Board & Director

Harolds Bulmanis is the General Manager of SIA SunCrisp, a Norwegian family owned group of companies. Initially, SunCrisp was a small business turnaround project, developing into a growth company specializing in snack carrots. Harolds began his career in advertising then working for the Coca-Cola system for 17 years. 12 of those years in Canada and 5 years in the Baltics, based out of Tallinn. After leaving Coca-Cola, he joined Carlsberg in Latvia (Aldaris) as the Business Development Director and moved the family to Riga. In 2012, he left the corporate world to join SunCrisp. Harolds does some guest lectures at the University of Latvia and at Riga Business School, and holds a business degree from the University of Toronto.

Frode is CEO of Linstow Baltic, a Norwegian real estate developer and manager with more than 20 years experience in the Baltics. He has been with the company since 1998 when he joined as its COO, becoming CEO in 2004. He has held several positions at Executive Boards, including the Foreign Investor Council in Latvia and Power Nordic Consumer Electronic Chain (former Expert Nordic). Frode holds a BA in International Marketing from the University of Leeds in the UK and Master of Marketing Science from the Norwegian Business School (BI) in Oslo, Norway.

Krista Vahtele is the Executive Director of NCCL since September, 2023. With a career spanning over 15 years, Krista has acquired an extensive experience in the Scandinavian market, having held a variety of leadership and project management positions. Krista has pursued her education in Denmark, Canada and Latvia, and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration.

Ilze Grase – Ķibilde has automotive experience in retail and wholesale since year 2000 in Baltic leading automotive brands such as VW, Audi, previously BMW and Toyota. Having management positions in sales and marketing, today being a leader of pan-Baltic company with 70 employees. Interested and passionate about business ideas and ongoing development not only in automotive world, but many business processes surrounding it. Fluent in Estonian, Russian, English with good knowledge of German and basic Norwegian. Energy comes from sharing new ideas, networking and bringing valuable input into projects and business opportunities. The potential to learn and give something lies in every new experience.

Matiss Kukainis is a founding partner of Spīgulis & Kukainis Law Firm in Riga, Latvia. He was born and educated in the US and has been living and working in Latvia full-time since 2006. He is a dual US and Latvian citizen. He is a licensed attorney both in Latvia and the State of Illinois, USA. Matiss specializes in all aspects of real estate law, consulting on the sale, lease, inheritance and management of property. He has served as the NCCL Vice President and on the Board since 2017. He has also served on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (2008-2015), during which time he had the honor to serve as both a Vice President and President, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (2007-2009). Outside of the office Matiss has taught Business and International Law at various institutions in Latvia, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, amassing more than 1,300 direct classroom teaching hours. Matiss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) and a Juris Doctor Degree in Law (J.D.) from Michigan State University. He also holds a Master of Law Degree (LL.M.). in International and EU Law from the Riga Graduate School of Law.

Snorre Karkkonen Svensson is the founder and co-owner of the House of Languages, an organisation with the mission to create positive change through language. House of Languages organises language courses and testing, offers translation services, is involved in book publishing, houses a linguistic library and mini book store, and organises cultural events connected to language. Snorre has educational background in Baltic and Nordic studies and second language acquisition from universities in Norway, Germany and Latvia. He has taught Norwegian in Latvia since 1997, worked as interpreter and translator between Latvian, Lithuanian and Norwegian, and has experience in language-related business since 2003, giving language services and consultations to governmental organisations and businesses in five different countries.

Gatis Ginters is CEO of Norplast Piemare, a Norwegian owned ENTEC Norplast daughter company, with wide experience in business management, sales, marketing, and international trade. Mr.Ginters holds a master's degree in Business management from Latvian Agriculture University and University degree in Transportation and Logistics from World Maritime Academy in Rotterdam, Netherlands. As commercial and trade counselor at Latvian embassy in Norway and Head of Norwegian office of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia he has advised Latvian and Norwegian entrepreneurs in finding partners and boosting trade between countries and promote Latvian companies in Norway as well as attracting Norwegian FDI to Latvia.

Svetlana Kočerova, Head of the Latvian Branch of DNB Bank ASA. Manager and Lean enthusiast with many years of experience. Svetlana has worked in various positions: implementation of Lean and training, transfer of services, establishment and management of branch administration, management of bank operations department and management of various efficiency projects. Currently working on a doctoral degree at the University of Latvia, with research focusing on the application of Lean principles in the service industry, reflecting her dedication to continuous improvement and efficiency. Svetlana believes in lifelong learning, encapsulated in the timeless words of Heraclitus: "There is nothing permanent except change." #lifetimelearning is her mantra, guiding her through the dynamic landscape of modern banking and beyond.