the 55th session of the UN General Assembly, and as Special Assistant to Dr. Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).
PETER MACKEITH
Peter MacKeith is dean and professor of architecture at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas. Appointed in July 2014, he is the fifth dean of the school and a nationally recognized design educator and administrator. A recognized leader in advancing the cause of a forest-centered culture and economy, and the cause of a wood-product centered approach to architecture, engineering and construction, MacKeith lectures and presents frequently on these topics.
MacKeith worked with the World Trade Center Arkansas to organize a state trade and industry delegation to Finland in 2021, to advance the state’s interests in environmental and economic development, particularly in its forests, timberlands and wood products industries, and with the production team of the PBS series “America’s Forests” on two episodes devoted to the Arkansas forests and forest communities. He very recently participated in a visit for the forest and wood products industry and the wood construction sector from the United States and Canada to Finland.
In 2014, MacKeith was installed as a Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of Finnish culture. He now serves as Honorary Consul for Finland for the states of Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, having previously served as Honorary Consul for Finland in the state of Missouri from 2012-2014. He is a member of the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York Advisory Board, and a Senior Advisor to the Fulbright-Finland Foundation.
MacKeith received his Bachelor of Arts in Literature and International Relations, with distinction, as an Echols Scholar from the University of Virginia (1981) and his Master of Architecture professional degree and the Alpha Rho Chi Medal from the Yale School of Architecture, Yale University (1985).
KATE OLINGER
Kate Olinger is the Director of Industry and Regulatory affairs at Uponor, now part of the Georg Fischer Group of companies. She began her professional career with Uponor as a process engineer in 2002 and has stayed with the company ever since, having found company that is committed to helping to bring clean water and comfortable heating to people. Kate is proud of Uponor’s innovative products and solutions which help customers meet their sustainability goals.
Prior to her career with Uponor Kate served as an officer in the United States Air Force, leaving as a captain. She worked with the F-16 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the B-2 at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1998.
LUKE GAALSWYK
Luke Gaalswyk was named chief executive officer of Ever-Green Energy in January 2024. He joined Ever-Green in 2022 as president of the organization overseeing the company’s corporate services. Luke oversees all aspects of the business at Ever-Green.
Prior to joining Ever-Green, Luke was the Midwest regional general manager at Clearway Community Energy where he was responsible for managing operations, engineering, and business development of Clearway’s district energy systems in Minneapolis and Omaha. Luke has over 16 years of experience in energy, operations, and engineering and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and is a drill-status member of the Minnesota Air National Guard. He has a mechanical engineering degree from the United States Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton.
Co-Moderators
STEVE RIEDEL
Steve Riedel has served as Global Minnesota’s Corporate Relations Officer since 2022. He manages the organization’s roster of corporate members and affiliated programs. Steve creates a full menu of business-focused programming for corporate members.
Steve joined Global Minnesota after a 21-year career with the Minnesota Trade Office, the state’s export promotion agency. As a regional trade manager, Steve assisted companies in growing their exports around the globe and also served companies from the environmental and energy sectors. He and colleagues coordinated governor-led trade missions. Steve also led smaller missions to Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Sweden.
Steve coordinated the content of the Letter of Understanding between Minnesota and Finland with the Finnish Embassy to the US. He also helped coordinate Governor Walz’s trade mission to Helsinki in 2021, leading the environmental industry sub-delegation. While with Global Minnesota, he helped welcome Finnish Ambassador Mikko Hautala and his business delegation to Minnesota in 2023.
Steve received a master’s degree in international business in 1986 from Schiller International University in London, England and a bachelor’s degree from Carthage College. He also studied abroad in Heidelberg Germany and Haifa Israel.
Prior to joining the Trade Office, he served 14 years with the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service officer with tours in Munich, Berlin and Lagos Nigeria. He has lived overseas a total of over 10 years. He speaks fluent German and has been to 44 countries.
ELAINE KUMPULA
Elaine Kumpula is the Honorary Consul of Finland for the southern half of the State of Minnesota and the State of South Dakota. In her role she monitors the rights of Finnish citizens and permanent residents in her region, provides local administrative consular support, and works to promote economic/business and cultural relations between Finland and the United States. In relation to her duties, Elaine is a board member of the Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce-Minnesota. She regularly works with the chamber, Minnesota state and local government organizations, Business Finland, and Finland’s Embassy and New York Consulate to raise Finland’s profile in Minnesota and South Dakota. Elaine was elected to the Board of Trustees of Finlandia Foundation National in 2024.
Elaine practiced law has an immigration lawyer from 1985 until her retirement in 2023. During her career she focused her practice on employment-based U.S. immigration and global mobility. At the time of her retirement, Elaine was a partner with Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath where she led the global mobility side of the firm’s immigration practice.
Elaine is a cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota (U of MN) Law School (1985) and earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the U of MN, Twin Cities Campus (1981).