Tolis Aristeidou

Tolis Aristeidou of Greece will return to Los Angeles February 22-26
as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Gold Stars’ Tour. The International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA) arranged his initial visit to Los Angeles in 2009 as an IVLP participant, making connections that included meetings with Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy (JUiCE) and DVA Media + Marketing.

During his return visit to Los Angeles, Aristeidou will reunite with some of the connections that made an impact on his work back home, as well as meet with new professional resources in Los Angeles. In addition, he will visit local high schools to talk about his important work bringing hip-hop to underprivileged youth throughout Greece and the Balkans.

Aristeidou is the director and exclusive organizer of the Balkan Break Dance Competition “Battle of the Year – Balkans.” Aristeidou is well-connected to the youth community in Greece and urban street culture phenomena. He understands and connects to young people, often underserved and inner city groups,
through new and innovative ways. He organizes events to bring together young people from all over the Balkans, promoting mutual understanding and tolerance for other cultures. In his role as director, he is the main developer for break dance events and festivals in Greece and the Balkans. His office also organizes dance seminars, film screenings, dance-theater events, hip hop concerts, graffiti exhibits, and other events related to the hip hop culture.

The counterparts he met in the U.S. in 2009 have almost all become close contacts that he reaches out to for events and ideas. In particular, his meeting with the representative of Hip Hop International (the organizers of the largest and most prominent international Hip Hop dancing competition in the world) resulted in an immediate partnership between the two companies. Within a year after his return to Greece, Tolis organized the first Hip Hop International – Greece competition in Athens, with a record 25 dance groups participating and competing – this included groups from across Greece as well as Cyprus. With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Tolis brought top American Hip Hop dancers Eddie Styles and King Saso to judge the competition. The top two groups went to Las Vegas last summer to represent Greece for the first time in the Hip Hop International competition. This came just six months after he brought top U.S. breakers Bboy Ronnie and Rockadile to judge a national Greek breakdance contest and lead a workshop that also promoted healthy, drug-free living. His IVLP program also connected him with some of the top Hip Hop impresarios in the U.S. leading to a constant stream of American talent being invited to participate in his events.

The Gold Stars’ Tour is for alumni of the IVLP who made an impact in their community or on the world as a result of their experience in the United States. Aristeidou has been selected as one of two gold star alumni among thousands of nominated individuals. Through this special initiative, IVLP gold star alumni are recognized for their excellence as citizen diplomats through IVLP-inspired initiatives abroad and for demonstrated leadership in their local communities.

About the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
The International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term programs to build mutual understanding on foreign policy issues. Nearly 200,000 distinguished individuals have participated in the program, including 330 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, and thousands of leaders from the public and private sectors.

About the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA)
IVCLA has been working since 1980 to increase international understanding and communication in the Los Angeles area by arranging personal exchanges between emerging international leaders and the citizens of the Los Angeles region. IVCLA coordinates programs for participants in the U.S. Department of State sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program, as well as other publicly and privately sponsored international visitors. The programs provide the visitors with insight on how we live and work,
and local Citizen Diplomats with a better understanding about the rest of the world.

Earth Friendly Products VP Kelly Vlahakis with CEO Van Vlahakis

Earth Friendly Products , a leader in manufacturing award-winning, eco-friendly cleaning products, has succeeded in using 100% renewable energy during their entire manufacturing process. The energy success is the latest in a wave of ongoing responsibility initiatives the company has mandated to continue to lead the green cleaning product industry ahead of the curve.

Earth Friendly Products, whose own solar energy panels keep their facilities 60% self-sufficient, negotiated to purchase the final 40% of energy needs from green energy, making the entire manufacturing power process 100% green. “This is by far one of our proudest moments,” said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, Vice President of Earth Friendly Products.

“Responsibility is the driving force behind our company’s every decision and this decision is one of the biggest steps for a manufacturing company toward being carbon neutral.”

Through this initiative, Earth Friendly Products’ carbon footprint is reduced significantly, eliminating more than 600,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution per year. The company has earned several accolades for its tremendous sustainability efforts, including more recently the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award.

The purchase of green energy will not affect product pricing and cost to consumers. Earth Friendly’s responsibility toward the environment is equivalent to the economy and their customers. No sustainable initiative has changed or raised prices for any of the Earth Friendly Products.

By purchasing green power, Earth Friendly is helping to reduce America’s dependence on foreign fuel sources. The action also supports the U.S. share of the growing renewable market, which in turn helps improve the job market. Many of their innovative initiatives have directly affected revenue, production and the company’s ability to maintain affordable pricing.

In addition, Earth Friendly Products believes company success is dually rooted in its initiatives to bolster standards of employee satisfaction and morale.

Earth Friendly Products is committed to preserving the environment through every phase of its business operations at each of its five regional manufacturing facilities that help to reduce the carbon footprint of distributing its products around the country.

Earth Friendly Products has been making green a priority for two decades with more than 150 all-natural, environmentally-friendly home and industrial cleaning products.

To learn more about what Earth Friendly Products is doing for the environment, please visit www.ecos.com.

About Earth Friendly Products
Earth Friendly Products is the leader in the development and production of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for household and commercial use with over 150 products manufactured, distributed, and sold in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. All Earth Friendly Products are created with only replenishable and sustainable plant-based ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the planet. The company proudly adheres to its strict “Freedom Code”, a list of harmful and toxic ingredients that are not found in any its products. Earth Friendly Products has proudly received the 2010 GEELA Award for Sustainable Business Practices, 2009 Green PatriotTM Green 100TM Designation and the Champion level recognition from the US EPA through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative. The company’s solar division, Progressive Power Group is just another example of how Earth Friendly Products is a sustainable business leader.

Aleco Haralampides

As the former President of the American-Hellenic Institute, Miami lawyer Aleco Haralambides had a stake in promoting Hellenism, but says his biggest hope now for his heritage is saving its beloved language, and promoting it not just to fellow Greeks, but Philhellenes and the rest of the world. There are some 50,000 words in English derived in some way or another from Greek, and Haralambides said he wants to make sure their rich history and place are preserved. He helped do it at Archimedean Academy in Miami, a charter school that has Greek as a mandatory subject, and now said he wants to find supporters to start an international foundation to showcase the Greek language and keep it alive outside of Greece.

The formula is working at Archimedean, which now teaches through the high school level and is rated one of Florida’s top schools and successful enough that there’s a waiting list of more than 1,000 students – most not of Greek heritage. Besides instilling self-discipline in students, Archimedean requires them to take classes 2 ½ hours a day in Greek – not just Greek, but other subjects, and it’s a wonderment to see students not from Greek American households conversing in Greek in the corridors and classrooms, and coming to school on Saturdays to participate in projects, a role model for schools around the country. As a charter school,  Archimedean doesn’t charge tuition but receives state assistance as a public school open to students who can get in. On Jan. 30, it was rated Florida’s best middle school and praised for using Greek and mathematics – and teaching math in Greek – as one of the reasons for its achievements.

The Archimedian Acadamy in Miami, FL

When Archimedean students took a proficiency exam in Greek from Thessaloniki University, 44 of 45 passed, he said. Not one was Greek or Greek American. The school has only 70 students with Greek heritage out of an enrollment of 950. “Using the Archimedean model is a proven way to perpetuate the Greek language,” he said in an interview with Greek Reporter. “When you see native speakers talking Greek to these kids who have no background in Greek and they are processing difficult problems and answering in Greek, there just isn’t anybody else out there doing this,” he said. It’s even more astonishing when you realize the students have had no background at all in Greek or Hellenism.

Now, he said, he hopes to get the word out that the model can work in an international foundation, although he knows how tough it is to get Greek Americans together and behind programs. Still, he said, “Once it’s started and promoted you’d have a lot of non-Greeks supporting this and there’s a potential for partnerships with classics programs,” he said, adding he’d like to see the Archimedean model repeated in other charter schools in Florida and across the country, where children could learn Greek – once a stable of great schools such as Boston Latin Academy, and others where Greek and classics were intertwined. “Our goal is not to have a Greek school necessarily, but to have a great school,” he said.

“They aren’t going to come just to learn Greek. They want it to be a very good school academically,” he said. Some parents are not happy with the rigid format, he acknowledged, but said they were a minority.

Haralambides said with a declining birth rate among Greeks, Greek Americans and those in the Diaspora, the need to save Greek is becoming critical because the language is being spoken less. “It’s a mathematical certainty that if we don’t stop that, that it will disappear,” he said. “One way to promote the Greek language and Hellenism is to open charter schools,” he said. Archimedean is applying from further accreditation and said, if granted, “That will allow us to be accredited as a district, which means if we open a school in Alabama, it will be accredited and recognized by colleges.

Like many Greeks of the United States and Disapora, his passion comes from his heritage. “My grandparents were forced to leave Asian Minor because they wanted to maintain their identity as Greeks and Greek Orthodox Christians. They were willing to give up their entire livelihood to maintain their identity. The least we can do is make an effort to preserve it,” he said.

The school’s Chief Executive Business Officer Dimitri Bardoutsos, said the school will admit another 150 students in the next academic year and there is a clamor to attend because he said parents know the students will get a good education beyond Greek too. The school’s charter is with the Miami Dade County public school administration, to which it reports. Classes begin at kindergarten to groom students young. “Our goal is not just to graduate students but those who can enter colleges at the Ivy League level,” he said. “We pay attention to every individual student. We work with parents and students. This is a school of choice. Parents have to offer 300 volunteer hours a year and are part of the school and the process, and they are working together to improve education.”

The school’s President, Founder, and Chairman of the Board, George Kafkoulis, said, “The reason for the success of the school is the commitment to excellence. The school is based on two very important ideas of Greek civilization: language and the dedication to excellence, the rigorous teaching of mathematics and philosophy.” He said many parents weren’t initially interested in Greek, but wanted their children to have the benefit of a good education, but discovered the benefits of the students learning the language. He said the model can work for other schools to emulate. “This can be replicated … it’s a recipe that works in every environment,” he said. Even the Greek Ministry of Education, he said, is studying Archimedean to see how its methods can be used to teach Greek and other courses.

Haralambides said he’s gotten calls from people in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco, among other areas, who want to open an Archimedean-style academy that prepares students for college and teaches them Greek as well. “We need someone to spearhead it and is committed to spending the time to do it.” Sounds like he may be the best candidate for this.

Mr. Mirman brings to John Thomas Financial nineteen years of experience in investment banking. Before joining John Thomas Financial, Mr. Mirman was Head of Investment Banking at BMA Securities, where he was responsible for overseeing the entire deal process in addition to cultivating and managing key relationships with clients, service providers and funding sources. Prior to BMA, Mr. Mirman was recruited by GunnAllen Financial to establish a more substantial presence in investment banking, leading his branch to top the firm’s 250 nationwide offices in 2 years. He has closed over $2 billion in transactions over the course of his career to date. Mr. Mirman received his B.S. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Mr. Mirman holds FINRA Series 7, 66, and 79 licenses.

Another noteworthy addition to John Thomas Financial is Russ Steward, who will join Mr. Mirman at the Investment Banking Group as Managing Director. Mr. Steward brings twenty years of investment banking, merchant banking and private equity experience to John Thomas Financial, including several years working directly with Mr. Mirman where he focused on due diligence, financial analysis and valuation of small cap and micro cap companies for capital raises and financial advisory services. Prior to joining with Mr. Mirman, Mr. Steward was a Senior Vice President at SMH Capital, a division of Sanders Morris Harris Group, and worked with middle market companies. Mr. Steward has a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Century University in Albuquerque, NM, an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University. Mr. Steward is a CFA charterholder.

“As part of our expansion, and with Avi’s success on both sides of the capital raising spectrum, John Thomas Financial is now able to offer institutional-quality products to high net worth individual investors. We are very proud to have this team and its extensive expertise join the firm, further enabling us to provide greater value to our clientele,” said John Thomas Financial CEO Thomas Belesis.

For timely insights, news, and commentary on economics and financial markets, visit the JTF Blog or join the John Thomas Financial community on Twitter and Facebook.

About John Thomas Financial

John Thomas Financial, a member of FINRA and SIPC, is an independent broker-dealer and investment banking firm headquartered in New York City’s Wall Street district. Emphasizing a client-centric approach to managing all aspects of its business, John Thomas Financial and its affiliates offer a full complement of retail brokerage, private wealth management, and corporate advisory services tailored to the unique needs of its clients. The firm publishes the Fiscal Liquidity Index a unique daily indicator that looks at government spending and its impact on the financial markets, as well as The John Thomas Financial Economic Outlook, a research report analyzing consumer sentiment, market outlook, credit cycles and dozens of other market influences. For more information on the firm, please visit: www.johnthomasfinancial.com .

CEO of Red Apple Group, John Catsimatidis, at his office in NYC. Credit: Heuichul Kim

John Catsimatidis, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Red Apple Group, sat down for an exclusive interview with Greek Reporter and spoke about US Politics, picked his favorite candidate for US President, discussed possibilities for investment in crisis-hit Greece, and admitted that he still might run for mayor of New York City in the next election.

The fortune of Mr. John Catsimatidis (who grew up in Harlem, the poorest borough of New York City) today exceeds the billion dollar mark. While he was studying at NYU, he was working as an employee of a super market, though he never managed to get his degree.  Despite the fact that he never finished, this University (which is one of top ten Universities in the US) granted him an honorary Doctorate.

Red Apple Group has holdings in oil refining, wholesale and retail petroleum distribution, convenience stores, supermarkets, real estate, and aviation. Red Apple Group posted revenues of over $4 billion in 2010.  Mr. Catsimatidis is a major employer in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio with over 8,000 employees, a global leader in the Greek Orthodox Church, in which he chairs the Religious Freedom Committee, bonding together Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Jews in support of religious freedom around the world.

Read the interview with John Catsimatidis below:

What do you think should be done to fix Greece and do you think that Greece will exit the Euro?

I think it could hurt Greece a great deal if it goes out of the Euro. My recommendations to all the officials of Greece were that they should work out a deal with Germany and they should take the 360 billion in debt traded for 360 billion 30-year bonds at the European interest rate of 2, 5%. That way you take the problem and you put it away for 30 years and Greece could afford to pay 2,5%. And that would take a Euro guarantee. In that way it will take the pressure off and puts the problem out for 30 years. Unfortunately, I’m upset they weren’t able to do it that way.

I think it was the Germans who did not want to discuss this scenario.

You can say it as a joke or seriously, but the Germans might have started WWIII, but with economic bullets, not with gun powder bullets.

So do you think that Germany should give something to Greece?

I think that if the EU wants to survive as a community, it has to bond together and be all for one and one for all. But then it will take more restrictions, and the individual governments cannot do whatever they want and give retirement ages of 35 years old because numbers don’t really work. The European community has a time-line to fix the problem before it gets worse. I really wish they are smart enough to do so because this is an international problem.

Now, I know you are a very good businessman. You have made everything out of nothing. You have started alone and you know where opportunities are. Do you believe Greece is a good opportunity for businessmen like you, Greek-Americans or non Greek-Americans to go and maybe do business there, acquire some real estate or invest in the country now?

With the aura of instability that now exists, it’s hard to say or view opportunities. Everyone fears that something might go wrong.

You’re from Nisyros, so you probably know that although the Greek islands used to be expensive, now the real estate prices are down to half or less.

The real estate prices are half because everyone is afraid. I got an email yesterday that the big hotel Asteras is available for some months now. I said ok, we need to see what the overall condition in Europe is because banks in Greece tend to place extremely low value on their portfolio bonds. All Greeks who have money withdraw it from their accounts and send it off to banks abroad, in London, NY etc.

So would you and your company Red Apple Group be interested to buy Asteras, or invest in something similar.

We will look at the possibility of Asteras and explore the possibility. We will look at various things but we found it very difficult to do business in Greece given our previous experiences. They are now paying the price for all the difficulties we had to face in the past.

You have openly supported many politicians in the past. Would you support Barack Obama in the next US election?

I would not support Obama because when he first got elected we all looked at him and said “let’s give him a chance” but he has made so many mistakes. He has created a mind of “us against them”. He has started a civil war between those who work hard and those who don’t and still profit. This is wrong. The problem is that 30 years ago the amount of people that lived off the federal government was maybe 10% and now it’s 42%. The American Congress has been following the same tactics as the Greek parties have: “vote for us and we’ll give you more.” This is a bubble and will not work. Someone needs to break it.

President Obama criticizes all business people all the time. What did we do wrong? He says it’s the banks’ fault. If someone or the bank made something wrong, send him to court and then off to prison. If someone stole, they must go to prison. But if you constantly criticize the banking sector in general, the banks begin to fear for their own existence, just like it happened in Greece. And if banks feel insecure about their own existence, they will not give money to businesses to start new projects. Instead, they are afraid of losing their own company. That is the problem such politicians have brought upon us.

So you are saying there’s a terror amidst business people and banks?

They are terrorized and afraid for their own existence, for them to create loans to business people and new jobs.

So I suppose you will be supporting the Republican Party. But who exactly?

Yes I will, although I was a collective Democrat before. I think Romney is the best presidential candidate at the moment. He is a businessman, he is smart and honest. I really wish he gets nominated to run for President.

Let’s go to your own business Red Apple Group. Are there any new plans or developments?

Well, we are doing very well. The energy business is doing very well and there are food companies in NY that are also profitable. We are also busy building our real estate companies in Brooklyn. We are moving along with building on Coney Island. Brooklyn is only 20 minutes away from Manhattan, yet prices there are half way down compared to downtown.

You’ve been in this country for so many years and you have grown this company so much. You have seen the crisis, the good times and the bad times, as they say. Do you think that the present is the bottom or can it get worse?

I think this is the worst time ever and if we don’t change the political situation in November, the whole world will be in trouble.

But you believe that the economy will get better? Because some people think that it might get worse.

I think the current government will employ mirrors to twist around reality and cook the numbers until November. That happened in Greece too. And after the November elections, the truth will finally come to surface.

In the past you have expressed your interest to run for mayor of New York City. Is it something you maybe have in mind again?

They are pushing me to do it and I told them I would consider that. I haven’t pushed any buttons yet whatsoever. I had the nomination last time and I gave it back to Bloomberg. I will have made up my mind by summer since Bloomberg cannot run again for the fourth time in a row.

Would you like to add anything?

Greek-Greeks, American-Greeks or Greek-Americans, we all love Greece. We want to help in any way possible and Greece must promote its tourism. Imagine that NY had a record of 50 additional millions of tourists this year due to their campaign. What was Greece’s score? Whatever the number, Greece can do better. It can double the numbers of visitors to the country and it must pursue it.

The problem now is that the riots in Greece and the images of the country are scaring everyone.

The riots are nonsense. The people who cause the riots are those who are 54 and would retire at the age of 55. That is what I told everyone here when they asked me what was happening in Greece.

Have you visited Greece recently?

I travelled to Greece last August straight to Kos, without stopping in Athens, and made a cruise in the Dodecanese. We had a really good time.

Stephanie Patsalis

Grecian Oil co-founders, Stephanie Patsalis and Angelo Spina joined forces to create a brand new company born to capture and satisfy women’s beauty needs everyday by renewing, balancing and elevating skin into a healthier state.

Recognizing the opportunity with the superior export of Olive Oil not only in the gourmet food and restaurant business, Patsalis and Spina recognized the benefits of utilizing extra virgin olive oil to make a luxurious skin and body care product. By combining Patsalis’ natural Grecian extra virgin olive oil with Spina’s fine quality Italian taste, the two created an exclusive line of Grecian Oil Body Care.

“Our objective is to become a company leader by producing high quality olive oil skin care products and capture the essence of an ancient formula using premium all natural Grecian extra virgin olive oil and transforming it into a modern, luxurious and naturally balanced body care.” ~Stephanie Patsalis (Co-Founder, Grecian Oil)

Grecian Oil will hit numerous platforms including the celebrity circuit. Academy Award® Winning Actress, Olympia Dukakis tried Grecian Oil and here’s what she had to say about it: “I Love It!”

Made with premium Grecian extra virgin olive oil that is minimally processed for maximum benefits. Grecian Oil represents pure, natural and high quality products stemming from old traditions known for centuries with the Greeks making the skin smooth and radiant, which is taking women’s beauty and body care to another level. It is made with premium Grecian extra virgin olive oil that is minimally processed for maximum benefits. Extra virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of olives to achieve the maximum levels of beneficial polyphenol antioxidants.

The olives used when creating Grecian Oil products are carefully selected and hand picked. They are then cleaned with pure water before being kneaded and cold pressed. Oil is extracted from hand-selected olives through the pressure. The basic properties and benefits of the premium olives are retained, resulting in a product that is pure and natural.

Olive oil has been regarded for centuries as beautifying oil. Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations considered it a gift from the gods due to its amazing results achieving and maintaining beautiful, radiant skin. The health benefits of consuming olive oil are substantial. History indicates that the actual initial use of olive oil was for the body. Ancient Greeks regarded olive oil as their beauty oil and bathing in the oil was common. The Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, referred to olive oil as the “the Great Therapeutic”.

Olives provide beneficial antioxidants, including vitamins B, A, and E, to repair and renew skin. Vitamin A derivatives are highly regarded as an anti-ager because they exfoliate, increase cell turnover and promote collagen growth. Antioxidants stimulate cells to achieve and maintain softer, smoother, more radiant skin. Squalene, a component of olive oil regarded as an excellent emollient and antioxidant makes Grecian Oil a natural age-defier.

Grecian Oil is beneficial and appropriate for use on all skin types and it is an effective moisturizer. Overall skin care is achieved with daily application and massaging into skin. Dry, rough or cracked skin areas will benefit from more generous and frequent applications. These products have been dermatologically tested and are hypoallergenic making it suitable for all skin types. Using Grecian Oil daily helps maintain elasticity for a radiant appearance, while softening, moisturizing and rejuvenating your skin.

Grecian Oil has already made it’s way to celebrity events including product placement in the VIP Gift Bags at the December 12, 2011 fundraising event for Three Candles (working title) – a documentary production by Orama Pictures narrated by Olympia Dukakis.

For more information on Grecian Oil products visit grecianoil.com. Grecian Oil can also be found on facebook, twitter and YouTube. Join the Grecian Oil social media circuit to stay updated on this extraordinary new body care line.

Andrew Liveris and Nicole Petallides

Andrew Liveris, Nicole Petallides and Rev. Fr. Charles Joanides will address a prominent crowd of Greek-Americans at the 21st annual Leadership 100 conference which will take place February 9th-12th, 2012 at The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, Manalapan, Florida. The conference is the most important function of Leadership 100, one of the most prestigious Greek-American organizations.

Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Dow Chemical Company and a member of Leadership 100, who was appointed in June by U.S. President Barack Obama as Co-Chair of the newly formed Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, will address the Business Forum at the 21st Annual Leadership 100 Conference on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

Constantine G. Caras, Leadership 100 Chairman, said that Leadership 100 was “especially honored to have such a leading businessman and philanthropist with so impressive a record of accomplishments in both the nation and world address our Conference.” Liveris will be presented with the distinguished Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence.

Last July, Liveris launched Dow’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan for America (AMP). AMP calls for action on a number of fronts to lower structural costs that are hindering U.S. manufacturing, and to establish a policy framework that will enable economic growth. In January, Liveris published Make It In America: The Case for Re-Inventing the Economy, which articulates AMP in detail.

Liveris, at the launch ceremony for the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, said:”Through success in manufacturing, the U.S. can generate meaningful long-term employment in key industries and the support positions that accompany them — every new manufacturing job on average creates five additional jobs. By recovering U.S. manufacturing leadership, the U.S. can also maintain and grow its role as the world’s innovation engine. Success at R&D, and in turn, the production of new ideas as products, go hand-in-hand — they can’t be separated. A vibrant manufacturing sector is essential to our competitiveness in cutting-edge technology.”

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership includes other major U.S. manufacturers, several top U.S. engineering universities, and key government technology leaders. Key goals of the Partnership will be to build a roadmap for advanced manufacturing technologies, accelerating ideas from the drawing board to production and competitive advantage in the marketplace, and to ensure a vital and globally competitive manufacturing sector. Liveris will be joined by Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in heading the Partnership.

Liveris’ 35-year Dow career has spanned manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, and business and general management. He has been a member of Dow’s Board of Directors and CEO since 2004, and was elected as Chairman of the Board in 2006. Liveris serves on the Board of Directors of IBM, and he is President of the International Council of Chemical Associations, Vice Chairman of the Business Council, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Roundtable. Liveris is also a member of the President’s Export Council, the US-India CEO Forum, The Peterson Institute for International Economics, the American Australian Association, and a Trustee of Tufts University.

Mario Frangoulis

Internationally acclaimed Sony Classical recording artist and Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis will highlight the Leadership 100 21st Annual Conference. He will perform at a special concert on Friday, February 10 at The Harriet Himmel Theater, the cultural centerpiece of CityPlace, in neighboring West Palm Beach, according to Conference Chair Cathy Sakellaris, who is a member of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees.

“We are delighted that a so prominent member and leader of our community as Cathy Sakellaris has taken the lead in organizing next year’s conference,” said Constantine G. Caras, Chairman of Leadership 100. Sakellaris has held positions in sales and brand management with Procter and Gamble, was Director of Sales & Marketing for North America in the Information Systems of ITT Corporation Division, and served as Vice President for Global Accounts for the Nielsen Marketing Research division of Dun and Bradstreet, before devoting herself to civic, cultural and philanthropic activities with emphasis on Hellenic organizations.

Frangoulis, who is often referred to as one of Greece’s “national treasures”, is a dedicated Hellene who thinks of himself as an ambassador for Greece all over the world. He sings in Italian, Spanish, English, French and Greek, enabling him to truly connect with global audiences. He has had the honor of performing with some of the world’s greatest artists, including Placido Domingo, Lara Fabian, Sarah Brightman, Justin Hayward, and Natalie Merchant in addition to collaborating with Greece’s most famous composers, Mikis Theodorakis and Yannis Markopoulos, and world-acclaimed singers, George Dalaras, Alkistis Protopsalti, and Glykeria, to name a few.

Born in what is now the Republic of Zimbabwe to Greek parents, Frangoulis was raised in Athens, Greece. At the age of 17, he attended London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study acting and singing. While at Guildhall he was discovered by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who is referred to by The New York Times as “the most successful, influential and powerful producer of our time.” Upon his graduation, he was hired to play the character Marius in Les Miserables in London’s West End. Soon thereafter, he was invited by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to play the role of Raoul in Phantom of the Opera to great critical acclaim.

During this time, Frangoulis discovered the operatic side of his voice. He won the Maria Callas Prize and, juggling this new-found opportunity in opera with an emerging stage career, he studied in Italy with the world-famous tenor Carlo Bergonzi, and, upon the recommendation of one of his mentors, the legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, with the acclaimed Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus, becoming the only private student the late Kraus ever accepted. He continued his studies at the Julliard School of Music in New York under the guidance of Dodi Protero, solidifying his skill as a vocalist and musician.

Anything but a conventional opera singer, he won the role of Tony in West Side Story at Milan’s La Scala for the New Millennium and appeared in films such as De Lovely with Kevin Kline, on television, and even in epic presentations of ancient Greek plays such as The Birds, Prometheus, and The Bacchae.

A true humanitarian, Frangoulis is recognized all over the world for his charity work, supporting events and organizations such as: Voices for Darfur, José Carreras’ Leukemia Foundation, and organizations addressing AIDS issues, and homelessness prevention and intervention. He is most passionate, however, about any cause pertaining to the protection of “at risk” children. In 2008, he was invited by Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams to be a Global Ambassador for Peace for her organization, The World Centers of Compassion for Children International, and as a result, was invited by the Dalai Lama to sing at his 2009 Peace Summit in Vancouver, Canada. Simultaneously, he became an Ambassador for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in support of their goal to provide college scholarships for high-risk, high-potential youth throughout the United States.

Nicole Petallides, Anchor at FOX Business Network, will speak at a Special Program on Business and the Media on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Leadership 100 Annual Conference. She will be presented with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence. Petallides joined FOX Business Network (FBN) in September 2007 as an anchor. She also serves as FBN’s main NYSE correspondent, reporting live daily from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Prior to joining FBN, she was an anchor at Bloomberg Television where she reported from the New York Stock Exchange for the nationally syndicated Bloomberg Business Report and Bloomberg Market Update. While at Bloomberg, Petallides also covered weekend news and served as a business news anchor for CW-11’s WPIX morning news program in New York.

Before joining Bloomberg, Petallides served as an assistant producer for CNBC, where she produced daily floor reports from the NYSE. Prior to CNBC, she was a segment producer for Dow Jones Television’s The Wall Street Journal Report with Consuelo Mack and international programs Asian Business News and European Business News. Petallides has also contributed to FOX affiliate WNYW’s morning show Good Day New York, NY1 News, CNN and News 12 Long Island. A Great Neck, New York native, she graduated from American University.

Nicole Anais Petallides was born in 1971 in Queens, New York. Petallides, along with Jenna Lee, were the first two anchors on the air when the FOX Business Network made its debut. Petallides is the daughter of Fannie Holliday and John Petallides. Her mother was the founder and chief operating officer of Proini, a Greek-language daily newspaper, and of The Greek American, an English-language weekly newspaper.

Petallides graduated from American University in 1993 where she studied business and communications. She was also a member of the NCAA DIV 1 Women’s Soccer Team for three years. In 1998, she married Manhattan Prosthodontist Nicholas Tsiolas in a ceremony performed in the Greek Orthodox Church by His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon.

Rev. Fr. Charles Joanides will conduct the Interfaith Marriage Forum, on the subject The Intermarriage Challenge: An Opportunity for Outreach. He currently directs the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s ministry to intermarried couples and their families. . Much of his work can be accessed on the Interfaith Marriage web site at www.interfaith.goarch.org.

Father Charles holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, an M-Div. from Hellenic College/Holy Cross, an M.A. in Human Development and Family Relations with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iowa State University.

He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and an approved AAMFT supervisor. He has a small private practice specializing in reclaiming marriages.

Father Charles has authored the following books: When You Intermarry: A Resource for Inter-Christian, Intercultural Couples, Parents and Families, Ministering to Intermarried Couples: A Resource for Clergy and Lay Workers, Attending to Your Marriage: A Resource for Christian Couples and The Journey of Marriage: A Premarital Education Program. His writings have also appeared in numerous professional journals, magazines and newspapers. He teaches marital and family therapy at Nyack College in The School of Human Services Alliance Graduate School of Counseling.

Father Charles was ordained in 1980. He has served several parishes across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He and Presvytera Nancy have two children, Stephan, 30, and Sara, 28.

About Leadership 100

In 1984, under the guidance of Archbishop Iakovos, Leadership 100 was created as an endowment fund of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese through which Greek Orthodox leaders were asked to commit themselves to offer $10,000 a year for a total of $100,000 each to maintain the life-sustaining ministries of the Church.

Today, Leadership 100, renamed The Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund in recognition of Archbishop Iakovos’ vision, is a separately incorporated endowment fund supporting the priority needs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, but broadly dedicated to advancing the Orthodox faith and Hellenic ideals in America.

Leadership 100 disburses grants ranging from scholarship funds for individuals studying for the priesthood, building an information infrastructure and Internet ministries for the Archdiocese, promoting the National Ministries and providing assistance to emergencies such as September 11, Hurricane Katrina, earthquakes and medical needs.

With the initial membership of 100 soon surpassed, Leadership 100 “raised the bar” and grew progressively to 300, doubling its membership to 600 in 2000 and now to 847 members in 2010, including 88 Leadership 100 Partners, young professionals who progress in their contributions as they progress in their careers, and 5 Leadership 100 Junior Partners enrolled by their parents. The membership includes a broad spectrum of Greek Orthodox leaders, men and women of all ages from every field.

Leadership 100 is a driving force to seed and nurture new programs that advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism into the 21st Century.

Thomas Belesis

John Thomas Financial CEO Thomas Belesis has been named to the Board of Trustees of the New York Institute of Energy and Water. The New York Institute of Energy and Water is a mission-driven university that aims to create a new paradigm for sustainable development focused on energy, water and environment through higher education and research.

Together with the other members of the Executive Board, Mr. Belesis is committed to addressing the trio of crises experienced by most of humanity today: water-food-energy. An Executive Board Member of the World Energy Forum since 2009, Mr. Belesis regularly collaborates with world leaders on global environmental issues. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of the United Nations Global Millennium Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on raising money from the private sector in order to support eight specific U.N. goals from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

John Thomas Financial has established itself on the forefront of the global energy landscape. The investment-banking firm participates in the funding of renewably energy as well as coal, oil and natural gas, and exploration companies both domestically and abroad. Two affiliate companies joined the John Thomas brand in 2011 — John Thomas Global Trading in Dubai, UAE and JTF Private Wealth Management.

For timely insights, news, and commentary on economics and financial markets, visit the JTF Blog or join the John Thomas Financial community on Twitter and Facebook.

About John Thomas Financial
John Thomas Financial, a member of FINRA and SIPC, is an independent broker-dealer and investment banking firm headquartered in New York City’s Wall Street district. Emphasizing a client-centric approach to managing all aspects of its business, John Thomas Financial and its affiliates offer a full complement of retail brokerage, private wealth management, and corporate advisory services tailored to the unique needs of its clients. The firm publishes the Fiscal Liquidity Index a unique daily indicator that looks at government spending and its impact on the financial markets, as well as The John Thomas Financial Economic Outlook, a research report analyzing consumer sentiment, market outlook, credit cycles and dozens of other market influences. For more information on the firm, please visit: www.johnthomasfinancial.com.

Yannis Pappas as Mr Panos

Yannis Pappas, the comedic mastermind behind Mr. Panos, one of the most popular Greek web characters ever created, will perform a few live shows on January 27th in New York City and on February 10th in South Africa.

The Yannis Pappas show featuring Mr. Panos (the second time Mr. Panos will be live in NYC) is hosted by Comedian Nate Bargatze. The headlining set from Yannis Pappas and special guest Mr. Panos will be closing the show by discussing his intention to run for president of the United States.

Yannis Pappas is a Greek-American writer, performer and producer who has done several shorts, commercials, and of course a lot of stand up comedy. Yannis has gained thousands of fans through Mr. Panos’ video blog, in which the fictional 60 year-old Queens restaurant owner blogs to the world his opinions and Greek values through his son’s camera capabilities. Recently Mr. Panos has gained world-wide attention, and this summer, Pappas was selected as a new face for the Montreal Comedy Festival.

The Greek-American comedian will also be doing two big theatre shows with Mr. Panos live in South africa.

“I am very excited to be performing in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s my first time there and I am thrilled to hear that Mr. Panos has so many fans overseas amongst Greeks in other English-speaking countries. I guess America is not the only country to which Greeks came and opened restaurants. I am looking forward to throwing a little Greek pride around and also having some fun making fun of ourselves together. Greeks are Greek no matter what language they speak, its in our genes and the long cultural history we share.”

Don’t miss Greek Reporter’s exclusive interview with Mr. Panos

Another popular character created by Pappas is Maurica Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican transexual from the Lower East Side who is trying to find a boyfriend by posting videos online. Pappas will be having shows featuring Maurica Feb 2-4 in New York City.

Mr. Panos Shows

January 27th at Stand Up NY in New York City at 8 pm – tickets can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/214206

February 10th in Johannesburg, South Africa – for tickets visit http://online.computicket.com/web/event/mr_panos_live/504766438/0/39618733

Maurica Shows:

February 2-4 at Caroline’s on Broadway in New York City. For tickets visit www.carolines.com.

HSOC President Mike Begakis (right) with his brother Nick (left)

On Saturday, Jan 14th, the Hellenic Society of Constantinople will hold its annual Dinner Dance at the Wilshire Country Club. This will be the 45th consecutive year that the organization “cut” its vassilopita. The Hellenic Society of Constantinople was founded by a group of Greek Americans who came to the US from Istanbul for a better future. Every year the organization honors a person of Greek descent who has promoted Greek heritage. This year the organization will honor the philanthropist and LTC Properties Chairman Andre Dimitriadis with the annual Yianni Begakis Award. The goal of the Gala is to raise funds for charity organizations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The cost of the ticket is one hundred and twenty five dollars, and checks may be made payable to The Hellenic Society of Constantinople.

Where:Wilshire Country Club (301 N. Rossmore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004).
Date & Time: Jan 15th 2012 – 5.30pm
RSVP: For reservations or more information feel free to call,
Mary Morrison (818)500-0904, Jeanete Benetatos (323)660-5707