George Petrocheilos Named Baltimore’s ‘‘40 Under 40’’ Business Leaders

By Maria Ioannides – George Petrocheilos, 22, a Towne Park, Ltd. executive made it among the “forty under forty” winners, making him one of the youngest honorees as well as the first Greek native to ever win the competition.

The Baltimore Business Journal recently announced their ‘‘40 Under 40’’ business leaders of the Greater Baltimore metropolitan area. Approximately every five years, the editorial board of the newspaper picks forty up-and-coming young professionals that “will help define and reshape Baltimore during the next generation,” according to James Briggs, the BBJ’s editor.

Petrocheilos was born and raised in Athens, and came to Baltimore in 2009 to attend the Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated with a degree in Financial Economics. In the meantime, he served as president of the Johns Hopkins Hellenic Association, which he helped build as one of the state’s most active organizations promoting and perpetuating Greek culture.

During his years in Baltimore, Petrocheilos got to know Aris Melissaratos, one of the state’s most prominent figures, who had been one of Westinghouse Corp’s top executives and later on served as the state’s Secretary of Business & Economic Development. Petrocheilos and Melissaratos –- who is also Greek and a Hopkins alum — ended up coming close and developing a very strong father-son relationship, which “helped tremendously in George’s professional and character development over the years.” Petrocheilos calls Melissaratos “a father, mentor and friend.”

Upon graduation, Petrocheilos joined Towne Park, a premier provider of parking management, valet parking & hospitality staffing solutions, as a Manager of Business Development. In his new role, Petrocheilos is coordinating business development efforts in Towne Park’s East division, driving strategic growth, while working directly with Jerry B. South, the company’s founder & CEO, on special projects.

At his BBJ interview, Petrocheilos also mentioned that meeting with Jerry South “was on of his biggest breaks,” since he was extremely impressed by the what South had created at Towne Park and really wanted to be part of this great organization, help it grow further and learn from the best.

During his free time, Petrocheilos likes to be involved with several national and local noteworthy causes, by serving on their board or one of their committees. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Walters Art Museum, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Hellenic American Leadership Council are among those organizations.