Croatian Experts from Around the World Gather in Seattle for Jubilee Conference

Under the motto "Croatian Excellence: Celebrating the Decade, Engineering the Century," the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) is gathering experts from Croatia and American experts of Croatian descent in Seattle who work in business, science, technology, media, and culture.

The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) will mark a major anniversary at its 10th annual conference, which begins today and runs until October 4, 2026. The meeting brings together experts, entrepreneurs, scientists, business professionals, academics, innovators, and representatives of the Croatian community from both Croatia and the United States.

Under the motto "Croatian Excellence: Celebrating the Decade, Engineering the Century" ("Hrvatska izvrsnost: slavimo desetljeće, stvaramo stoljeće"), the conference marks ten years of ACAP's most important annual gathering. It will open up discussions on the future of Croatian-American cooperation and a more connected global network of Croatian experts.

Founded in 2014 on the initiative of a small group of American professionals of Croatian descent, ACAP has grown into an international network with more than 5,000 members and subscribers, alongside more than ten chapters across the US and Croatia. ACAP connects individuals from business, finance, technology, science, medicine, law, education, media, culture, and other fields. It promotes professional networking, mentorship, education, and cooperation between Croatia and the US. The ACAP Foundation supports scholarships, internships, professional development programs, and other opportunities for a new generation of Croatian and American professionals of Croatian origin.

The 2026 program covers 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 linking Croatia and the US. Keynote speakers include Mark Russinovich, Chief Technology Officer, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, and Technical Fellow for Microsoft Azure; Dr. Frederick R. Appelbaum from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, an internationally recognized cancer researcher; Hrvoje Benko, a Croatian-born tech expert and scientist; and Kristina Kuzmic, author, international speaker, and content creator.

Artificial intelligence and technological shifts will hold a prominent place in the schedule, alongside discussions on entrepreneurship, investments, and opportunities for Croatian companies and experts on the global market.

Participants will also discuss how Croatian identity and connectedness are changing across generations and borders. Topics include the global networking of Croats, international careers of Croatian scientists, and the preservation of the Croatian language, culture, and identity.

For the first time in the history of the ACAP conference, the program includes a panel dedicated entirely to media. "Croatian Voices, Global Reach: Media in the Digital Age" ("Hrvatski glasovi, globalni doseg: mediji u digitalnom dobu") comes at a time of growing media interest in the Croatian diaspora, as well as an increasing number of people within the diaspora itself who are creating their own content and telling Croatian stories to audiences worldwide.

The panel will bring together traditional media representatives, digital creators, podcasters, and other storytellers. They will discuss how journalism, social networks, podcasts, influencers, and new technologies are changing the way Croatia and its diaspora see, communicate with, and understand each other, and how diaspora-generated content spreads Croatian stories far beyond Croatia's borders. Vladimir Brnardić, the acting editor of the Independent Department of the Program for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, will speak about programming for Croats living abroad.

A gala dinner celebrating the tenth anniversary and the ACAP Awards will take place on Saturday evening, marking a decade of the association's work and honoring prominent members of the Croatian-American community.

Following the conference meetings, the celebration continues on Sunday, October 4, at the CroatiaFest festival in the Seattle Center Armory.

CroatiaFest is an annual event and one of the vital gatherings dedicated to Croatian heritage and culture in the Pacific Northwest region of the US. The festival preserves and promotes Croatian culture, introducing Croatian traditions and the contributions of Croatian Americans to the United States to new generations of Americans of Croatian descent and the wider American public.

This year's CroatiaFest will run from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The program features Croatian music and dance, cultural and historical exhibitions, traditional food, Croatian vendors, as well as language, heritage, and family-oriented activities. Representatives from the Republic of Croatia will also participate, offering activities that connect visitors with modern Croatia.

For ACAP participants, the festival serves as a fitting end to the anniversary weekend: after the professional, scientific, and business meetings, the focus shifts to the culture, heritage, and community that unite Croats across generations.

Over its first decade, ACAP has become much more than just the organizer of an annual conference. Through its chapters, professional network, foundation, and year-round programming, it facilitates knowledge exchange, business relationship development, youth mentorship, and the strengthening of professional, economic, and cultural ties between Croatia and the US.

The tenth anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, but also to discuss what a connected global community of Croatian experts can accomplish in the future. From scientists, doctors, and entrepreneurs to engineers, executives, academics, journalists, content creators, and students, the gathering in Seattle will connect different generations and fields of work around a shared goal: linking Croatian talent, knowledge, and identity across borders.

Source: HRT