Czech Republic Opens Consul Office in Kansas City

Kansas City, Mo. — His Excellency, Martin Palouš, the Czech ambassador to the United States, announces the appointment of Sharon K. Valášek as honorary consul for the Midwest. Valášek is a business professional and consultant for Black & Veatch Solutions Group, Inc.

Official installation events will take place September 24-26, 2003 and will include a visit by Ambassador Palouš and other dignitaries from the consular corps, local governments and business leaders.

As honorary consul for the U.S. Midwest region, Valášek’s primary role is to facilitate and support local relationship-building initiatives between the Czech Republic and the United States that further cultural, educational, political and business exchange. As one of 15 regional honorary consuls reporting to Ambassador Palouš, Valášek also provides advocacy and assistance for Czech nationals in the United States.

Valášek added these comments “As a second-generation American of Czech descent, I am very proud and pleased to represent the Czech Republic’s interests and serve the people in the states of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.”

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Sharon K. Valášek – Honorary Consul to the Czech Republic

Sharon Valášek is a member of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences and the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International. She currently holds offices in both the Greater Kansas City Czech & Slovak Club, and the Kansas City chapter of People-to-People International. Currently and for the past 5 years, she has been a sponsor of international officers attending Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. She is active in professional organizations, including the Project Management Institute and the International Trade Club of Kansas City.

In her current position with Black & Veatch Solutions Group, Inc., Valášek provides project and process management services in numerous functional areas for business clients seeking to improve productivity and results. Her relationship management and problem-solving skills are key assets in advising client organizations.

Sharon has years of hands-on experience in management consulting, telecommunications and retailing including general management, project management, product marketing, quality facilitation, process development and vendor management. Previous employers include Sprint Corporation, with 26 million business and residential customers in more than 70 countries.

Valášek holds a master of business administration degree from Avila University, and a bachelor of science degree in business from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

His Excellency Martin Palouš – Czech Ambassador to the United States

Ambassador Martin Palouš was among the first signatories of Charter 77, the petition drawn up by Czech writers and intellectuals in 1989 that demanded the communist government of Czechoslovakia recognize some basic human rights. During that year, demonstrations organized by dissident groups, including the signers of Charter 77, steadily increased. The movement culminated with the "Velvet Revolution," the bloodless overthrow of the communist dictatorship that took place in November 1989.

Martin Palouš became ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States on Oct. 10, 2001. A founding member of the Civic Forum, he was elected to the Federal Assembly in 1990. From there he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia as an adviser and then as deputy minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1992.

Ambassador Palouš has also held a number of teaching positions at Charles University in Prague, where he earned a doctor of natural sciences in chemistry degree in 1973. He became a member of the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1994 and joined the Centre for Theoretical Studies in 1993. He has also lectured extensively in the United States and authored several publications. Ambassador Palouš is married to Pavla Paloušová. They have two children: Michal and Johana.