Runar Sögaard, Founder
With a passion for people, Mr. Sogaard has been educating, training and developing people in more than 35 countries since 1990. Over the past 10 years his focus has been on managerial development and leadership development and his message has been to how to “turn your mess into a message” as a peak performer, a leader and in your personal life. Next Level was first established 1999 in Sweden by Mr. Sogaard. His clients are CEOs, upper management and other executives as well as managers of publicly listed companies and owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses, government officials, artists, actors and professional athletes.
Runar Sogaard has been speaking and motivating a variety of audiences and conferences with up to 25,000 attendees in Scandinavia, Europe, Australia and The United States. With more than 12,000 hours of coaching and individual leadership development he has become one of the most sought after leadership developers. Over the past few years, more than hundreds of executives have gone through this highly structured program to develop as leaders and people.
In January 2010 he was elected “The Swedish Entrepreneur of the Month” by the Swedish Financial Website and paper “Newzglobe” and the next phase of Next Level has just begun. In 2011 Next Level will move into United Kingdom and Dubai.
Gunilla Girardo, President
Gunilla Girardo has more than 18 years experience in implementing, selling and marketing international business programs between the U.S. and Sweden and other EU countries. A native of Sweden, she has spent the past 17 years living and working in the Washington D.C. area. With a passion for building networks and enabling people to excel Gunilla’s specialty is promoting and facilitating trade and commerce between Sweden and the U.S. and she has assisted numerous companies enter and expand on the U.S. and the Swedish markets through effective networking and business matchmaking.
During her ten years as president for the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce (SACC-USA) , the organization saw a considerable growth in number of members all over the U.S. and in Sweden; new value added member programs as well as new initiatives to stimulate trade and commerce between the two countries.
She has held several positions with American organizations within governance, marketing, communications, membership development, wed site-, eBusiness-, and database development, fundraising, and strategic development.
Before moving to the D.C. area she was program director for International Business School of Sweden, responsible for their marketing, PR- and journalism programs in Washington D.C. and its Executive Secretarial Program in England, Germany, Spain and France. She continues to serve IBS in Washington as program advisor
Ola Östlund, Vice President
Ola Ostlund is an Entrepreneur with several Companies in his portfolio. Mr. Ostlund is a true Opportunity Broker with over 30 years of experience in the corporate world in Europe and United States. In addition to being the Owners of several successful multi-million dollar Companies he also very actively volunteer his services and financial support to a multitude of Organizations. He mentors future Leaders and supports several life saving and life changing causes.
His number one focus is on his Wife of 20 years and five children. Mr. Ostlund big passion in life is Leadership Development and helping People, Companies and Organizations take the Next Level.
In 2010, Mr Ostlund received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from the Roman Catholic Church for his for distinguished voluntary services. It is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the Papacy.
- Swedish American Chamber of Commerce of USA – Special Director and Executive Committee member
- Swedish American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles – Board member
- AYSO – Certified Soccer Coach and Referee
- Boy Scouts of America – Assistant Scoutmaster
Erik Nord, Special Director, Legal Counsel
Bio to come.
Ken Silverstein, Marketing Advisor to Next Level’s Non-Profit Practice
Ken Silverstein has been providing marketing and publishing services to the association/non-profit community for over 30 years. These services include the following:
- Membership Retention & Recruitment
- Advertising Sales & Marketing
- Generic Marketing Strategies
- Exhibit Sales & Marketing
- Sponsorship Sales & Marketing
- Publications Management
- Management/Board Development
With this extensive experience, Ken Silverstein has been actively involved in marketing and sales strategies for a variety of non-profits. In addition, KSA provides association management services to three non-profits on a part time basis. These duties include obtaining sponsors for five business meetings per year and developing programming and oversight for volunteer participation in the organization.
Professional affiliations include the following organizations:
- American Society of Association Executives
- Association Network of Montgomery County, Maryland
- Board of Directors–Maryland Association of Non-Profits
Having worked with many non-profit professional organizations, KSA has an understanding of the dynamics of how the organization serves as an industry resource and how to continue its success must be inclusive of its members and industry partners.
