Pappas Named Special Advisor
Dr. David Horner, president of The American College of Greece (ACG), has announced the appointment of Gregory C. Pappas of Chicago, Ill., a member of Leadership 100, as a Special Advisor to the College, effective January 1, 2009. Pappas will advise ACG’s president and senior administration on issues related to communications, community outreach, and development for the College’s activities in the United States, as well as for strategy related to academic and study abroad programs.
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.
General Assembly Hears Good News
The Leadership 100 Annual General Assembly convened at the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference on February 6, 2009 in Puerto Rico, to hear reports of record growth in membership and continued success in raising new funds for grants despite the economic downturn.
Economic Outlook
George D. Behrakis, 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference Chairperson with his wife, Margo, moderated a Business Panel on Important Economic Issues that included Leadership 100 members John G. Pappajohn from Des Moines, Iowa, and Charles H. Cotros from Memphis, Tennessee. Cotros was President, Chairman and CEO of Sysco. Pappajohn is very successful as a venture capitalist, putting together small companies, innovative companies, bridge loans and mezzanine start‑up companies in the biotech and in the high‑tech industry. Following are excerpts of the discussion.
Legal Reminiscences
Chairman Stephen G. Yeonas made a last‑minute call Monday evening during the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference to a long‑time friend to speak at our conference after a mutual friend, Plato Cacheris, became ill and had to cancel. Jacob A. Stein, of Stein, Mitchell & Muse, who is the former President of the DC Bar Association agreed and the conferees were delighted by his presentation. Following are excerpts.
Deborah Norville, Host, Inside Edition
Deborah Norville began her career in television while a student at the University of Georgia, as a reporter, and later as an anchor at WGA TV in Atlanta. In 1987 she made her move to New York as NBC’s anchor of News at Sunrise and co‑host of the Today show. She is the author of several books, including two children’s books, and has most recently written Thank You Power, whose positive and hopeful message has received rave reviews. Following are excerpts of her talk at a special Spouses’ Brunch at the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference.
First Woman Elected Officer
The Board of Trustees of Leadership 100, meeting at the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference, elected Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, NJ as Secretary, the first woman to be named an officer of the organization. She is the Managing Director of Bouras Properties, LLC of Summit, NJ.
Demakes Named National Membership Chairman
Thomas L. Demakes of Swampscott, MA was named National Membership Chairman of Leadership 100 by Stephen G. Yeonas, Chairman. He will organize a nationwide membership committee in order to recruit 50 new members in 2009. Leadership 100 recruited 64 new members in 2008 and the membership now stands at 813.
Membership at Record Level, Over $1 Million Raised for Grants
On the eve of the Leadership 100 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference next week, February 5-8, in Puerto Rico, membership has increased to a record 814 with 64 new members joining in 2008 and 374 members fulfilling their pledges of $100,000 each. An estimated 324 members and their guests will gather at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico to celebrate 25 years of the Leadership 100 mission to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.
Behrakis to Lead Panel
George D. Behrakis, former Chairman of Leadership 100 and Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference, will open the Conference on Thursday, February 5 at The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico and moderate a business panel discussion on important economic issues.
St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center
Nestled in the tranquil woods of New Hampshire in the historic town of Contoocook, the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center of the Metropolis of Boston has been termed “a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.”
New York Life Donates $1 Million To HC/HC
Ted Mathas, 41, who became a member of Leadership 100 shortly after being named chief executive officer by the Board of Directors of New York Life Insurance Company last year, presented Archbishop Demetrios with a $1 million donation on behalf of the company on Jan. 9 for the establishment of the New York Life Center for the Study of Hellenism in Pontus and Asia Minor atHellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA. The donation is part of New York Life’s outreach program to the heirs of Greek policyholders in the Ottoman Empire.
Psarouthakis on Lecture Circuit
Dr. John Psarouthakis, a pioneering scientist-entrepreneur and member of Leadership 100, traveling with his wife, Antigoni, in Europe last December gave the keynote speech, "The Challenge of Rapid Change in a Borderless World", at the graduation celebration at the Neynrode Business University in Holland; a lecture at the same school on "How to Acquire the Right Business"; and then two lectures, "How to Turn Around an Underperforming Business", and "Management Change", at a German university and in Milan.
LEADERSHIP 100 RAISES MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR GRANTS FUND
Leadership 100, in response to the current economic crisis and its effect on its Endowment Fund, has raised $1,025,000 in cash and pledges for the Leadership 100 Grant Fund. The special fund was formed by the Executive Committee in October to continue its grant program until such time as the earnings from the Endowment Fund allow the organization to resume grant distributions.
Fulfilled Membership Plaques Erected
The third Leadership 100 fulfilled membership plaque was erected at the Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA.
Panhellenic Scholarships Awarded
The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation awarded 25 of Greek America's "best and brightest" students a total of $250,000 in scholarship grants at an Awards Gala on November 15. Recipients received a Certificate and a check for $10,000 towards their higher education from the Foundation.
Louis Apostol Appointed
Louis G. Apostol, a long-time member of Leadership 100 and formerly Commissioner to the Illinois Court of Claims, has been appointed Executive Director to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board with offices in Chicago, Des Plaines and Springfield, Illinois. He will oversee and direct all residential, commercial, industrial and farmland property tax appeals in the State of Illinois.
Manatos Honored
Andrew Manatos, a long-time member of Leadership 100, who heads a prominent Washington DC lobbying firm, was presented by Archbishop Demetrios of America with the highest honor that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America bestows upon a layperson, the Medal of St. Paul.
Drexel Exhibition
An exhibition at Drexel University in Philadelphia that tells the story of the American response to Greece’s heroic role during World War II, Defenders of Democracy: The American Response to Greece’s role in World War II, features a collection of photographs, memorabilia, ephemera, newspapers, magazines and other items, primarily from the private collection of Greek America magazine publisher Gregory C. Pappas, a member of Leadership 100.
L100 To Meet Challenge To Continue Grants
The Leadership 100 Executive Committee, meeting in New York on October 24, acted in response to the financial crisis gripping the nation and its effect on the organization by temporarily suspending its grant program as required by its regulations in order to preserve the more than $50 million of contributions held inviolate in the Endowment Fund.