The 10th Annual ACAP Conference brings together leaders, experts, and innovators from across the Croatian American community and beyond for three days of panels, keynote sessions, and discussions in Seattle. This year's program, built around the theme "Croatian Excellence: Celebrating the Decade, Engineering the Century," features speakers including Kristina Kuzmić, Dr. Frederick Appelbaum, Hrvoje Benko, and Mark Russinovich, alongside a full slate of panels covering business, technology, healthcare, and community topics.
Please note: the speaker lineup and panel schedule are subject to change at any time. Check back for updates as the conference approaches.
Friday, October 2nd
9:30am – 10:10am
The AI Disruption Across Industries: What Actually Changed, and What It Means for Your Work
Tomislav Tipuric - Chief Technology Officer, Nephos (Moderator)
Bio coming soon.
Nikola Kapraljević - Co-founder & CEO, Infinum
Bio coming soon.
Josip Cesic - Co-Founder and CEO of Gideon
Bio coming soon.
Mijo Soldin - Vice President Telecom Strategy & Partnerships, Infobip
Bio coming soon.
Marija Tadin-Strapps - Head of Discovery Network, Pfizer
Bio coming soon.
Friday, October 2nd
10:10am – 10:40am
Beyond Borders: The Global Journey of Croatian Scientists
Moderated by Melina Butuci PhD
Melina Butuci PhD - Sr. Manager, Medical Affairs, MiMedx (Moderator)
Bio coming soon.
Ivo Kalajzic PhD - Director, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, University of Connecticut
Bio coming soon.
Martina Glavan PhD - Neuroscientist, Yale School of Medicine
Bio coming soon.
Vid Leko M.D. - Physician-Scientist Early Investigator, National Cancer Institute
Bio coming soon.
Krešimir Luetić, MD, PhD - President, Croatian Medical Chamber, Head of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital Sveti Duh
Bio coming soon.
Friday, October 2nd
11:00am-11:30am
A Decade of Impact: Reflecting on the ACAP Journey
Moderated by Vedran Brozovic
Vedran Brozovic - ACAP 2026 Conference Chair
Bio coming soon.
Marko Zoretic - ACAP President 2014-2020
Bio coming soon.
Steven Pavletic - ACAP President 2021-2023
Maria Sentic - ACAP President 2024-2025
Nikola Metes - ACAP President 2026-Present
Friday, October 2
11:30am – 12:00pm
From Heritage to Higher Education: Studying in Croatia
Luka Misetic, International Lawyer & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Bio coming soon.
Mladen Barać, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration
Bio coming soon.
Dr. Irena Vodopija-Krstanović, Vice-Rector for Studies, Students, Quality Assurance, and Internationalization at the University of Rijeka
Bio coming soon.
Tea Mustać, COO, SafePorter
Bio coming soon.
Jasna Ćurković Nimac, Professor, Department of Communication Studies at the Catholic University of Croatia
Friday, October 2
1:00pm-1:30pm
One Croatia: A Global Network in Action
Nikola Metes, Association of Croatian American Professionals
Bio coming soon.
Laura Martin del Campo Steta, Asociación Croata Mexicana
Bio coming soon.
Ivan Orlic, Asociación Croata Dubrovnik (Peru)
Bio coming soon.
Wanita Kelava, Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce
Bio coming soon.
Antun Krešimir Buterin, Meeting G2 Association
Friday, October 2
3:00pm-3:30pm
Croatian Creatives, Global Reach: Music, Film, & the Business of Cultural Impact
Marko Vrhovac, Student, Music Business and BSA at Belmont University
Bio coming soon.
Tatiana “Tajči” Cameron, Musician, Producer, & Career Coach (PCC)
Bio coming soon.
Ann Maros Buckingham, Global Brand & Consumer Products C-Suite Executive
Bio coming soon.
Berislav Sokac, Music Manager & Strategic Sales, Byte Lab Group & Ignit Group
Bio coming soon.
Friday, October 2
4:00pm-4:30pm
The Leap: Leaving the Sure Thing to Build Your Own
Natalia Burina, Founder & CEO, NB Labs
Bio coming soon.
Marin Smiljanić, CEO, Omnisearch
Bio coming soon.
Ivan Orehovec, Co-founder & CEO, QuantWheel
Bio coming soon.
Tibor Pakozdi, PhD, Founder & CEO, AI.hr
Bio coming soon.
Frane Sesnic, CEO, ZICER
Friday, October 2
4:30pm-5:00pm
Capital Markets for Croatian Emerging Companies
Mauro Viskovic, Partner, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin
Bio coming soon.
Ivan Golubic, CFO, Gideon Brothers Inc.
Bio coming soon.
Lars A. Rottweiler, Co-Founder & CTO, Mbanq
Anton Rosandic, Insurance and Financial Services Startup Founder/CEO
Saturday, October 3
11:00am-11:30am
Who We Are: Preserving Croatian Language, Culture & Identity
Renee Pea, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles
Bio coming soon.
Mladen Barać, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration
Bio coming soon.
Matthew McGrath, Video Journalist & Storyteller, Founder of Metju Media
Kristen LeMieux, CroatiaFest Founding Board Member
Saturday, October 3
12:00pm-12:30pm
Croatia 35 Years Later – A Scorecard
John Gasparac, President, Burai
Bio coming soon.
Mato Njavro, Dean, Zagreb School of Economics and Management
Bio coming soon.
Mislav Tolusic, Managing Partner, Marlinspike
Luka Misetic, International Lawyer & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
John P. Kraljic, Partner, Garfunkel Wild, P.C.
Saturday, October 3
3:30pm-4:00pm
Restoring Lives, Returning Names
Don Markušić, Attorney-at-Law, President ACAP Zagreb
Bio coming soon.
Dr. Željana Bašić, Full Professor, University of Split Faculty of Forensic Sciences
Bio coming soon.
Ivan Jerković, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Split Faculty of Forensic Sciences
Luka Misetic, International Lawyer & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Dr. Wayne F. Larrabee, Clinical Professor
Saturday, October 3
4:30pm-5:00pm
Croatian Voices, Global Reach: Media in the Digital Age
Sanja Bogovic, President, CroatiansOnline
Bio coming soon.
Vladimir Brnardić, HRT, Glas Hrvatske
Bio coming soon.