Behrakis Honored at Hellenic Times Gala
George D. Behrakis, a life-time Chairman Emeritus of Leadership 100, was the honoree at the 18th annual gala of The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund on May 16, receiving the Humanitarian Leadership Award.
Cathedral To Honor John and Margo Catsimatidis
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City will honor John and Margo Catsimatidis, long-time members of Leadership 100, noted for their business and charitable leadership, on the occasion of the 74th Annual Cathedral Gala on June 7.
Karmanos To Be Honored
The Alpha Omega Council will honor Peter Karmanos, Jr., a member of Leadership 100, with its Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Known as one of the country’s premier businessmen and currently CEO of Compuware Corporation, Mr. Karmanos is the owner of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes, a founder and sponsor of youth hockey programs in Michigan, and a committed philanthropist, particularly in the area of breast cancer research.
5 Minute Challenge
The National Membership Committee of Leadership 100, under the Chairmanship of Thomas L. Demakes, will launch the “5 Minute Challenge” campaign in an appeal in May to all members in order to recruit 50 new members in 2009. Already, 5 new members have joined.
Behrakis To Be Honored
George D. Behrakis, a life-time Chairman Emeritus of Leadership 100, will be the honoree at the 18th annual gala of The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund on May 16, receiving the Humanitarian Leadership Award.
Seminarians Visit L100
Some 21 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology seniors visited the Leadership 100 offices in the Olympic Tower in New York City on April 2 as part of their annual Archdiocesan Seminar. Of those, three were deacons, Dn. Thomas Guerry, Dn. Jason Roll and Dn. Phillip Philemon Patitsas and three women Master of Divinity candidates planning to work within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Mindy Brand, Elizabeth Nichols and Priscilla Callos.
First Lady Of Leadership 100
L100 in Action for February and The Leader Spring 2009, in reporting that the Board of Trustees of Leadership 100 had elected Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, NJ as Secretary, the first woman to be named an officer of the organization, should also have noted that the longest serving woman on the Board of Trustees was Evanthea (“Eve”) N. Condakes of Swampscott, MA, not Evangeline Condakes of eternal memory, who was Eve’s sister-in-law. We regret the error and our apologies go to Eve, who we all know and love as the “First Lady of Leadership 100.”
Dr. Constantine Papadakis Dies
Dr. Constantine Papadakis, the Drexel University President who is credited with raising the endowment, enrollment and profile of the one-time commuter school, died of complications from lung cancer on Sunday, April 5. He was 63 and was a prominent member of Leadership 100.
James P. Pamel, Longtime Trustee, Dies
James P. Pamel, a longtime member of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees, died Saturday, April 25. He was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since 1984 and served as a member of the National Archdiocesan Council and the Councils of the Metropolis of Detroit and the parish of St. George in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Grants Go to Holy Cross, Home Missions and Clergy in Need
The Leadership 100 Grant Fund, under the chairmanship of Charles H. Cotros, which has raised $1,071,350 in cash and pledges from Leadership 100 members in the face of the economic downturn, has distributed $500,000 million to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology to continue support of scholarships for seminarians studying for the priesthood.
Archbishop Demetrios Chair Established
The President of Fordham University, Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. announced Tuesday Feb. 17, a Jaharis Family Foundation gift establishing the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture as part of the Orthodox Christian Studies Program of this renowned Roman-Catholic Jesuit University in New York.
Archbishop Iakovos Museum Iconography Dedicated
At the end of last year, Paulette Poulos, long-time Executive Assistant to Archbishop Iakovos, and Executive Director (Interim) of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, was on hand for the dedication of the spectacular iconography at the Archbishop Iakovos Museum
Tiboris Presents Festival Of The Aegean
Peter Tiboris, conductor, business innovator, and proud Greek American, who fulfilled his membership in Leadership 100 at the end of 2008, is giving something back to his historic homeland, presenting the Fifth Annual Festival of the Aegean, from July 1-11, in Syros, Greece, for the fifth time since 2002.
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.