The following page contains press-release summaries of several professional events in which I have been selected to participate, in reverse chronological order. It does not mention each and every conference or public event which I have attended, just the ones in which I have assumed a significant role.
The text below can therefore be treated as an official source and can be quoted by media wishing to mention these activities, with proper attribution and ideally a link back if conveyed by digital means.
March 18, 2010: Chris Deliso Conducts Full-day Seminar on Cross-Cultural Communications at M6 Educational Centre in Skopje, Macedonia
On March 18, 2010, Chris Deliso discussed a variety of cross-cultural communication themes and approaches for global business, grounded in an abundance of factual examples drawing on the Macedonian and larger world experience, at the state-of-the-art new conference facilities of Skopje’s M Educational Centre.
In the presentation, Chris made a convincing case for why companies both large and small, as well as state institutions and non-governmental groups, need to have proficient communications strategies that additionally seek to make use of the wealth of new options created by the development of new technologies.
The attentive audience, comprised of representatives from some of Macedonia’s largest firms (and foreign subsidiaries operating in the country), received an essential introduction to communications strategy preparation, creation and execution- as well as a detailed reminder of the risk scenarios associated with poor communications strategies.
The following overview gives a broad description of topics covered (though the final presentation was slightly modified to account for events and certain stylistic improvements).
Cross Cultural Communications Skills, M6 Educational Centre, Skopje, Macedonia
Seminar overview
This one-day seminar concentrates on outlining corporate cross-cultural communications strategies, and ways of preparing them, that work in today’s fast-changing world of global commerce. The seminar will emphasize how to identify, and subsequently exploit, the tangible and intangible factors that make your product saleable to foreign markets. Special attention is also paid to the increasingly significant role of digital media and marketing in not only selling products but also in creating and maintaining brand identification and customer loyalty. Specific examples of successful and unsuccessful approaches are provided, as are examples of real tactics that can be put into practice in your business right away.
Who Should Attend
This seminar is ideal for CEOs and other corporate leaders wishing to gain a ‘big picture’ view of desired operational goals in cross-cultural corporate communications, in order to assess future budgeting needs and strategy in regards to this area. Also, from the point of view of detailed execution, it is most relevant for Promotions, Marketing and Corporate Communications executives and employees.
Generally, the corporate profiles of potential attendees include any company with aspirations to export its products, as well as media bodies, publishers, and businesses wishing to attract other kinds of foreign interest, such as tour operators and purveyors of products appealing to locally-based foreigners.
How will you benefit?
· Learning how to better understand cross-cultural markets and their needs and desires
· Learning methods for better strategizing cross-cultural communications campaigns
· Learning to ‘speak the language’ of other cultures, and integrating your cross-cultural communications campaign with their perceptions and world view
· Being informed of current and future developments in the world of New Media and online platforms- and how this affects your company’s cross-cultural communications tactics
· Networking opportunities with other corporate leaders and foreign experts
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February 24, 2010: Chris Deliso Presents ‘Strategies and Trends in Global Business Communications’ Lecture for Motiva Training and Educational Centre, Skopje, Macedonia
On February 24, 2010, Chris Deliso gave a concise lecture on topics related to business communications, with an emphasis on English-language usage in promotion, marketing and public relations. In the presentation, prepared for a select group of young professionals and business majors, Chris discussed the identifying qualities of successful and unsuccessful communications campaigns, and the skills and resources needed to improve corporate communications capacities.
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June 11, 2009: Chris Deliso Appears at Lonely Planet Western Balkans Guidebook Promotion in Kavadarci, Macedonia
In a relaxed outdoor atmosphere in Kavadarci, the heart of Macedonia’s wine region, Chris Deliso gave a special presentation organized by the municipality of the new Lonely Planet guide to the Western Balkans, detailing general information about the guidebook, company and reach, as well as exciting details about how the Tikves area will benefit from being listed as one of the top two attractions in Macedonia in the book.
Chris was introduced by Mayor Aleksandar Panov, who described him as “a big friend of Kavadarci” who has done a lot for promoting the region, and Chris asserted his thanks to the mayor and his confidence that progress in the tourism field will continue to be made by local officials and tourism providers.
At the conclusion of the event, the mayor presented an official gift of wine and a book on the Poloski Monastery- while Chris in turn presented him with a signed copy of the new guidebook. The event was attended by numerous media members, local businessmen and winemakers, tourism officials and one special guest, American linguist Professor Victor Friedman.
In his presentation, Chris pointed out that whereas Kavadarci and the Tikves area had been beglected in the 2006 edition of the book, the new edition devotes several pages to its various attractions.
Kavadarci mayor Aleksandar Panov (right) displays the new Lonely Planet Western Balkans guide given to him by the author (left).
“With all of the wineries, natural attractions such as Lake Tikves and Mt. Kozuf, plus the churches, monasteries and historical sites like Stobi, the Tikves area has a remarkable number of diverse places of interest to tourists, all within a small area,” said Chris in justifying his decision to highlight Macedonia’s wine region so strongly. The event was followed by a special trip to nearby Popov Winery and Stobi archaeological site for Chris and Professor Friedman.
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June 10, 2009: Chris Deliso Speaks at Lonely Planet Western Balkans Guidebook Promotion in Bitola, Macedonia
In tandem with a full schedule of events to mark Bitola’s annual Day of Culture, Chris Deliso was invited by the Municipality of Bitola to introduce the newly-released Lonely Planet Western Balkans guide to local tourism providers, experts and businessmen. During his presentation, which followed a screen demonstration of the city’s new tourism web portal, Chris emphasized that the new guidebook’s greatly expanded coverage had benefited Bitola and its surrounding areas in several ways- as with the first-time-ever coverage of the Mariovo wilderness region and local villages such as Dihovo, ideal for rural tourism.
In the well-received presentation and in comments for the media made beforehand, Chris accentuated the importance of tourism providers and city planners continuing to build their local brand based upon established and up-and-coming offerings in the fields of cultural, urban and eco-tourism.
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May 12-16, 2009: Chris Deliso Speaks on the Past and Future of Peacekeeping in Kosovo at Bulgarian Ministry of Defence Conference
On May 12, 2009, Chris Deliso addressed a multinational panel of experts, including military delegations from regional countries such as Serbia, Greece, Macedonia and Turkey, as well as more distant states such as France, Britain, the US (and even Vietnam) at a conference hosted by the Rakovski National Defence Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Devoted to the issue of lessons learned from the recent history of peacekeeping in NATO since 1999 and future prospects for peacekeeping in the region, Chris gave a compelling and frank assessment of the situation, based on facts gathered during 7 years of field research, including in the aftermath of the March 2004 riots and March 2008 Mitrovica courthouse incident.
This presention of lessons learned was assessed in a comparative manner with the relative strengths and weaknesses of the new European Union law and order mission in Kosovo, EULEX, compared to its predecessor, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.
While attending the conference, held under the patronage of the Bulgarian General Staff, Chris was also fortunate enough to interview the Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, General Zlatan Stoykov. The interview was published here on Balkanalysis.com.
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January 18, 2009: Chris Deliso Officially Awarded for Contributions to Macedonian Tourism Development
On January 18, 2009, while at the Ohrid International Fair for Tourism, Chris Deliso was awarded for his contributions to promoting and developing tourism in the country. His nomination, made by the Macedonian Chamber of Tourism, was announced by Minister of Economy Fatmir Besimi at a gala event the night before.
Zoran Strezovski, head of the Macedonian Agency for Tourism, presents official award to Chris Deliso.
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November 19, 2008: ‘Den na Drvoto’ Campaign Plants 6 Million Trees
On November 19, 2008, Chris Deliso participated in the Den na Drvoto (‘Day of the Tree’) campaign, planting trees along with Macedonian opera singer and organizer Boris Trajanov, local celebrities, European diplomats, foreign journalists and many hundreds of Macedonians of all ages. The site visited for the planting, near the Kumanovo-area village of Miladinovci, had been devastated by wildfires.
Chris Deliso follows the man with the drill in helping plant trees on Nov. 19.
The rainy but successful nationwide campaign saw Macedonia plant 6 million trees nationwide in a single day. Afterwards, Chris joined the Tree Day team in the studios of Macedonian Television, and appeared in an interview together with pop singer Rebeka. When asked by the host about his perception of the day’s results, Chris stated that ‘Macedonia is a country where everything is possible,’ and praised the initiative as beneficial for the environment, multi-culturalism and regional cooperation.
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November 18, 2008: ‘Den na Drvoto’ Trip to Orphanage in SIngulic
On November 18, 2008, Chris Deliso participated with the Den na Drvoto (‘Day of the Tree’) campaign, visiting a home for orphans in the Skopje neighborhood of Singulic, and planting trees there. The children, who had prepared a song for their guests and refreshments, watched in rapt attention as campaign organizer Boris Trajanov showed them the proper way to plant trees on the lawns outside.
The children in Singulic help Boris Trajanov plant trees.
Later on, Chris also participated in an event outside the new Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall in the city, in which campaign organizers were joined by the foreign minister, Antonio Milososki, US ambassador Philip Reeker, Dutch ambassador Simone Filippini, other international officials and local celebrities to plant trees. He later helped to hand out promotional literature for the campaign on the city square.
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November 12, 2008: ‘Den na Drvoto’ Trip to Kokino, Macedonia
On November 12, 2008, Chris Deliso lent his support to the Den na Drvoto (‘Day of the Tree’) initiative led by Boris Trajanov, accompanying the renowned opera singer and a small group of officials, musicians and scholars to a ceremonial tree planting at the foot of Kokino, site of a remarkable prehistoric megalithic observatory.
A partial view of Kokino observatory.
The symbolic event happened on the eve of a planned autumn reprisal of last March’s massive nationwide tree-planting event. The Den na Drvoto campaign is also seeking to execute an even larger tree-planting initiative in March 2009, this time, in tandem with several other Balkan countries, as a show of international good will and to foster sensitivity to environmental protection.
Boris Trajanov lends a hand in planting a young tree below Kokino.
Following the tree planting, the group climbed to the top of the former observatory where Kumanovo Museum head archaeologist Jovica Stankovski explained the significance of every rock and indentation used by the ancients for their astral calculations. Stankovski also discussed uses of the site, artifacts discovered there, and showed where further excavations continue.
To commemorate the event, the well known Macedonian poet Svetlana Jocic read from her works and a selection of verse by famous Macedonian writers of yesteryear.
Boris Trajanov, Chris Deliso and young composer Jovan Jovanov spoke for the media atop Kokino, providing their views on the significance of Kokino as a cultural site, the environmental benefits of the Den na Drvoto campaign, and the potential for further cultural activities on the site. Chris Deliso mentioned the significance of the site for Macedonian tourism in the future, and his expectations for it to be factored in to the larger Macedonian brand internationally.
The day concluded with a visit to the village of Staro Nagoricane, where Mayor Vlasta Dimkovic unveiled the municipality’s plans for a new central square and sports center/spa complex at the village’s natural hot baths.
Chris Deliso, Mayor Vlasta Dimkovic, Jovica Stankovski and Boris Trajanov at the Church of Sveti Giorgi, Staro Nagoricane.
Before leaving, the visitors were also given a tour of the 14th-century Nemanjid Church of Sveti Giorgi, built by Serbian King Milutin, and detailed descriptions of its artistic and architectural uniqueness. The church has some of the most significant Byzantine-era frescoes in the Balkans and the visitors left greatly impressed.
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November 7 & 10, 2008: Presentation on Travel Writing as a Career, American Corner, Skopje and Bitola, Macedonia
On November 7 and November 10, 2008, Chris Deliso was invited to speak at the US Embassy-supported American Corner in Skopje’s city library and in Bitola, respectively, on the subject of travel writing as a career.
In these colorful presentations, Chris gave a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges that come with being a professional travel writer, and outlined the things prospective writers need to know about working in this field, whether in print, online or industry-focused travel writing.
The presentations were enlivened by readings from classic travel literature and several informative slides and photos from the road.
The audiences, which included writing students, professors, members of the media and tourism industry, especially enjoyed hearing about some of Chris’ real-life adventures and intriguing experiences while on the road.
The one-hour presentations were followed by a questions-and-answers session on topics stemming from the discussion. Audience members had the opportunity to inspect and learn more about books written or co-written by Chris Deliso, including Hidden Macedonia and the Lonely Planet 2008 guides to Bulgaria and Greece.
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October 30, 2008: Lecture on Byzantine Philosophy, Ss Cyril & Methodius University Faculty of Law, Skopje, Macedonia
On October 30, 2008, Chris Deliso was invited to give a presentation on Byzantine philosophy before law students and faculty at the Justinianus Prima Faculty of Law at the University of Ss Cyril & Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia.
Page from a surviving Plethon manuscript, 15th c.
The discussion centered around the life and legacy of Georgios Gemistos Plethon, a late Byzantine philosopher active in the former Peloponnesian despotate of Mystras during the mid-15th century.
In his one-hour talk, Chris Deliso presented the political, legal and philosophical thought of Plethon within the historical context of a time of rapid change, when the Ottoman Turks were engulfing Byzantium and Greek learning and letters were being transplanted to the West in the form of émigré scholars.
The presentation concluded with a summary of Plethon’s influence on the development of the Italian Renaissance, in terms of the Platonic Academy founded in Florence in his honor by Italian nobleman Cosimo De’Medici, and the intellectual career of his protégé, Cardinal Bessarion.
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October 3-4, 2008: Conference on Tourism Development, Strumica, Macedonia
On October 3-4, 2008, the city of Strumica hosted a conference on sustainable tourism development with the cooperation of Skopje-based NGO Center for Institutional Development (CIRa) and French experts in local sustainable tourism development.
At the Strumica event, Chris Deliso addressed an audience which included local and national government tourism officials, tourism industry professionals, and media on key factors in improving Macedonian promotional and marketing activities, from the professional travel writer’s point of view, and emphasized the role of travel guides in enhancing the quality and quantity of information about Macedonia in the years to come.
He also stressed the importance of branding, citing the example of wine, and the need to develop a more cooperative view in which the success of one company could contribute to the success of all.
During the proceedings, he was interviewed for national radio and Strumica television together with Macedonian Chamber of Tourism president Miodrag Atanasievski, who also hailed Macedonia’s great potential in terms of rural tourism.
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September 19-21, 2008: Congress for Promotion of Tourism and Culture in Bitola, Macedonia
The official five-year plan for tourism development in Bitola was unveiled at a conference held from September 19-21 at Hotel Epinal, in the center of the city, just off of the famed Sirok Sokak pedestrian street.
Chris Deliso participated in the event throughout and on the final day addressed the audience of national and local tourism officials, local entrepreneurs, media members, representatives of non-governmental organizations and tourism faculties, as well as other interested parties, regarding Macedonia’s potential for developing rural tourism in the Bitola region.
He also discussed some of the ways in which the power of marketing, promotion and branding could be harnessed for tourism development in the country.
At the conference, co-sponsored by the European Union and Municipality of Bitola, the new study was discussed and debated, and the city’s new web portal was launched.
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May 12-17, 2008: Author Presentations on Balkan Security Issues in Sofia, Bulgaria
From May 12-17, 2008, Chris Deliso made a series of appearances in the Bulgarian capital, generally involving research contained within his book The Coming Balkan Caliphate.
Chris Deliso and some of the guests at the Rakovsky Defense College conference.
First, at a conference on NATO’s mission in Bosnia held at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence’s prestigious Rakovski Defense and Staff College, Chris Deliso gave a presentation on Islamic fundamentalism in the Balkans before a distinguished audience that included military officials, diplomats and media from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, France, Great Britain and the United States.
Following the conference, the author gave a public press conference for a large group of Bulgarian media, discussing security issues in the Balkans in the context of his book.
Finally, the author was invited to give a private briefing for the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Academy, on similar topics. He stressed the important role that future generations of Balkan diplomats could play in informing their Western peers by providing accurate assessments of on-the-ground realities and emerging threats to regional security.
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April 19, 2008: Hidden Macedonia Book Promotion (Macedonian-language version), Skopje, Macedonia
On April 19, 2008, the Macedonian-language version of Chris Deliso’s travelogue Hidden Macedonia was promoted at Skopje’s annual national book fair at the SAEM Convention Center. With approximately 500 books sold in 3 days, it represented the most successful book launch in recent history in Macedonia.
The book was promoted at the stand of the translator, Club Matica, and the author made a special weekend appearance to sign books – around 250 of them! – due to the extraordinarily high demand.
Numerous Macedonians expressed their gratitude and great pleasure to buy the book that opened up many places in the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Greece for the first time to the outside world.
Shoppers at SAEM bought a record 500 copies of Hidden Macedonia.
Among the many visitors to the fair who stopped in to enjoy the Hidden Macedonia promotion were officials of the OSCE, Islamic community, non-governmental organizations and eminent figures such as opera singer Boris Trajanov and the Macedonian prime minister, Nikola Gruevski.
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January 19, 2008: Hidden Macedonia Book Promotion, Skopje, Macedonia
On January 19, 2008, the first Macedonian promotion of Chris Deliso’s travelogue Hidden Macedonia was held at Club Matica bookstore in central Skopje.
Although the book was an English-language title and more expensive than most titles sold in Macedonia, many copies were sold, as locals took pride in acquiring the first-ever travelogue about their native land.
The book promotion drew interested throngs of visitors throughout the day. Among those who stopped in was Macedonian Vice-Premier Zoran Stavreski. The author was available for a few hours to answer questions and sign books for visitors. He also discussed his experience in writing it, and the art of travel writing in general, before a large group of Macedonian print and television media representatives.
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December 4, 2007: Hidden Macedonia Book Promotion, The Travel Bookshop, Notting Hill, London
On December 4, 2007, Chris Deliso appeared at London’s venerable Travel Bookshop in Notting Hill, to mark the UK launch of travelogue Hidden Macedonia.
The event was organized in part by the publisher of that edition, Haus Publishing of London, with generous logistics support from the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Macedonian Embassy in London.
Ambassador Muhammad Halili (left) introduces the author (at right).
Along with representatives of the publisher, the event was attended by Macedonian diplomatic officials, and members of the Macedonian diaspora and British public.
A strong showing from Macedonian diaspora members helped to make the event a great success, and various leading Macedonian wines were sampled by all.
To introduce the promotion, Macedonian Ambassador Muhammed Halili gave a brief speech in which he expressed his gratitude for the national significance of the work, and the author signed copies of the book for visitors.
In his well-received presentation, Chris Deliso explained the premise for the book, and the journey he undertook through three countries, tracing the contours of the great lakes of Macedonia.
The author spoke of the importance of capturing a strong sense of place in travelogues in general, and offered some recollections of the best moments he experienced while on his three-week sojourn along the lakes.
Guests enjoying the London promotion of Hidden Macedonia
The event at the Travel Bookshop was followed up a few days later by author appearances on BBC Radio Macedonian edition and the BBC Radio 4 travel show, Excess Baggage.
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October 5, 2007: Book promotion/presentation of The Coming Balkan Caliphate, Athens, Greece
On October 5, 2007, Chris Deliso presented his comparative study of Islamic extremist development in Southeastern Europe, The Coming Balkan Caliphate, before a Greek audience that included everyone from members of the media, researchers and academics to representatives of the Greek security services and ministry of foreign affairs.
Held at the University of Indianapolis’ Athens campus in the historic district of Plaka, the event was organized in cooperation with the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS). Representatives of the university and RIEAS President John Nomikos initiated the proceedings.
The well-received presentation focused on the development of foreign Islamic groups in the Balkans, in the post-Communist context of war and transition. The discussion of this timely topic elicited numerous questions from the audience. A rough transcript of the author’s presentation can be accessed here.