Charles H. Cotros Inaugurated as Chairman

Charles H. Cotros of Memphis, Tennessee, was inaugurated as the Chairman of Leadership 100 on February 11, 2012 at the Grand Banquet of the 21st Annual Leadership 100 Conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach in Manalapan, Florida. He served as Vice Chairman for the past two years under Constantine G. Caras, of Greenville, Delaware, whose term was completed as Chairman but who remains a member of the Executive Committee.

Cotros, who has served as a director of Allied Waste Industries Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona since July 2004 and as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board from October 2004 through 2007, began his career in 1960 with Tri-State General Food Supply ("Tri-State"), which merged with SYSCO in 1974 where he served in various positions prior to being elected Chief Operating Officer in 1995, President in 1999, and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2000. He served on the Board of Sysco from 1986 until his retirement in 2003. A graduate of Christian Brothers College in Memphis and Tulane University in New Orleans, he is married to the former Constance (Connie) Pappas. The couple has two daughters, one son, and eleven grandchildren. Active in Greek Orthodox parishes in Houston, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee, Cotros is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

George S. Tsandikos of New York, New York, took office as Vice Chairman of Leadership 100, having served as Treasurer. He has been Managing Director of Rockefeller & Company in New York, New York since 2003, having previously served as Vice President, Private Bank ofJ.P. Morgan Private Bank, also inNew York, New York, from 1989 to 2003 and as an Associate with Burns and Levinson, Counselors at Law, Boston, Massachusetts from 1987 to 1989. He holds an A.B. in economics from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and a J.D., Cum Laude, from Boston College Law School, Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Tsandikos is a member of Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral, New York, New York and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Argyris (RJ) Vassiliou of Stamford, Connecticut took office as Treasurer of Leadership 100. He is currently the President of Acme Pallet Company, Inc. in New York City and Di-Cor Industries, Inc. in Bristol, Connecticut. He received a B.C.E. degree from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in1989 and an M.S. degree from Princeton University in 1991. Vassiliou also serves as Treasurer of Saint Michael’s Home in Yonkers, New York and on the Board of Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is an alumnus member of the National Leadership Council for the Campaign for Stuyvesant High School and an active member of AHEPA. He is married to the former Ann Pappajohn. They have two children and attend the Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Connecticut. He is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, New Jersey, was re-elected and resumed office as Secretary of Leadership 100. She earned a B.A. degree from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, in 1967 and an M.A. from Manhattanville College in 1968. She was married to Christos Romas, MD immediately upon graduation and, shortly afterwards, settled in Short Hills, where her husband started and maintained his Ophthalmology practice and where they raised three daughters, Christina, Annette and Maria. She engaged as a leader and organizer in a wide range of volunteer activities until her husband’s passing. Shortly afterwards she became an Executive Recruiter for Michael E. Marion and Associates and, later, Director of the newly formed Bouras Properties, LLC where she currently is Managing Director/Landlord of a large office building in Summit, New Jersey. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Philoptochos Society and is a member Holy Trinity Church in Westfield, New Jersey, where she has served as President of the Parish Council. She has chaired the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of New York’s Annual Cathedral Ball and been active in building restoration projects at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation of New York.

On Friday, February 10, the General Assembly recognized the service of George P. Stamas of Baltimore, Maryland, senior partner in the prestigious Washington D.C. law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, for his service on the Board of Trustees since 2002. He was presented with a Commendation for Distinguished Service. George and his wife, Georgia, have been members of Leadership 100 since 2000. Eliana Papadakis, a long-time and devoted member, and a community and philanthropic leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was elected to his seat. She and her husband, Dr. Constantine Papadakis of Blessed Memory, who was President of Drexel University, joined Leadership 100 in 2000. Michael R. Henry of Blessed Memory was also recognized for his service on the Board of Trustees and for his many contributions in the area of marketing and membership development. His wife, Sofia, an active member of Leadership 100, accepted the Commendation for Distinguished Service.

Shortly after the Conference, Cotros reappointed John A. Payiavlas as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Peter A.Vlachos as Chairman of the Investment Committee, and John Sitilides as Chairman of the Grant Committee, and appointed Tom Jordan to replace Vassiliou as Chairman of the Audit Committee and George E. Safiol to replace himself as Chairman of the Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Committee.