THE LEADER VOLUME 13 ISSUE 1 – Spring 2012 Editorial Content George Schira Associates, Inc. Graphic Design NEOgraphix.us Adrian Salescu C O N T E N T S [email protected] Photographer Dimitrios Panagos [email protected] www.panagos.com THE LEADER is published by: The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100® LETTER FROM HIS ALL HOLINESS Endowment Fund, Inc. 1 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW Olympic Tower 645 Fifth Avenue Suite 906 New York, NY 10022 Tel: 212.308.2627 Fax: 646.497.1794 APPEAL FOR PEOPLE OF GREECE FROM web: www.L100.org email: [email protected] 2 HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS © 2002 Leadership 100® “Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office” 3 MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Charles H. Cotros Chairman George S. Tsandikos Vice Chairman 4 Argyris Vassiliou NEW CHAIRMAN INAUGURATED Treasurer Kassandra L. Romas Secretary Chris W. Caras Angelo J. Coutris 6 GRANTS REACH RECORD LEVEL Constantine G. Caras Eugenia J. Hasiotis John A. Catsimatidis Peter J. Pappas LIFE-TIME FOUNDING MEMBERS AND CHAIRMEN EMERITI ST 7 21 ANNUAL LEADERSHIP 100 CONFERENCE Arthur C. Anton Andrew A. Athens George D. Behrakis Peter M. Dion Michael Jaharis John A. Payiavlas 16 NEW AND FULFILLED MEMBERS/IN MEMORIAM Stephen G. Yeonas FOUNDING MEMBERS IN MEMORIAM + Thomas A. Athens + George K. Chimples + George P. Kokalis 18 NEWS OF OUR MEMBERS HONORARY LIFE-TIME MEMBER OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES Nicholas J. Bouras EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Poulos STAFF Cathie Andriotis Fran Karivalis Linda Paul Dina Theodosakis 1 2 MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN Charles H. and Connie Cotros When I assumed office as Chairman at the 21st Annual Leadership ways to endow the future, whether through bequests or trusts or 100 Conference in February, I had occasion to do a brief interview through new revenues, all of which will generate more grants that in which I stressed that the basic mission of Leadership 100 is to benefit the faithful and provide humanitarian assistance. support the National Ministries of our Greek Orthodox Church. Our grants to date now exceed 33 million dollars. In fact, since the Furthermore that we must continue to grow in membership, Conference the Executive Committee decided to add another contributions and investments in order to provide the grants that $270,000 to enable young people with financial need to join their are the lifeline for perpetuating our shared values and Hellenic peers in church summer camps in the Direct Archdiocesan Heritage. District and in every Metropolis in the summer of 2012, which As a corporate leader in various industries around the country and brought the total of new grants to almost $700,000, and total as a member of Leadership 100 who was privileged to serve on its distributions for 2012 to $1,742,850. In addition, the value of our Board, Executive Committee, as Vice Chairman, and now being portfolio has now reached $73 million, a considerable honored with the Chairmanship of this unique and widely achievement. respected organization, I have watched its remarkable growth, There is so much more we can do. We are part of a world even during the financial crisis of recent years. As a proud Greek community. I was so pleased to receive the congratulations of our American, I have watched not only the difficulties in the United Ecumenical Patriarch in assuming this office. We must find ways to States but the crisis in Greece with deep concern and renewed continue to support the critical spiritual leadership of His All commitment to set things right. Holiness in today’s troubled world. We are also part of the greater If we have learned anything from these recent events, it is the Hellenic Community. I was pleased to support the appeal of His importance of responsibility, accountability and transparency in Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for the Relief Fund for the the acts of governments and individuals charged with leadership. People of Greece. While our grants are properly directed to My wife, Connie, and I and our three children and 11 National Ministries, we cannot ignore international situations and grandchildren made a pilgrimage of sorts to Greece during the humanitarian crises. We can find a way to do all of these things, if height of the crisis there when there were riots in the streets. not always as an organization, then as individuals. Nonetheless, we found the civilization that gave the world its Together with my Officers and Executive Committee, I intend to greatest gifts still shining in its brilliance and warmth, still a light to look at every aspect of our organization to determine where we other nations and peoples from around the world. Likewise for can be more effective and more efficient in order to reach these America, which continues to display the resilience, innovation and goals, something that will be required of every organization, leadership the world continues to demand of her. whether corporate or not-for-profit, and, indeed of every nation This is the paradox and challenge for our time, how these great and world entity in this new environment that is challenging all of civilizations can get so misdirected and yet remain alive to history, us. values and meaning. The possibilities for rebirth are always within I have every confidence that we can meet these challenges for I the grasp of individuals who are committed to moving on for the know how blessed we are with the true leaders who make up the sake of their children and future generations. Just as we value our exceptional family of Hellenes that we are proud to call ancestors, our parents and their parents, we value our children and Leadership 100. their children. Warmest regards, Leadership 100 can be the harbinger of that new growth. We can move boldly forward from some 870 members to 1,000 in the next 3 two years if we work together, Officers, Executive Committee, Board of Trustees and staff. We need, however, to move in new Charles H. Cotros directions, not only by increasing membership but devising new Chairman Board of Anatolia College in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is an alumnus member of the National Leadership Council for the Campaign for Stuyvesant High School and an active member of AHEPA. He is married to the former Ann Pappajohn. They have two children and attend the Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Connecticut. He is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, New Jersey, was re-elected and resumed office as Secretary of Leadership 100. She earned a B.A. degree from the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, in 1967 and an M.A. from Manhattanville College in 1968. She was married to Christos Romas, MD immediately upon graduation and, shortly afterwards, settled in Short Hills, where her husband started and maintained his Ophthalmology practice and where they raised three daughters, Christina, Annette and Maria. She engaged as a leader and Archbishop Demetrios with New Chairman, Charles H. Cotros. organizer in a wide range of volunteer activities until her husband’s passing. Shortly afterwards she became an Executive Recruiter for Michael E. Marion and Associates and, later, Director of the newly formed Bouras Properties, LLC where she currently is Charles H. Cotros Managing Director/Landlord of a large office building in Summit, New Jersey. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Inaugurated as Chairman National Philoptochos Society and is a member of Holy Trinity Church in Charles H. Cotros of Memphis, Tennessee, was inaugurated as the Westfield, New Jersey, where she has served as President of the Parish Chairman of Leadership 100 on February 11, 2012 at the Grand Council. She has chaired the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Banquet of the 21st Annual Leadership 100 Conference at The Ritz- Trinity of New York’s Annual Cathedral Ball and been active in building Carlton, Palm Beach in Manalapan, Florida. He served as Vice restoration projects at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Chairman for the past two years under Constantine G. Caras, of Annunciation of New York. Greenville, Delaware, whose term was completed as Chairman but who On Friday, February 10, the General Assembly recognized the service remains a member of the Executive Committee. of George P. Stamas of Baltimore, Maryland, senior partner in the Cotros, who has served as a director of Allied Waste Industries Inc. of prestigious Washington D.C. law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, for his Phoenix, Arizona since July 2004 and as Interim Chief Executive service on the Board of Trustees since 2002. He was presented with a Officer and Chairman of the Board from October 2004 through 2007, Commendation for Distinguished Service. George and his wife, began his career in 1960 with Tri-State General Food Supply ("Tri- Georgia, have been members of Leadership 100 since 2000. Eliana State"), which merged with SYSCO in 1974 where he served in various Papadakis, a long-time and devoted member, and a community and positions prior to being elected Chief Operating Officer in 1995, philanthropic leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was elected to his President in 1999, and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the seat. She and her husband, Dr. Constantine Papadakis of Blessed Board of Directors in 2000. He served on the Board of SYSCO from Memory, who was President of Drexel University, joined Leadership 1986 until his retirement in 2003. A graduate of Christian Brothers 100 in 2000. Michael R. Henry of Blessed Memory was also recognized College in Memphis and Tulane University in New Orleans, he is for his service on the Board of Trustees and for his many contributions married to the former Constance (Connie) Pappas.