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Mayland’s Leaders Gather for Aris Melissaratos’ 70th Birthday

By NEO Magazine on January 15, 2014

by Rob Silbert

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Aris Melissaratos, Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos.

Many of Baltimore’s and WashingtonD.C.’s elected officials, business leaders and philanthropists gathered to Martin’s West this past December to celebrate Aris Melissaratos’ seventieth birthday.

Dr. Michael Galiazzo, Ken Banks, George Petrocheilos, JR Paterakis

Melissaratos is a Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University, and also served as Secretary of Business & Economic Development for the state of Maryland between 2003 and 2007. Before working in public office, Melissaratos worked for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for 32 years, retiring as Chief Technology Officer and Vice President for Science and Technology, responsible for research and development. Before that, he was Chief Operations Officer for the company’s Defense Electronics Group, responsible for $3.2 billion dollars in sales. He has also founded ArMel Scientifics, LLC, which has invested in over 40 start-up companies in advanced technology.

Bruce Bereano, Governor Marvin Mandel, Louis Grasmick

More than 300 friends of Melissaratos attended the celebration, including former Senator Paul Sarbanes, former Governor Marvin Mandel, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Congressman John P. Sarbanes, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos, philanthropists Donn & Sharon Weinberg, H&S Bakery co-owner JR Paterakis, Park Circle Company owner Jeffrey A. Legum, American Visionary Arts Museum Founder Rebecca Hoffberger, Towne Park executive George Petrocheilos, former Aether Systems Founder & CEO David Oros, Lou Grasmick of the Grasmick Lumber Company, Ouzo Bay co-owner Alex F. Smith, developer Kenneth R. Banks, restaurateur Michael Stavlas, Harbor Bank’s CEO Joe Haskins, Secretary of Transportation Jim T. Smith, President & CEO of Correct Rx Pharmacy Dr. Ellen H. Yankellow and others.

Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Congressman John P. Sarbanes

The reception began with a blessing from Archimandrite Constantine Moralis of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Dr. Mike Galiazzo, Executive Director of the Regional Manufacturing Institute, served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Speeches about Aris, his successful career both in the private & public sector, as well as his intellectual and philanthropic contributions around the state of Maryland, were given by former Westinghouse executive Bob Barnes, former Deputy Secretary of Business & Economic Development Chris Foster, Johns Hopkins Technolyg Transfer Director Wesley Blakeslee, Sabrina Moore, Baltimore City’s Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick, and Towne Park, Ltd.’s executive George Petrocheilos. Aris Melissaratos also spoke last, giving an overview of his career and thanking everyone for joining him in celebrating his seventieth birthday.