Board of Directors
The Swedish American Club of Sarasota
RENEE LUNDHOLM, PRESIDENT
After 33 years working for The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York (SACCNY) and 17 years as its President, Renee Lundholm and her husband moved from Connecticut to Florida in 2017, where they had built a house in University Park already in 2006. In Sarasota, she started her own consultancy and events firm, RLStrategies. She is also working as Senior Advisor to KARV Communications, a strategic communications firm based in New York and Los Angeles. Renee continues to serve on the Board of SACCNY, as well as on the Board of House of Sweden in Washington D.C. She is married to Lars-Arne, and together they have three children and five grandchildren. Sommers are enjoyed in Gotland.
RIKARD OVIN
Rickard Rickard spent most of his professional life with Scan Coin, a Swedish company that developed, manufactured and maintained cash handling equipment worldwide. He worked in various roles, from handling the network of external distributors to CEO. He also oversaw the sale of the company to a private equity company.
During 2013 he and his wife, Ina, fell in love with the Sarasota area and bought a house in Lakewood Ranch. They spend four to five months a year there, mostly during the winter months.They find it popular to invite the three children and six grandchildren to come visit! During the rest of the year they reside in Malmö, Sweden.
Rickard.ovin@hotmail.com
THOMAS CARLBERG SECRETARY
Thomas has been a Sarasota resident since 2011. His professional career was almost solely devoted to Sandvik, more specifically the company’s Business Area Sandvik Coromant. Career highlights include VP Marketing for the US market, President Europe for ten years, based in Brussels, including a seat on Sandvik’s global management team. Thomas has been a board member of most of the European subsidiaries, plus growth markets like China and India. He concluded his career as responsible for Business Development and M&A. Thomas is married to Christina. They have two children and two grandchildren. Summers are enjoyed in Båstad.
IRENE HAGMAN
Irene was born in Chicago, Illinois and will bring a wealth of professional expertise and a deep personal connection to Swedish culture.
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate, Irene spent a significant portion of her career in Connecticut, just outside of New York City.
In 2007, Irene's life took a delightful turn when she met her Swedish husband, Erland, a native of Kristianstad. Their shared love blossomed, culminating in a beautiful wedding in St. Lucia in 2013. With family still residing in Kristianstad, Irene has embraced his Swedish heritage wholeheartedly.
An avid world traveler, Irene also cherishes her Polish roots, balancing her adventures with annual trips to Sweden. Ten years ago, she and Erland made Sarasota their home, settling on the beautiful Longboat Key.
PER NORDSTRÖM
In 2001, Per and family came to Sarasota for the kids’ spring break. During the trip, he realized he could keep his job as a marketing & sales consultant for VisitSweden and work remotely. A few months later, with the house in Sweden rented out and a shipping container of furniture on its way, Per arrived to these shores with his wife Helena and their three children. It was supposed to be a one-to-two-year adventure; 18 years later, the Nordströms continue to call Sarasota home. Per and Helena also became US distributors for five Scandinavian home decor brands. After that venture they found their calling in real estate, joining Premier Sotheby’s International Realty as Team Nordstrom. Their three children have left the nest and are spread across the country (Salt Lake City, New York, and New Haven).
BENEFACTORS
Hans Björstrand & Rada Peros
David & Barbro Bolthouse
Thomas & Christina Carlberg
Caroline Donohue
Tomas & Gunilla Ericson
Peter & Lisa Fagerberg
Marie & Mikael Francke
Olof B. Franzon & Christina Seguin
Erland & Irene Hagman
Oa Holfve & Kristina Asp
Dennis & Birgitta Hulth
Knut & Gunilla Imshaug
Zdenka Klosson
Inger Keussen & Wojciech Cwikiel
Anna Lanner & Steve Trygg
Gunnar & Kerstin Linden
Per-Erik & Sandra Lindqvist
Lars-Arne & Renee Lundholm
Ing-Marie Malkin
Scott Marshall
Benny & Mariell Neuman
Kerstin Nicholson
Lars & Gunnel Nilsson
Per & Helena Nordström
Rickard & Ina Ovin
Peter & Elke Elke Perten
Patrik & Elin Pettersson
Annika Sandström
Marie & Robert Sellberg
Eric & Maud Siljeström
Pelle & Kristina Sjöö
Keith Swanson
Lennart Stridh & Mary Beirne
Marcus & Victoria Walfridson
Britt-Marie & Lars Wangmo
Bert & Bibbi Wate
Mariana & Per Åhlund
Rickard & Monika Åängasköld
Bo Öhman
LARS A LUNDHOLM TREASURER