Bob Van Ronkel

Currently. Van Ronkel is living back in the U.S. and continues to bring well-known celebrities, bands and speakers to Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries. In 2018 he took Richard Gere to speak at a forum in Moscow. In 2019 he took Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak at a global forum in Saint Petersburg. He is arranging co-financing for films with Hollywood and Russian film makers and financiers, booking Hollywood celebrities to attend different types of events, including advertising and marketing campaigns for many different Russian companies and developing his own television series for the U.S. that will film in Russia

In 2016 Van Ronkel was hired to bring Steven Seagal to perform at a charity event in Moscow and then meet with President Vladimir Putin after. He also brought Kevin Costner and Modern West to perform at the same event.

In 2013 Van Ronkel was contacted by executives at NBC-Universal and asked if he could help them in Moscow, while they were there organizing the 2013 Miss Universe pageant. There he met president to be, Donald Trump and entertained celebrity guests and friends Steven Tyler and producers Allen Shapiro and Peter Guber.

The next 14 years. Van Ronkel produced films and events and brought over 130 celebrities to Russia, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine. In December 2010, he arranged a visit for Kevin Costner and his band Modern West to perform at a private charity event for President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

Other Accomplishments. Van Ronkel has produced nine films, five of which filmed in Russia, two Russian television series, one for ORT called Tryukachi, and another for Russia Channel 2 called Delo Betagami, three Odessa Jazz Festivals and three 1,000,000 Smiles charity events for orphan children. He has been a consultant to more than 12 film festivals, including the Moscow International Film Festival, Faces of Love, 2Morrow, Astana Action Film Festival, Eurasia International Film Festival, Odessa International Film Festival, Tashkent International Film Festival, Stars of Shaken Film Festival, Me and Family and October, as well as Russian channels MTV, Muz-TV, NTV and the 1st Channel. In 2007 he opened the Grand Havana Room Moscow, a private cigar and business club for Russia's elite [8] and in 2014, opened the Doors to Hollywood Acting Academy in Moscow.

2003. With a $1,000,000 budget from MDM Bank for the 300 year Anniversary of the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, he organized and produced the Hiro Yamagata-MDM Bank laser exhibition over the Neva River, which 1,300,000 people attended.

2002. Sixty days later, Van Ronkel was hired to help throw a seven-day, $7,000,000 birthday party in Jamaica for a Russian oligarch turning 30. They booked the entire Grand Lido Braco Resort and during the week brought the bands Kiss, Nazareth, The Scorpions, and Sugar Ray to perform for the 150 guests.

By the end of 2002 and after having made so many new wealthy and powerful Russian friends, Van Ronkel decided to move to Moscow and opened “Doors to Hollywood” there.

2001. He was re-hired as consultant to the Moscow International Film Festival and using his strong network of contacts, convinced actors Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Woody Harrelson, Peta Wilson and Sammo Hung to attend. The same month, new friend Jim Carrey and his business manager John Rigney came to Moscow and spent five days there with Van Ronkel.

2000. Became a consultant to the Moscow International Film Festival.

2000. At a time when Americans were wary of traveling to Russia, after months of networking and many phone calls to his VIP friends, Van Ronkel was able to bring to the Moscow International Film Festival the president of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing, director William Friedkin, and producers Jay Firestone and Peter Hoffman. He also persuaded E-TV to attend and cover the festival.

1999. Produced his second film, “Scream of the Mummy.”

1999. After successfully bringing Landau to the festival and Warner Bros to meet the Russian government, Van Ronkel was hired by the Moscow International Film Festival as its U.S. consultant.

1998. Produced his first film, The Tic Code, starring Gregory Hines.

In early 1998, Van Ronkel's life completely changed when he was introduced to a Russian producer in Los Angeles who asked if he could help sell his Russian produced, English-language film in the US and Europe called Sacred Cargo.

Following their second trip to Moscow in 1998, Van Ronkel received a call from the General Director of the Moscow International Film Festival, Renat Davletyarov, asking if he could bring a Hollywood star to their film festival in early 1999.

1992–1997. Continued to sell real estate in and around Beverly Hills.

1990. Open his restaurant “435 North” on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.

1985. Started selling real estate for Fred Sands Realtors in Beverly Hills.

1980. Opened cloths manufacturing company Fury Sportswear in New York.

1978. Opened cloths manufacturing company Wings Jeans in Los Angeles.

Just after that Van Ronkel was hired to help throw a Russian oligarch's 34th birthday party in Cannes, France, and had a $3,000,000 budget for the three day party. The guests he brought were Val Kilmer, James Caan, Billy Zane, Rutger Hauer, Faye Dunaway, Chris Kirkpatrick, Ralf Moeller, Ah-Ha and the Gypsy Kings.