ACAP Celebrates a Decade of Croatian Excellence at its 10th Annual Conference in Seattle

The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) will celebrate a major milestone this fall as Croatian and Croatian-American professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, business leaders, academics, innovators, and community leaders gather in Seattle for the 10th Annual ACAP Conference, taking place October 1–4, 2026, at The Westin Seattle.

Under the theme “Croatian Excellence: Celebrating the Decade, Engineering the Century,” the conference, bringing together Croatian and Croatian-American leaders from business, science, technology, media and culture, will mark ten years of ACAP’s flagship gathering while looking toward the future of Croatian-American cooperation and a more connected global Croatian professional community.

Founded in 2014, ACAP has grown from an initiative launched by a small group of Croatian-American professionals into an international network with more than 5,000 members and subscribers across more than 10 chapters in the United States and Croatia.

ACAP connects professionals across business, finance, technology, science, medicine, law, education, media, culture, and other fields, creating opportunities for professional networking, mentorship, education, and collaboration between Croatia and the United States. Through the ACAP Foundation, the organization also supports scholarships, internships, fellowships, and programs for the next generation of Croatian and Croatian-American professionals.

Ten Years of Building Connections

Over the past decade, the Annual ACAP Conference has become a meeting point for professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, students, and community leaders who share an interest in Croatia and its global community.

The 2026 program reflects that diversity. Sessions will explore artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, science and medicine, entrepreneurship, capital markets, education, Croatian identity and language, media and communications, public service, citizenship, and business opportunities connecting Croatia and the United States.

Among the conference’s keynote speakers are Mark Russinovich, CTO, Deputy CISO, and Technical Fellow at Microsoft Azure; internationally recognized cancer researcher Dr. Frederick R. Appelbaum of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Croatian-born technology leader and research scientist Hrvoje Benko; and author, international speaker, and content creator Kristina Kuzmic.

Their participation reflects one of the central ideas behind this year’s conference: Croatian excellence extends far beyond Croatia’s geographic borders.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Croatian Voices

Artificial intelligence and technological change will feature prominently in Seattle, alongside discussions about entrepreneurship, investment, and opportunities for Croatian companies and professionals in the global marketplace.

The program also examines how Croatian identity and connections are evolving across generations and borders, with sessions including “One Croatia: A Global Network in Action,” “Beyond Borders: The Global Journey of Croatian Scientists,” and “Who We Are: Preserving Croatian Language, Culture & Identity.”

For the first time in ACAP Conference history, the program will also feature a panel dedicated specifically to media. “Croatian Voices, Global Reach: Media in the Digital Age” reflects the growing media interest in the Croatian diaspora, as well as the emergence of new voices from within the diaspora itself who are creating original content and telling Croatian stories for audiences around the world.

Bringing together traditional media professionals, digital creators, podcasters, and storytellers, the panel will explore how journalism, social media, podcasts, influencers, and new technologies are changing the way Croatia and its diaspora see, communicate with, and understand one another, and how diaspora-created media is helping Croatian stories reach audiences far beyond Croatia’s borders.

More Than a Conference

The Seattle gathering includes pre-conference academic and health symposiums, networking events, and the official Welcome Reception, followed by two days of keynote presentations, panels, and breakout sessions.

Saturday evening will culminate in the 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner and ACAP Awards Ceremony, celebrating a decade of ACAP and recognizing achievement within the Croatian-American community.

The celebration of Croatian professional achievement will then transition into a celebration of Croatian culture on Sunday, October 4, with CroatiaFest at the Seattle Center Armory.

Held annually in Seattle, CroatiaFest is one of the Pacific Northwest’s major celebrations of Croatian heritage and culture. Its mission is to preserve and promote Croatian culture while introducing future generations of Croatian Americans and the broader American public to Croatia’s traditions and to the contributions Croatian Americans have made to the United States.

Taking place from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m., this year’s CroatiaFest will feature Croatian music and dance, cultural and historical exhibitions, traditional food, Croatian vendors, language and heritage activities, and programs for children and families. The festival will also include participation by representatives of the Republic of Croatia and activities connecting visitors directly with contemporary Croatia.

For ACAP attendees, CroatiaFest provides a fitting conclusion to the tenth anniversary weekend, moving from the professional, scientific, and business connections celebrated during the conference to the culture, heritage, and community that connect Croatians across generations.

Connecting Croatia and the United States

During its first decade, ACAP has developed into much more than an annual conference. Through its chapters, professional network, Foundation, and year-round programming, ACAP creates opportunities for Croatian and Croatian-American professionals to exchange knowledge, develop business relationships, mentor younger generations, and strengthen professional, economic, and cultural connections between Croatia and the United States.

The tenth anniversary is, therefore, both a celebration of what has been accomplished and a look toward what comes next, and what a connected global Croatian professional community can accomplish. 

From scientists, physicians, and entrepreneurs to engineers, executives, academics, journalists, creators, and students, the Seattle gathering brings together different generations and sectors of the Croatian and Croatian-American communities around a shared goal: connecting Croatian talent, knowledge, and identity across borders.

10th Annual ACAP Conference

Croatian Excellence: Celebrating the Decade, Engineering the Century

The Westin Seattle | Seattle, Washington

October 1–4, 2026

CroatiaFest

Seattle Center Armory | Seattle, Washington

Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 12:00–6:00 p.m.

About ACAP

The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to connecting Croatian-American professionals and friends of Croatia and strengthening professional ties between the United States and Croatia. Founded in 2014, ACAP supports professional networking and collaboration, education, mentorship, scholarships, internships, fellowships, and community initiatives through its chapters, annual conference, and ACAP Foundation.

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Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP)

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