Emerging Member Spotlight: Feature Stories from our Young Professionals
One of Leadership 100's greatest strengths is its ability to inspire and engage the next generation of Greek Orthodox leaders. Across the country, young professionals are stepping forward to carry on a legacy of faith, stewardship, and service while bringing fresh perspectives and new energy to the future of our Church. These emerging leaders demonstrate that a commitment to Orthodoxy and Hellenism can be seamlessly integrated with successful careers, growing families, and active involvement in their communities.
In this issue, we are pleased to spotlight two outstanding young professionals whose stories reflect the enduring impact of Leadership 100 across generations. Michael Henry, an entrepreneur based in Denver, honors the legacy of his late father, former Leadership 100 Board member Mike Henry, through his own commitment to service and stewardship. Aris Kourkoumelis, a leader within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, continues a family tradition of engagement alongside his wife, whose family has supported Leadership 100 for generations.
Together, Michael and Aris exemplify the values of leadership, faith, and generosity that will help strengthen and sustain Orthodoxy and Hellenism for years to come.
Michael Henry
Entrepreneur & Co-Founder, The Work Club, Tenfold Studio and The Luna Dome Co-Owner
As a second-generation Leadership 100 supporter inspired by his late father's legacy, Denver entrepreneur Michael Henry represents a new generation of Greek Orthodox leaders committed to faith, stewardship, and community. Through his professional work building communities and his personal commitment to the Church, he is helping carry the mission of Leadership 100 into the future.
Tell us a little about yourself: your family, career, and where you call home.
I’m Michael Henry, an entrepreneur based in Denver, Colorado. While Colorado is where I’ve chosen to build my life today, my journey has taken me across several parts of the country and shaped who I am both personally and professionally. I was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where I learned the values of hard work, family, and faith. After college, I moved to San Francisco to launch my career and immerse myself in a vibrant entrepreneurial and technology-driven environment. The experience exposed me to innovative thinking and helped fuel my passion for building businesses and creating communities.
Today, I am proud to call the mountains of Colorado home. Denver offers the perfect balance of professional opportunity, outdoor adventure, and a strong sense of community. My current professional focus is The Work Club, a growing portfolio of shared workspaces that I am launching alongside my fellow Leadership 100 member and close friend, Andreas Tjotjos. Our vision is to create places where people can work, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships. Much of my work centers on fostering community, which aligns closely with many of the values I learned through my upbringing, my faith, and my family's example.
What inspired you to become involved with Leadership 100?
My connection to Leadership 100 is deeply personal and rooted in family. My late father, Mike Henry, served on the Leadership 100 Board and dedicated significant time and energy to supporting the mission of the Church. While he did not have Mediterranean roots, he embraced Greek culture and the Orthodox faith wholeheartedly after marrying my mother, Sofia. To those who knew him, his commitment to the Church was genuine, unwavering, and inspiring.
One of my favorite family stories captures this beautifully. My mother once jokingly referred to my father as a xenos, or foreigner, during a Leadership 100 gathering attended by clergy. An Archbishop immediately turned to her and said, “Don’t you ever call him that. He is one of us.” That moment has always stayed with me because it reflects how fully my father was embraced by the Orthodox community and how devoted he was to serving it.
Growing up, I watched him lead through generosity, stewardship, and service. Leadership 100 was not simply an organization he supported financially; it was a cause he believed in and invested himself in personally. As I have grown older and established my own career and family priorities, I have felt increasingly called to continue that tradition of giving back. At 32 years old, I see joining Leadership 100 as both a responsibility and an honor. It is an opportunity to contribute to the future of the Orthodox Church while carrying forward the legacy my father left behind.
What advice would you give to other young professionals who are considering becoming involved with Leadership 100 or giving back to the Church?
I’ll share the same advice that was shared with me by a fellow Coloradan and Leadership 100 Board Member, Dr. Gregory Papadeas: “If you want to make an impact on the Orthodox Church in America, joining Leadership 100 is the best thing you can do.”
What I appreciate about that advice is its simplicity and truth. Many young professionals want to support the Church but aren't always sure where to start or how they can make a meaningful difference. Leadership 100 provides a unique opportunity to be part of something much larger than yourself. Through the collective generosity and vision of its members, the organization helps fund ministries, leadership development, education, outreach, and countless initiatives that strengthen Orthodoxy across the country.
A young Michael with his late father, Mike Henry, who served on the Leadership 100 Board
My encouragement would be not to wait until some future season of life when you feel more established or have more time. Get involved now. Attend events, meet other members, learn about the Church's needs, and begin building relationships with people who share your commitment to faith and service. One of the greatest benefits of Leadership 100 is the chance to connect with accomplished and faithful leaders from across the nation who are all working toward the same mission. Those relationships can be just as impactful as the financial contribution itself.
Looking ahead, what gives you hope for the future of our Orthodox Church?
One of the greatest sources of hope for me is what I see happening at the parish level. I attend Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Boulder, Colorado, where our community recently celebrated the baptism and chrismation of 14 catechumens. Witnessing people make such a profound commitment to Christ and the Orthodox faith is incredibly encouraging and inspiring.
What excites me most is the diversity of backgrounds represented among those entering the Church. We are seeing people of all ages and walks of life discover Orthodoxy and become deeply engaged in their faith. Many arrive with sincere questions and a desire for spiritual grounding, and they find those answers through the richness of Orthodox tradition.
Ultimately, my hope comes from seeing that Orthodoxy remains as relevant and transformative today as it has been for centuries. When I look at growing parishes, engaged young adults, new converts, and organizations like Leadership 100 investing in the future of the Church, I am optimistic about what lies ahead for Orthodox Christianity in America.
Aris Kourkoumelis
Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
As a leader in public service and a dedicated member of the Orthodox community, Aris Kourkoumelis exemplifies the next generation of Leadership 100 members committed to faith, stewardship, and service. Through his work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and his active involvement in the Church, Aris brings a unique perspective on leadership, responsibility, and community impact. Together with his wife, Mariana Kourkoumelis, daughter of the late Jimmy Pantelidis, whose family has supported Leadership 100 across generations, Aris represents the enduring legacy of Orthodox families who continue to invest their time, talent, and resources in strengthening the future of the Church.
Tell us a little about yourself — your family, career, and where you call home.
I grew up in Queens and Long Island, New York, the son of Greek immigrants, in a close-knit family where I learned early to work hard, keep God and family at the center, and never forget where I came from. Growing up, I worked alongside my father at his fruit market and real estate business, where those values were lived every day. My parents instilled in me both a deep love for our Greek heritage and an equally strong love and gratitude for America and the opportunities it gave our family. That commitment is reflected in their longstanding support of the Church, Greek education, and charitable organizations.
That sense of gratitude and responsibility shaped my commitment to public service- I have always felt a responsibility to give something back to the country and community that gave my family so much. I began my legal career at the U.S. Court of International Trade working for Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas, whose example taught me that success carries a responsibility to help others. I went on to practice international trade law, serve at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and establish and lead a boutique law firm before returning to public service.
Most recently, I was appointed by the President to serve as Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where I help safeguard the trade, supply chains, critical infrastructure, and economic systems that underpin our national security.
The Greek community has remained woven throughout my professional and personal life. In virtually every business I have built from founding a law firm to building a restaurant, my partners have been fellow Greek-Americans, reflecting my belief that our community is strongest when we trust one another, create opportunities together, and help each other succeed. That same sense of community drives my involvement with New York's Greek Independence Day Parade and the annual Greek flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green, which I chair. These events celebrate our heritage while demonstrating the strength and unity of the Greek-American community.
My wife and family remain at the center of my life. Although we now live in Washington, D.C., New York will always be home. I feel fortunate to have roots in two countries I deeply love and believe that what we inherit - opportunity, culture, and community - comes with a responsibility to preserve it and pass it forward.
What inspired you to become involved with Leadership 100?
My wife and her family introduced me to Leadership 100 and, from the beginning, I was struck by the importance they placed on supporting the Church. Their commitment wasn't simply philanthropic, it was a value passed from one generation to the next.
I was raised with a strong commitment to God, country, and family, and I see the Church as an institution that reinforces all three. It provides a spiritual foundation while bringing together families around a shared faith and a sense of responsibility to one another. That sense of shared responsibility is what ultimately drew me to Leadership 100.
What does being a young member of Leadership 100 mean to you?
For me, being a young member of Leadership 100 is about making sure the next generation is prepared to carry our Church and institutions forward. We inherited strong foundations because those before us invested their time, energy, and resources in building them. Now it is our responsibility to do the same.
One of the things I value most about Leadership 100 is the opportunity to bring generations together. Younger members can learn from those who have built successful businesses, raised families, and supported the Church, while established members can mentor us, open doors, and create opportunities to lead. I have been fortunate to benefit from that guidance and try to offer the same to younger Greek-Americans.
I also believe our generation has a responsibility to preserve the Greek language. Our Church and schools play an essential role in keeping it alive, connecting us to our families, faith, and history.
Ultimately, being a young member means learning from the generation ahead, supporting the generation behind, and preserving what keeps us connected.
What advice would you give to other young professionals who are considering becoming involved with Leadership 100 or giving back to the Church?
Get involved in your community now. You don’t need to wait until you’re older, more successful, or have more time. Give what you can, your time, energy, advice, connections, or financial support, and do it without expecting anything in return.
Some of the most meaningful experiences in my life have come from simply showing up, helping someone, or creating an opportunity for another person. Along the way, you build friendships, learn from others, and become part of something larger than your own career.
Aris with his wife, Mariana Kourkoumelis, and extended family
My advice is simple: show up, give freely, and don’t keep score. You may be surprised by how much you receive in return.
Looking ahead, what gives you hope for the future of our Orthodox Church?
This is an exciting time for the Orthodox Church. There is a real movement among young people toward faith, family, and more traditional values, and Orthodoxy is uniquely positioned to speak to that. We should embrace what makes our faith ancient and distinctive rather than shy away from it.
Our schools and the Greek language are also critical to our future. Teaching Greek is about more than language; it connects children to their faith, history, traditions, and community. If we want the Church to remain strong, we must continue investing in our schools, teachers, and children.
One of the greatest gifts of this country is the ability to preserve our faith, language, and traditions while also being proud Americans. That freedom is a tremendous gift, and we should never take it for granted. If we invest in our children and confidently pass on our faith, values and heritage, I believe the future of our Church and our country is incredibly bright.
