FCSLA Lead Co-Sponsor for Fr. Furdek Lecture Speaker Former U.S. Ambassador to to Address the Greater Cleveland Slovak Community

FCSLA is pleased to co-sponsor with the First Catholic Slovak Union, the Fr. Furdek Lecture speaker, former U.S. Ambassador, Vincent Obsitnik. Ambassador Obsitnik will discuss his personal and professional experiences and the current state of affairs in Slovakia and Europe.

Ambassador Obsitnik was born in Slovakia and is the first Monday, February 27, 2012 Slovak-American to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. He immigrated with his parents to the United Crowne Plaza - Cleveland South States, prior to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi 5300 Rockside Rd. Germany. His father worked as a coal miner in Independence, OH 44131 and eventually the Obsitnik family moved to , where he grew up. Reception: 5:30 p.m. After graduating from the Naval Academy with Honors, Talk: 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Ambassador Obsitnik served for five years as an officer in the U.S. Navy, in destroyers and submarines. He received his Q/A Session: 6:45 - 7:00 p.m. MBA from in Washington, DC and led a very interesting business career that included time with IBM, Admission: FREE and Litton Corporations. He also started and became President of International Investments Inc., a consulting Attire: Business Casual company, working in areas of joint ventures, technology licensing and privatization projects between the U.S. and RSVP to: Central Europe. Andrew Rajec, Jr. - FCSU (800) 533-6682 ext. 112 In addition to being Ambassador, Mr. Obsitnik was appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Commission for the Please RSVP no later than Preservation of American’s Heritage Abroad. During that time February 20, 2012 on the Commission, he worked to bring international attention to the plight of the 17th and 18th century Greek Catholic wooden churches in Slovakia and through his leadership, two of the most endangered churches were restored.

Ambassador Obsitnik is fluent in the Slovak language and has an understanding of Russian. He is a marathon runner and plays tennis and squash. He is married to the former Annemarie Harden. They have four sons and twelve grandchildren.