Founders Honored

Some 340 conferees gathered for the Grand Banquet at the Leadership 100 Celebration Conference at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico on Saturday, February 7, 2009 to honor Leadership 100 Founders. Stephen G. Yeonas, Chairman, and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America were joined by George D. Behrakis, Chairperson of the Conference with his wife, Margo, in presenting them with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence, named for the visionary Archbishop Iakovos who initiated the organization in 1984.

The newly-designed award bore a laser-chiseled image of Archbishop Iakovos imbedded in clear crystal lighted from below by a light source within the solid base. The inscription, a quote from Archbishop Iakovos at the September 12, 1999 dedication of the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, read: “I plant your visions and mine, your hopes and mine, your future and the futures of your children and grandchildren…”

In honoring Leadership 100’s Founding Members, Arthur C. Anton, Sr., Andrew A. Athens, George K. Chimples, Peter M. Dion, Michael Jaharis and, posthumously, Thomas A. Athens and George P. Kokalis, Behrakis said: “In the lead were always the best examples of leaders, our Founders, who always and everywhere rejoiced in hope, each and every one, Arthur C. Anton, whom my own father pointed to as a shining example of what we can achieve, Andrew A. Athens, an apostle of Hellenism around the world, George K. Chimples, who has inspired us to ever greater heights, Peter M. Dion, who has offered us a special wisdom in our affairs and Michael Jaharis, whose generosity of spirit has no match. We remember too, with gratitude, Thomas A. Athens, who built up Leadership 100 like no other, and George P. Kokalis, who whipped us into action. What truly great examples for us and our children and their children.”