Program Overview
Thursday, October 1 | 12:30pm–4:30pm
Optimizing Your Performance
Strategies to Thrive in a High-Demand Professional Life
Thursday, October 1 | 4:30pm-6:00pm
Academic Symposium
Thursday, October 1 | 6:30pm-10:00pm
Welcome Reception
Powered by The Croatian National Tourist Board / Hrvatska turistička zajednica (HTZ)
Program Overview
Program is subject to change at any time. For the most recent updates, please use the EVENTEE Conference App.
Friday, October 2
9:00am-9:30am
Welcome Remarks
Vedran Brozovic, ACAP Conference Chair
Nikola Metes, ACAP President
Renee Pea, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles
Lara Romano, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
Mladen Barać, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration
Alen Matanic, Spokesperson, State Office for Croats Abroad
9:30am-10:10am Panel
The AI Disruption Across Industries: What Actually Changed, and What It Means for Your Work
MODERATOR Tomislav Tipurić, Chief Technology Officer, Nephos
Nikola Kapraljević, Co-founder & CEO, Infinum
Josip Cesic, Co-Founder & CEO, Gideon
Mijo Soldin, Vice President Telecom Strategy & Partnerships, Infobip
Marija Tadin-Strapps, Head of Discovery Network, Pfizer
10:10am-10:40am Panel
Beyond Borders: The Global Journey of Croatian Scientists
MODERATOR Melina Butuci, PhD, Sr. Manager, Medical Affairs, MiMedx
Ivo Kalajzic, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, University of Connecticut
Martina Glavan, PhD, Neuroscientist, Yale School of Medicine
Vid Leko, MD, Physician-Scientist Early Investigator, National Cancer Institute
Krešimir Luetić, MD, PhD, President, Croatian Medical Chamber, Head of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital Sveti Duh
10:40am-11:00am Coffee Break
11:00am-11:30am Panel
A Decade of Impact: Reflecting on the ACAP Journey
MODERATOR Vedran Brozovic, ACAP Conference Chair
Marko Zoretic, ACAP President, 2014-2020
Dr. Steven Pavletic, ACAP President, 2021-2023
Maria Sentic, ACAP President, 2024-2025
Nikola Metes, ACAP President, 2026-PRESENT
11:30am-12:00pm Panel
From Heritage to Higher Education: Studying in Croatia
MODERATOR Luka Misetic, International Lawyer & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Mladen Barać, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration
Dr. Irena Vodopija-Krstanović, Vice-Rector for Studies, Students, Quality Assurance, and Internationalization at the University of Rijeka
Tea Mustać, COO, SafePorter
Jasna Ćurković Nimac, Professor, Department of Communication Studies at the Catholic University of Croatia
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm-1:30pm Panel
One Croatia: A Global Network in Action
Nikola Metes, Association of Croatian American Professionals
Laura Martin del Campo Steta, Asociación Croata Mexicana
Ivan Orlic, Asociación Croata Dubrovnik (Peru)
Wanita Kelava, Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce
Antun Krešimir Buterin, Meeting G2 Association
1:30pm-2:00pm Lightning Talk
Agent Among Us: Two Young Croatian Founders on How AI will Shape Human Endeavors and Creativity
Karlo Vrancic, Harvard University – Monsters or Mirrors? How AI Works and Why it Resembles Us
Stjepan Zelic, Hypefy – Stop the Slop: Let Creators Create
2:00pm-2:40pm Breakouts
Behind the Lens: Croatian Filmmakers in America
Location: Grand Ballroom
Ella Misché, Actress, Producer, Director, Writer, & Founder of the Croatian International Film Festival
Jack Baric, Filmmaker & Co-founder of GameChange
Jakov Sedlar, Croatian Film Director
Peter Hricak, Global IT Infrastructure & Security Operations, Lucasfilm & ILM
From Followers to Fortune: The Business of Social Media Influence
Location: Grand Crescent
Sabrina Sancic, Bella Crystal Design
Matthew McGrath, Video Journalist & Storyteller, Founder of Metju Media
Stjepan Zelić, CEO of Hypefy.ai
One Network, Many Communities: Building Stronger ACAP Chapters
Location: Vashon
Mislav Magerl, Chapter Development Committee Chair
2:40pm-3:00pm Break
3:00pm-3:30pm Panel
Croatian Creatives, Global Reach: Music, Film, & the Business of Cultural Impact
MODERATOR Marko Vrhovac, Student, Music Business and BSA at Belmont University
Tatiana “Tajči” Cameron, Musician, Producer, & Career Coach (PCC)
Ann Maros Buckingham, Global Brand & Consumer Products C-Suite Executive
Berislav Sokac, Music Manager & Strategic Sales, Byte Lab Group & Ignit Group
3:30pm-4:00pm KEYNOTE
The Intelligence Revolution: What Happens When Computers Stop Following Instructions and Start Achieving Goals
Mark Russinovich, CTO, Deputy CISO, and Technical Fellow, Microsoft Azure
4:00pm-4:30pm Panel
The Leap: Leaving the Sure Thing to Build Your Own
MODERATOR Natalia Burina, Founder & CEO, NB Labs
Marin Smiljanić, CEO, Omnisearch
Ivan Orehovec, Co-founder & CEO, QuantWheel
Tibor Pakozdi, PhD, Founder & CEO, AI.hr
Frane Sesnic, CEO, ZICER
4:30pm-5:00pm Panel
Capital Markets for Croatian Emerging Companies
MODERATOR Mauro Viskovic, Partner, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin
Ivan Golubic, CFO, Gideon Brothers Inc.
Lars A. Rottweiler, Co-Founder & CTO, Mbanq
Anton Rosandic, Insurance and Financial Services Startup Founder/CEO
6:15pm-7:45pm Cocktail Hour & Exhibition Opening
AMERICAN 250: Croatian Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces: History, Service, and Partnership
Croatian Pacific Northwest Heritage: Immigration and Traditional Folk Attire (Nošnja)
7:45pm-10:00pm Industry Dinners
Please visit the Registration Desk if you have not yet registered.
Program Overview
Saturday, October 3
9:00am-11:00am Special Event
Croatia v England, UEFA Nations League Watch Party
Halftime Sneak preview trailer for More Than A Dream, the documentary on the 1992 Croatian Olympic Basketball Team with Jack Baric, Filmmaker & Co-founder of GameChange
11:00am-11:30am Panel
Who We Are: Preserving Croatian Language, Culture & Identity
MODERATOR Renee Pea, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles
Mladen Barać, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration
Matthew McGrath, Video Journalist & Storyteller, Founder of Metju Media
Kristen LeMieux, CroatiaFest Founding Board Member
11:30am-12:00pm KEYNOTE
Augmented Reality in the Age of Agentic AI: Human Superpowers, not Rogue Superintelligence
Hrvoje Benko, Research Scientist & Technology Executive
12:00pm-12:30pm Panel
Croatia 35 Years Later – A Scorecard
MODERATOR John Gasparac, President, Burai
Mato Njavro, Dean, Zagreb School of Economics and Management
Mislav Tolusic, Managing Partner, Marlinspike
Luka Misetic, International Lawyer & Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
John P. Kraljic, Partner, Garfunkel Wild, P.C.
12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm-1:40pm ACAP Update
Krešo Marušić, ACAP Foundation Chair
1:40pm-1:50pm Special Presentation
Henry Suzzallo, A Remarkable Man
Antoinette Wills, Writer & Historian
1:50pm-2:30pm Breakouts
Cross‑Continent Transitions: Real Stories, Real Challenges, Real Wins
Location: Orcas
Joseph Posavec, Executive Vice President, Tellum Advisory
Sara Dyson, Founder, Expat in Croatia
Tomislav Tipurić, Chief Technology Officer, Nephos
Croatian Americans in U.S. Public Service Location: Grand Ballroom
Marko Pavela, Managing Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington
Andrew Gilich, Mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi
Maria Jukic, Attorney, Healthcare Leader, & Candidate for Congress
Max Vekich, Commissioner, Federal Maritime Commission
Brad Jurkovich & Nancy Long presenting on behalf of Frank Chopp, former Speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives
Career Hub (80 minute session)
Location: Grand Crescent
Marela Klepo, PMP, Learning & Talent Development Leader
Tatiana “Tajči” Cameron, Musician, Producer, & Career Coach (PCC)
Michelle LeSeur, U.S. Head of Sales and Marketing for Hematology, Johnson & Johnson
Berislav Sokac, Music Manager & Strategic Sales, Byte Lab Group & Ignit Group
Marina Sentic, Intern, ACAP Career Hub
Health and Lifestyle Committee: Past and Future Strategic Planning Session (80 minute session)
Location: Vashon
Dr. Steve Pavletic, Co-Chair of the ACAP Health & Lifestyle Committee
2:30pm-3:10pm Breakouts
Ask Us Anything! Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles
Location: Orcas
Renee Pea, Consul General
Croatia Real Estate: Global Capital, Local Opportunity
Location: Grand Ballroom
Ante Jakic, Luxury Real Estate, Advisor, Compass
Mia Mihovilović, Attorney at Law
Boro Vujović, Founder & CEO, Opereta Nekretnine
Vjeko Peretic, Founder & CEO, Fintastic
Nate Basich, Certified Mortgage Advisor, Loan Factory
3:10-3:30pm Break
3:30pm-4:00pm Panel
Restoring Lives, Returning Names
MODERATOR Don Markušić, Attorney-at-Law, President ACAP Zagreb
Dr. Željana Bašić, Full Professor, University of Split Faculty of Forensic Sciences
Ivan Jerković, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Split Faculty of Forensic Sciences
Dr. Wayne F. Larrabee, Clinical Professor
4:00pm-4:30pm KEYNOTE
Honoring the Roots, Breaking the Rules
Kristina Kuzmic, Author, International Speaker, & Content Creator
4:30pm-5:00pm Panel
Croatian Voices, Global Reach: Media in the Digital Age
MODERATOR Sanja Bogovic, President, CroatiansOnline
Vladimir Brnardić, HRT, Glas Hrvatske
Matthew McGrath, Video Journalist & Storyteller, Founder of Metju Media
Martin S. Kajic, Host, Cro-Am Connections
Stjepan Zelić, CEO of Hypefy.ai
5:15pm-6:00pm Special Event:
Croatian Citizenship: Pathways, Process & Preparing for Life in Croatia
Sara Dyson, Founder of Expat in Croatia
6:45pm-2:00am Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony
6:45pm-8:00pm Cocktail hour with performance by Bonaca Seattle Tamburitza Band
8:00pm-10:00pm Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, ACAP Foundation Fundraiser & Silent Auction, with performance by ROKO
From 10:00pm Dance & Social with DJ Nikola Tomašić
ACAP proudly thanks the partners who have helped make this conference possible.