ROBERT J. LANGLOIS
President
World Trade Center Chicago
Robert J. Langlois is Vice-President of American International Radio one of the largest distributors of Motorola Government Products in Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Prior to joining American International Radio he was the President of the World Trade Center Chicago (WTCC). Established in 1987, the WTCC promotes economic vitality through bilateral trade by providing comprehensive resources and services that enable businesses to enter or expand global market opportunities.
Prior to joining the WTCC, Langlois was Director of Global Customer Relations for Motorola, Inc., where he served as the key liaison between Motorola’s worldwide field offices, its corporate headquarters, and the global business community and diplomatic corps in Chicago. His tenure with Motorola included 25 years of international experience spanning the Middle East, Northern Africa, Eastern Europe, Europe, Canada and Asia.
Langlois is a member of the Board of Directors of Global Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities where he chairs its Moscow Committee, the British American Business Council, the U.S. India Chamber of Commerce Midwest and The Mid-America Club. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations and serves as Chairman of the Elgin, Ill., Zoning Commission and Chairman of the Continental African Chamber of Commerce.
Langlois received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. He also spent a year at the University of Vienna, Austria.
Aleksandra Efimova
President
Russian Foundation
Aleksandra Efimova was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and moved to the United States in 1993. In Russia, she graduated from the Art School at Hermitage State Art Museum and received extended education in dance, art and academics. During her university years in the U.S., she created the business plan that led to Russian Pointe, Inc.
Since its founding in 1998, Ms. Efimova has developed Russian Pointe from a simple importing business to a full-scale pointe-shoe supplier and expert source. Through continuing interaction with dancers, teachers and retailers of pointe shoes, she keeps designs current with dancers’ needs, creating new collections and bringing steady innovation to traditional designs.
In 2008, Ms. Efimova founded Russian Foundation of Chicago, to promote and enrich Russian-American contributions to the Chicago community, in political, social, artistic and business spheres, with a special focus on cultural education.Ms. Efimova is a member of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.
As President of Russian Pointe, she is a member of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (Magnificent Mile Association), Cultural Mile Association, American-Russian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She also belongs to the Benjamin Marshall Society and Joffrey Circle of The Joffrey Ballet.
Ms. Efimova holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing and is an alumna of Harvard Business School, having graduated from the elite Owner/President Management Program.
