The 21st Annual Leadership 100 Conference, which took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach in Manalapan, Florida, this past February, was a resounding success with some 400 members and their guests attending an electrifying concert performance by internationally-acclaimed Greek tenor, Mario Frangoulis, an inspiring address by renowned world business leader, Andrew N. Liveris, President, Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, an informative Business and Media Forum conducted by Nicole Petallides, Anchor at FOX Business Network, and a challenging Interfaith Marriage Forum conducted by the Rev. Charles Joanides of the Office of Interfaith Marriage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The conference opened with a presentation on the Parthenon Sculptures conducted by Michael J. Reppas II, President, and Peter C. Yalanis, Vice President, of the American Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. Yalanis, the photographer of "All Sides of the Parthenon, A Touring Exhibition", showed a selection of photographs.
Along with the traditional and popular Bible Study and Lecture by Archbishop Demetrios, a ceremony of “Service to Country” was conducted the next day “honoring the fallen”, which acknowledged the sacrifice of two very special heroes, U.S. Marine Cpl. Peter J. Giannopoulos of Inverness, Illinois, and U.S. Marine Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos of Yarmouth, Massachusetts. On November 11, 2004, Peter, 22, was killed in Iraq, and on July 23, 2009, Nicholas, 21, was killed in Afghanistan, his second tour of duty after Iraq. Nicholas’s father, Lieutenant Steven Xiarhos, Deputy Chief of the Yarmouth, Massachusetts Police, spoke to conferees and presented a plaque to Leadership 100. He was presented with an Icon of Remembrance and a Trisagion for the Fallen was conducted by Archbishop Demetrios.
Also, a short film produced by Christos Epperson of The Mnimi Foundation documenting the heroic service of our Greek allies during World War II and the Korean War was presented.
The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Achievement Award was given to Pamela Pappas, who had climbed to the top of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, on May 13, 2011, and had previously climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Eastern Europe, Vinson in Antarctica, Denali in Alaska, and Aconcagua in South America.
Concluding the festivities at a Grand Banquet, Chairman Constantine G. Caras, passed the torch of leadership to Charles H. Cotros, the new Chairman.
A Memorial Service for Leadership 100 members was conducted by Archbishop Demetrios at St. Catherine Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, the last day of the conference.
The Executive Committee, meeting at the 21st Annual Leadership Conference, approved grants totaling $416,250, all of which were recommended by the Grant Committee under the Chairmanship of John Sitilides. With the addition of the new grants, grant distributions since the inception of Leadership 100 total $32,255,686.
Charles H. Cotros of Memphis, Tennessee, was inaugurated as the new Chairman of Leadership 100. He served as Vice Chairman for the past two years under Constantine G. Caras, of Greenville, Delaware, whose term was completed but who remains a member of the Executive Committee.
George S. Tsandikos of New York, New York, took office as Vice Chairman of Leadership 100, having served as Treasurer. He has been Managing Director of Rockefeller & Company in New York, New York since 2003 having previously served as Vice President, Private Bank of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, also in New York, from 1989 to 2003 and as an Associate with Burns and Levinson, Counselors at Law, Boston, Massachusetts from 1987 to 1989.
Argyris (RJ) Vassiliou of Stamford, Connecticut took office as Treasurer of Leadership 100. He is currently the President of Acme Pallet Company, Inc. in New York City and Di-Cor Industries, Inc. in Bristol, Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, New Jersey, was re-elected and resumed office as Secretary of Leadership 100. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Philoptochos Society and is a member Holy Trinity Church in Westfield, New Jersey, where she has served as President of the Parish Council. She has chaired the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of New York’s Annual Cathedral Ball and been active in building restoration projects at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation of New York.
The General Assembly recognized the service of George P. Stamas of Baltimore, Maryland, senior partner in the prestigious Washington D.C. law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, for his service on the Board of Trustees since 2002. He was presented with a Commendation for Distinguished Service. George and his wife, Georgia, have been members of Leadership 100 since 2000.
Eliana Papadakis, a long-time and devoted member, and a community and philanthropic leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was elected to his seat. She and husband, Dr. Constantine Papadakis of Blessed Memory, who was President of Drexel University, joined Leadership 100 in 2000.
The late Michael R. Henry was also recognized for his service on the Board of Trustees and for his many contributions in the area of marketing and membership development. His wife, Sofia, an active member of Leadership 100, accepted the Commendation for Distinguished Service.
