About NorCham LA
Supporting NorCham LA
“We are happy to join NorCham LA to continue to build strong commercial relationships and strengthen the connection between Norway and the U.S.”
Jasmin Utter
General Manager, Region Americas
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
Corporate Premium Member
“Vestre is a family-owned and community-focused company. It was natural for us to join NorCham LA when we opened up our West Coast sales office here in 2021. The chamber provides value both in terms of networking and when it comes to business introductions. I highly recommend joining the chamber.”
Kristoffer Vestre
Commercial Director (Head of USA)
Vestre
Corporate Member
“Joining NorCham LA gave us access to opportunities we otherwise wouldn’t have had, such as UCLA’s Global Access Program. Two months after completing the program, we signed our first client in the United States. I highly recommend joining the chamber if you are interested in selling products or services in the United States.”
Arild Soldal
CEO
Cubit AS
Corporate Member
”For the past eight years I have been bringing my innovation/marketing students to California to meet Norwegian entrepreneurs/companies. With the help of NorCham LA's network, I have been able to accommodate interesting and inspiring meetings within "our" industry. We have been introduced to NorCham LA’s members and have been taken really good care of.
For my students it is of huge value to spend time in one of the main hubs for entrepreneurship combined with entertainment, and the output from these trips is an inspiration and valuable understanding we bring with us and work with the rest of the school year and beyond.
Thanks a lot to Erik Steigen and his team at NorCham LA as well as the members!
We look forward to coming back in October!”
Erik Øysæd
Teacher / Marketing Manager
Haugetun Folkehøyskole
Entrepreneur Member
We are is the designated point of contact for the Norwegian-American community in the Los Angeles area, including businesses, organizations and individuals currently based in Southern California or moving to the area. We are also focused on encouraging business activity between California and Norway.
Membership means access to our professional network and resources to help you meet your professional goals. We offer an opportunity to form alliances and be part of shaping our growing community.
Over the years, the Norwegian economy has created attractive opportunities for trade relations with the U.S. in traditional industries. Today, Norwegian entrepreneurs are coming to the U.S. creating a thriving environment of new ideas and networking opportunities. We help bridge the gap from Norway to California, and vice versa.
The Norwegian equivalent of a chamber of commerce is typically referred to as ‘handelskammer’ or ‘næringsråd.’
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From the President
Erik A.H. Steigen
Photo: Arne Ristesund, Bergensavisen
On August 2, 2018, our organization was filed with the State of California. Previously known as NACC Los Angeles Chapter, Inc., we filed a name change with the state on August 11, 2023, almost exactly five years from our inception, to become who we are today: NorCham Los Angeles, Inc., a California Nonprofit Corporation, proudly affiliated with NorCham USA.
NorCham LA’s purpose is to facilitate business-related networking opportunities in the Los Angeles area while being a resource for the Norwegian-American business community in Southern California. But, it goes beyond that: We are also here for Norwegian and European businesses and entrepreneurs who need help entering American markets or who want to raise awareness of their products or services in the Norwegian, Nordic and American communities in California. With over 40MM people living in California, and 27% of us being foreign-born, we are an incredibly diverse, young and exciting market for any new business to enter.
There are many Norwegians and Nordics who move to LA and Southern California. The biggest challenge is to get in the door for a job interview, audition or a business meeting, to get a chance to pitch that idea, that song, that storyboard, that script, that new business. Thankfully, American business professionals are for the most part open-minded, and with the right connections and referrals, you can get that opportunity. A significant point in the approach, is to strive to become a part of the business you want to succeed in, and not just be a foreigner looking in. We can help open doors and make introductions. Our network is vast in many different industries, and we always want to do our best to help our members build important alliances.
I encourage you and your business to join us as members or sponsors. Your contribution is tax deductible. The key to our long-term success is the commitment from the community.
It is great to see that our non-profit organization includes sponsors and members from California, Florida, New York, Canada, Washington DC, Washington State, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. We have a lot to offer locals who can attend meetings and events, but we also have a lot to offer those in Norway and the Nordic countries who need to be connected with professionals in their industry in California.
Finally, a quote from ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and closing comments in Norwegian:
“Hvilken vei skal jeg gå?” spurte Alice.
”Hvor er det du skal,” svarte haren.
”Jeg vet ikke,” sa Alice.
”Da har det ikke så mye å si hvor du går,” svarte haren.
Bestem deg for hva du vil og hvor du skal. Hvis du har business å gjøre i California og USA, så ser vi fram til å ønske deg og ditt selskap velkommen som medlem hos NorCham LA.
August 15, 2023
Erik Steigen
President