The 19th Annual Leadership 100 Conference at Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California, in the San Diego area, from February 4-7, 2010, will honor three outstanding Greek American leaders who have made major contributions to American life, George Stephanopoulos, anchor of ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” and Chief Washington Correspondent of ABC News, who was President Clinton’s senior political advisor and Communications Director; George Pelecanos, the award-winning author, film and television producer whose newest book, The Way Home, was on President Obama’s reading list this summer; and George Argyros, former United States Ambassador to Spain and one of America’s foremost real estate investors. All three will be presented with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence.

The program will also acknowledge the life-time achievements of two other outstanding individuals, Harry C. Cordellos, a world class athlete who overcame childhood visual challenges, and Deborah Szekely, co-founder of the modern day health and fitness movement who is the founder of two leading destination spas, Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta, and is a noted philanthropist and public servant with an inspiring life story, both of whom will be presented with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Achievement.

The Conference theme is “The Torchbearers of Our Faith and Hellenic Heritage: The New Generation of Leaders,” which not only recognizes these extraordinary leaders exemplifying our Hellenic ideals from such diverse fields but our youngest leaders, Leadership 100 Partners, now numbering 86 young professional men and women who have made major contributions to the mission of Leadership 100.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and the esteemed Metropolitans of the Greek Orthodox Church will join the conferees for a program that includes the Annual General Assembly and Grand Banquet. In addition, San Diego’s St. Spyridon Greek Dance and Choral School’s Aegean and Ionian dance groups and Youth Choir will perform at the traditional Glendi on Friday night.

The Hotel del Coronado is San Diego’s only truly beachfront hotel. Situated on 28 beautiful oceanfront acres on Coronado Island, the 120-year-old structure is a beacon of grandeur and refinement with comfortable and quaint rooms reflective of that period. There are a total of 679 rooms in three distinct buildings from which to choose accommodations: the Victorian Building, a National Historic Landmark blending 19th century ambience with modern comforts; Ocean Towers and California Cabanas, contemporary design with tropical themes; plus 78 new cottages and villas in Beach Village.