His daughter Theana Iordanou introduced her father and spoke about the kind of person he is, praising his many qualities, to the extent that Mr. Lazarides, upon accepting the award, clearly moved, said that during the presentation he was constantly wondering whom she was talking about!

Chris G. Lazarides was born in Lefkoniko, Famagusta, Cyprus in June, 1935. In August of 1953, he emigrated to the United States and attended Columbia College and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. His graduate degrees include a Master of Science Degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Business (1958) as well as a degree from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking Rutgers University (1970).

He began his career in banking in 1958 at the Atlantic Bank of New York as a trainee in the International Department and rose through the ranks to become Senior Executive Vice President. In 1988, he joined the Olympian Bank as President and Chief Executive Officer. In 1992 he joined Audiovox Corporation as Vice President/Director of International Operations until his retirement in 2005.

Mr. Lazarides has devoted his time and energy to many organizations that included the following: Founding member of the Board of Directors and first treasurer of the Cyprus Relief Fund and the Cyprus Children’s Fund; founding member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce; founding member and treasurer of the American Cyprus Congress (originally Cyprus Cultural Society); Trustee of the Pancyprian Association and former treasurer of the Pancyprian Freedom Award Committee; member of the fund raising Committee of the Kyrenia Cardiovascular Center of the New York Hospital Queens Medical Center. His professional memberships include The Committee on International Banking; The American Management Association; Member of the Columbia College and Columbia University Graduate School of Business Alumni Associations.

The Cyprus - U.S. Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1998 and the inauguration was held on September 23, 1998 at the Harvard Club in New York City. Its purpose since has been to help potential investors open doors and offer advice on foreign investment projects and introduce Americans to Cypriot partners, to hold exclusive briefings by private and government officials and much more. The Chamber has become the forum for members to share ideas, knowledge, and expand their business horizons.

According to Peter Kakoyiannis, before the chamber was founded, the word haloumi was unknown in America. Today and thanks to the efforts of Dennis Droushiotis, former Cyprus Trade Commissioner in New York, this quality and healthy cheese is available in most major supermarket chains and restaurants with an increase in sales of 47% last year alone!

We are here “to promote and extend the commercial, industrial, and economic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States and the development of commercial exchanges between their respective industries, trades, and business,” said Andy Comodromos, the Chamber’s Chairman. Addressing the event, he also spoke about the endurance of our community’s banks during the current crisis and praised their leadership for steering them clear from trouble.

Besides the Distinguished Merit Award Dinner held in New York May of every year, the Chamber co-sponsors a Food and Wine Tasting with the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and it holds an annual Career Fair in Manhattan help our young people find jobs and perhaps make career choices.

“As always, the continuing success of CCC rests on its members, their networking, and their professional interaction,” said Kakoyiannis, a lawyer, who runs his last year as President. “In order to pursue its growth and further enhance its professional image, CCC relies on the continued financial support and the commitment of its members, as well as the attraction of new members.”

At this year’s gala Nicole Petalides, Fox Business Network Anchor, and Mr. Lazarides’ niece, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Despina Axiotakis, the Chamber’s tireless Executive Director, welcomed the guests, among them the Ambassador of Cyprus in Washington, Mr. Andreas Kakouris, and the Consul General of Greece in New York, Mrs. Aghi Balta.

More information on the Cyprus – US Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.cyprususchamber.com