When IIUSA first formulated a plan to host a four-part webinar series this fall, we saw an opportunity to bring tremendous value to our members and the public at large by exploring some of the most significant yet delicate subjects that face the EB-5 Regional Center industry today. IIUSA is fortunate to count many key industry stakeholders among its leadership and membership, which allows us to tap into their expertise and guidance on EB-5 related topics for our webinar series.
As we gear up for the next webinar on Bridge Financing and Escrow Options (November 12th at 3 PM EST), we feel it would be instructive for our audience to get to know the panelists a bit better. Today, we will profile Robert C. Divine, moderator of the upcoming webinar. Mr. Divine, who is the Vice President of IIUSA and chair of Global Immigration Group at Baker Donelson, recently spoke on a panel at the SelectUSA Summit, a tremendous honor for which IIUSA and the EB-5 community is proud to recognize. Mr. Divine engaged with other fellow business leaders during his discussion on availability of capital and challenges faced by global investors in establishing operations in the United States. You can read a full description of the SelectUSA speaker agenda here.
Robert Divine’s deep understanding of the nuances of the EB-5 Regional Center Program makes him a tremendous asset to our panel for the upcoming event. In fact, Mr. Divine served in Washington, D.C., from July 2004 until November 2006 as Chief Counsel of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the world’s largest immigration services agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From July 2005 until July 2006, he served as Acting Director and then Acting Deputy Director of USCIS, spearheading the USCIS Transformation Program, testifying in Congress about the E-Verify system, enhancing operational security, and increasing transparency of rules and procedures.
At Baker Donelson, Mr. Divine is the leader of the Firm’s Immigration practice group and a shareholder who works from the Firm’s Washington, D.C., and Chattanooga offices, concentrating in business immigration and litigation. Mr. Divine represents many business developers in creating, managing and using “Regional Centers” that can create indirect jobs toward the 10 new U.S. jobs whose creation can give rise to EB-5 permanent residence for investment in the developers’ projects.
In December of 2011, Mr. Divine testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the job-creating effects of the EB-5 immigrant investor program and the importance of renewing the regional center authorizing legislation. Click here for a transcript of Mr. Divine’s testimony.
We are excited to have Mr. Divine moderating the November 12 webinar and we hope you are too. Stay tuned for profiles of fellow panelists Gina Nisbeth, Director for Structured Lending and Investment Group for Citigroup and Reid Thomas, Executive Vice Presdient of WorldWide Sales and Marketing, NES Financial.
Click Here to Sign Up for EB-5 Bridge Financing & Escrow Options – Tuesday Nov. 12 , 3 p.m. EST
