Please join the American Center in Moscow for the Summer 2025 virtual event series, "Culture Connection: Entrepreneurial Spirit." This 6-part online speaker series invites an expert roster of American guest speakers who use their passion for culture to chart their paths to success and creative fulfillment. Conversations are curated and moderated by filmmaker and Russophile Michael Beckelhimer.

About the Moderator and Series Curator, Michael Beckelhimer: 

Michael Beckelhimer is a graduate of Russian studies programs at American University and Harvard. He lived in Moscow and Tallinn before, during, and after the fall of the Soviet Union, and traveled there often to shoot his documentary film “Pushkin Is Our Everything.” He lives in Alexandria, VA, where he is working on a documentary film about Russia’s relationship with the US
 

Series Timeline:

Wednesday, May 28, 19:00 MSK

Description: What did we learn from the Americans who flooded into Russia after 1991, partnering with Russians to start businesses? Charles Hecker answers this (and other) questions in his new book,  Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business in Russia. Charles is a self-described “Russia geek” who spent 40 years traveling and working in Russia. In this session of Culture Connection, Charles will tell us about his experience opening and managing the Moscow office of a global risk consultancy, writing his first book about Russia, and building a professional career heavily influenced by his passion for Russian language and culture.

Speaker: Charles Hecker

Bio: Charles Hecker has spent forty years traveling and working in the Soviet Union and Russia. He has worked as a journalist and a geopolitical risk consultant and has lived in Miami and Moscow. He currently resides in East London. A fluent Russian speaker, he holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.

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Wednesday, June 11, 19:00 MSK: Historic Stories of a Small Town in America

Description: Meet Tim Rose, former U.S. military officer and investment banker who followed his passion for American history by starting a tour company in one of America’s most historic towns, Alexandria, VA. He guides curious tourists along the beautiful streets where George Washington and Robert E. Lee lived. We’ll talk to Tim about how he turned his true passion into a successful business and what interesting facts about America’s Founding Fathers we can learn from the historic brick streets and alleys of Alexandria.

Speaker: Tim Rose

Bio: Tim Rose is a proud Marine Corps veteran, Virginia native, and Old Town Alexandria resident. After serving 10 years as a military officer, earning an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia, and working three years in investment banking, Tim realized he needed to return to what he loved most: learning and teaching American history. He moved to Alexandria, VA, and started a small tour company, Alexandria History Tours, where he shares his love of Civil War history and the history of the American Revolution.

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Wednesday, June 25, 20:00 MSK: Interpreting America’s History

Description: Historical sites and museums must choose which stories to tell and how to tell them. How do we make sure history is told in the most honest and ethical way? After designing exhibits on slavery and plantation life in South Carolina, Shawn Halifax founded Stono History Consulting to guide historical sites and museums through the difficult and sometimes controversial process of historical interpretation. Shawn joins Culture Connection to talk about the inspiration of South Carolina’s Gulla/Geechee culture along the banks of the Stono River and describe his experience working with the most complicated aspects of American history to create educational, engaging experiences.

Speaker: Shawn Halifax

Bio: Shawn Halifax is a public historian who collaborates with people and communities to preserve and share their history. His career is characterized by opening new sites or revitalizing old ones, including the development of public history programs at McLeod Plantation Historic Site, the first historic plantation in South Carolina with the sole purpose to interpret the lives of enslaved people and their descendants. He has worked with the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Middleton Place Foundation and the Fort Monroe Authority.

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Wednesday, July 9, 19:00 MSK: George Washington’s Legacy

Description: Join us on a trip back in time to George Washington’s country estate, Mt. Vernon – a living museum of American life in the late 1700s. Our guest, Tom Plott, manages the highly respected historical interpretation program with actor portrayals of the people who kept the estate running – from George Washington’s personal secretary, doctor, and enslaved cook to George and Martha Washington themselves. Through the eyes of these well-researched and historically accurate characters, Tom and his team break through the myths of America’s first president to reveal the truths about America’s political and social foundation.

Speaker: Tom Plott

Bio: Tom Plott is the Manager of Character Interpretation at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. Tom has worked in professional theatre for over 35 years as an actor, director, fight choreographer, and vocal talent. Using his skills as an actor and researcher, he expertly portrays George Washington’s personal physician, Dr. James Craik, educating Mt. Vernon’s visitors on 18th-century medicine.

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Tuesday, July 22, 20:00 MSK: Our Ancestors Slept Here

Description: Join us this Wednesday for a new episode of Culture Connection, where we willl be speaking with Joseph McGill, one of South Carolina’s most respected interpreters of the history of slavery. As the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project, Joe travels across the country, sleeping in the spaces where enslaved people once lived, cooking in the kitchens where they worked, and helping communities connect with the legacy of their enslaved ancestors. We will talk with Joe about his experiences at more than 150 historic slave sites and his efforts to promote the preservation of these important places.

Speaker: Joseph McGill

Bio: Joseph McGill Jr. is the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project in Charleston, SC. He has spent over 250 nights in approximately 150 different slave sites across the U.S., interacting with the descendants and bringing their stories to the public. Mr. McGill is a native of Kingstree, South Carolina. After serving in the United States Air Force he earned a B.A. degree in Professional English from South Carolina State University. During his long career in historical preservation and interpretation, he has presented Civil War history as a Park Ranger at Fort Sumter, participated in Civil Ware reenactments, and helped develop several American museums and historical sites.

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Wednesday, August 6, 19:00 MSK: Almost Heaven, West Virginia – CANCELED 
Will be rescheduled, date TBD

Description: David Sibray is a historian, preservationist, journalist, explorer, and travel writer in one of the U.S.’s most beautiful – and misunderstood – states: West Virginia. What is it about the natural beauty, history, and literature of this unique American region that inspired Sibray to devote his life to understanding and promoting the state? In this last episode of the series, David Sibray will discuss why he chose to remain in this small state and how his work there contributes to cultural and economic development.  

Speaker: David Sibray

Bio: David Sibray is a prominent West Virginia historian, journalist, and real estate professional. As the founder and long‑time publisher of West Virginia Explorer magazine, he has made it his life’s mission to explore and celebrate the state’s historical landmarks, cultural heritage, and natural beauty. Sibray also serves as a real estate agent and historic property consultant with Foxfire Realty, where he helps preserve and promote sites of historical significance, leveraging his expertise on boards such as the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and the Friends of the New River Gorge National River. Through journalism, public speaking, and advocacy, he has become a respected voice in the state’s cultural and preservation community. 

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ALL AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE / ALL EVENTS OF THE AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW ARE FREE OF CHARGE

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To watch this event live, tune in to the American Center in Moscow’s YouTube channel and VK page. You can also watch the recording of this event on the same platforms after the event’s end.

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