AHI Hosts Toronto Blue Jays for Business Networking Breakfast
Team Representatives Offer Inside Look
into a Major League Baseball Team
On September 26, 2007, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) hosted representatives from the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club at a business networking breakfast to offer a behind the scenes look into the workings of a Major League baseball team. Panel speakers included George Poulis, Head Trainer for the team, and Alex Anthopoulos, Vice President for Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager. The event, which was held at the Capital Hilton, welcomed around 50 attendees, each of whom was given two free tickets to the evening’s baseball game at Camden Yards between the Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles baseball club. Poulis provided an overview of what his work as the team’s trainer involves on a day-to-day basis, from the most routine parts to the most challenging, including any surprise eventualities such as injuries. He emphasized the importance of being prepared to respond quickly to any situation. He also discussed the important influence that his Hellenic heritage has played throughout his life.
Similarly, Anthopoulos brought the audience through his career progression, highlighting his initial inspiration for entering the world of Major League baseball. From an initial internship with the Montreal Expos, to scouting for the team, to his current management role with the Toronto Blue Jays, his perseverance and passion for the game has been his source of motivation. Anthopoulos also noted that a major highlight of his career was serving as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the Athens 2004 Olympics.
“This was an exciting and informative event today, and we truly appreciate the time, insights and effort put forward by George and Alex to make this a very personal and memorable event for all of our members and guests attending,” said AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis. “I also want to extend a special thanks on behalf of AHI to the Baltimore Orioles and to the team’s owner Peter Angelos and his son Lou for supporting this event and helping to make it possible,” he also said.
George Poulis joined the Blue Jays training staff prior to the 2000 season and was named Head Trainer in 2003. Prior to joining the Blue Jays, he was an athletic trainer in the San Diego Padres’ Minor League system for 10 years. Poulis got his first experience with professional sports in 1986 as an athletic training intern for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns Football Club. A Cleveland native, Poulis earned his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, earned his master’s degree from the University of Alabama, and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. He worked his way up through the Padres’ Minor League system with stops in Waterloo, Iowa (Class A); Wichita, Kan.; Memphis, Tenn.; Mobile, Ala. (Class AA); and Las Vegas (Class AAA). At the conclusion of the 1998 Minor League season, Poulis assisted the San Diego Padres’ during the playoffs and World Series.
Alex Anthopoulos most recently was the Assistant to the General Manager, being appointed following the 2005 season. The Montreal, Quebec native joined the Blue Jay family following the 2003 season as Scouting Coordinator, after three years with the Montreal Expo organization. He was a Coordinator of Scouting Operations with the Expos in 2002, being promoted from his role as Assistant in International Scouting following the 2001 season. The Expos expanded his duties in 2003 adding the title of Scouting Supervisor for Canada. Anthopoulos majored in Economics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario before moving into the baseball world in 2000. The Greek descendant has lent his services to the Greek National team for the 2003 European Championships along with serving as an advance scout for Greece in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
