Fanny Argyropoulou was born in Kolindros of Pieria to a Greek father and a French mother. Her father is a oenologist while her mother is a lover of science and philosophy. Although she decided to study Political Science at the Panteion University in Athens, she knew that she wanted to follow her father’s path in oenology.

“I had early contact with nature and crops since I used to go with my father to our farm to pick kiwifruits. At that time, I did not want to follow that direction. I wanted to do something else, something different from winemaking. I started studying in Athens and then I realized it. Wine is something bolder and sophisticated. So, I decided that this was the way I wanted to live my life; within vintages and close to my family,” said Fanny.

Later, she decided to get her master degree in Wine Management in France. For a year she traveled around the world, visiting 22 countries and meeting with the best wine producers, importers and merchants. Every time she traveled, she came across different philosophies about wines. “For the French, wine is a valuable treasure,” she said. “Australians and Spanish people prefer their wine to be juicier. Everything depends on someone’s culture,” Fanny continues.

Today, her family is exporting wines to the top restaurants in New York City. Within the next few days, they are expected to start exporting their wines to Las Vegas.

“Whenever we bottle a wine, I’m trying to imagine it next to a couple in love or among a group of friends, listening to someone’s confessions or keeping them company when they are having fun,” Fanny confessed.

Early this year John Tsampas (Photo-R), Skyline’s longtime head of sales & business development, officially became the President of Greek-owned Skyline Restoration. As soon as the announcement was made, the response was immediate and strong – everyone rushed to offer the warmest congratulations and heartiest applause for the well-deserved elevation, which comes just in time to celebrate the company’s silver anniversary.

John was one of Skyline’s original founders in 1989, together with John Kalafatis and Bill Pierrakeas – a threesome he fondly refers to as “three guys from Queens.”

The immense pride he feels for the role he has played in the company’s phenomenal climb to success is clearly evident. He has helped Skyline grow from a small operation with a skeletal crew, performing $3000 – $4000 roof repairs and grossing roughly $500,000/yr., to one of the largest – “quite possibly the largest” — and most comprehensive full-service exterior restoration firms in the metro area, with revenues over $66M, a full-time staff of 70, plus a workforce that can grow to 700. Crain’s New York Business ranked Skyline one of the City’s “Fast 50” in 2013 based on three-year triple-digit growth rates topping 166%. Yet John is quick to point out that “this was and is completely a team effort – credit goes equally to the vision and hard work of John K. and Bill, and to the entire, incredibly talented and dedicated staff at Skyline.”

He will, though modestly, admit to having skills as a communicator. Yet his efforts to build the business by defining Skyline’s scope and expertise are based on hard facts and truth. John will not compromise “one inch” on quality and integrity and knows that one’s promise must be backed up by the quality of the deliverables. “Without that, you have nothing,” he says.

A double-major graduate of Stony Brook University (Business Administration and Economics), and an alumnus of the highly selective Stuyvesant High School, John came to Skyline from a career in real estate where he was named the number one seller in the nation by Century 21. His natural and dynamic business development skills gave Skyline a strong start and his talents were bolstered by his initial confidence in the mission of the firm.

“Because I believe in New York and in the need to preserve all of its magnificent buildings, I always believed in Skyline. We are all about restoring architecture to its former glory. Even in the darkest economic times, restoration is a necessity and Local Law 11 mandated various steps. New construction is boom and bust, much riskier and especially so in down times,” says John.

Combining the topnotch quality of the work, excellent management and John’s ability to build lasting relationships with existing customers and create new ones has led Skyline to grow at a geometric rate. “Each year our bottom line was better than the last, going from $1M to $3, $3 to $15M and so on.

Greater profit meant more and better equipment and the ability to take on larger jobs,” he says. “We’re at a point now where we are able to tackle the most complex megaprojects anywhere in New York.”

As for his role as a leader, he sees it as setting an example for others to follow. “I still close many deals myself,” he says.

One of Skyline’s most prestigious projects, a job which John secured, is the $5M complete exterior restoration of the Plaza Hotel which was finished on time and on budget. “To work on restoring one of the City’s most iconic buildings was tremendous,” he says.

Another major project was the CBS headquarters, known as the “Black Rock” building, also an immense accomplishment. Yet he qualifies these achievements by noting that hundreds of restorations are completed by Skyline each year and each one is handled with the same meticulous care and painstaking attention to detail as the most high profile jobs.

John’s family consists of his wife, an assistant principal in Queens, two daughters in high school and a son graduating college this spring. A great fan of nature, in the little spare time he has he enjoys chopping wood and fly fishing at a log cabin in the Catskills. “I come back recharged and invigorated each time,” he says.

When he speaks with passion about the future of Skyline it becomes clear how he is able to motivate the company’s employees. “We’re leading the pack in every aspect of this business – we’ve been setting the bar all along and will continue to do so.” And what makes this all possible? “There’s a synergy here – something great is happening. This company will not slow down,” he says. Certainly not with John Tsampas at the helm.

The Greek Philip Niarchos

According to this year’s Forbes’ list, three Greeks and three Cypriots are ranked between the richest people on the planet.

Spiro Latsis is in the 506th place of the Forbes’ list with 3.2 billion dollars in property. Spiro Latsis is one of the strongest men in Greece’s shipping industry. He is the son of the tycoon John S. Latsis and has been managing the family fortune since his father passed away in 2003.

Aristotelis Mistakidis and Philip Niarchos are placed in the 687th position with their property amounting to 2.5 billion dollars. Philip Niarchos is the oldest son of Stavros Niarchos, one of the world’s richest shipping magnates. He inherited the bulk of his father’s art collection which includes some of the world’s most recognizable pieces of art. It is said to be the largest private collection of Van Goghs, including a self-portrait of the painter after having cut off his own ear. Niarchos also owns some of the most emblematic works by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.

The three Cypriots included in the Forbes’ list are: the shipowner John Fredriksen in the 76th place with a property of 13.6 billion dollars. Fredriksen gave up his Norwegian citizenship for a Cypriot passport in order to escape high taxes. EasyJet’s founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou is in the 520th place and his brother Polys is in the 988th place.

The Greek frozen yogurt company Chillbox, has announced its new business venture of penetrating the U.S. market.

Chillbox, whose major shareholder is Dodoni Ice Cream SA, assigned Lymell Holdings LLC with the development of one hundred Chillbox stores throughout the U.S. within the next four years. The first store will be making its debut in Manhattan in summer 2014.

Chillbox company has 55 stores operating in Greece while its international presence extends to the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Hungary, FYROM, Netherlands, Austria, France, Belgium, Sweden and Cyprus.

Chillbox Frozen Yogurt is a frozen dessert containing yogurt and other dairy products. It is softer than regular ice-cream and is low in fat due to the use of milk rather than cream.

The use of strained Greek yogurt and fresh Greek 1.5 percent pasteurized milk is required for the preparation of the frozen yogurt. The customer can choose any flavour other than the natural yogurt flavour he or she wants and add toppings, creating a unique dish according to taste. The toppings include hot sauces, chocolate ripples,  nuts, jams, fresh fruits, cereals, syrups and others.

A recent report published by the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Consulate General of Greece in New York focuses on the exports of Greek goods to the United States in 2013.

According to the report, which is based on U.S. statistics recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau, Greek exports to the U.S. recorded in 2013, a slight decline of -3.6 percent compared to the export performance in 2012. The value of exports in 2013 amounted to around $951.94 million, compared to $986.99 million in 2012 and $864.04 million in 2011.

The total imports in the U.S. also recorded a small decline of 0.5 percent, reaching $2.239 trillion compared to $2.251 trillion over the past year. The Greek share corresponds to 0.042 percent of the total U.S. imports.

The top 10 products exported by Greece to the USA are compiled on the following list along with their total value and their change rate compared to the previous year:

1. BIC-type razor blades, $106 million (+25.5 percent)
2. Table olives, $101.86 million (+8.5 percent)
3. Aluminum sheets with a width exceeding 0.2 mm, $59.88 million (+29.3 percent)
4. Large diameter pipes by Corinth Pipeworks S.A., $55.72 million (-51.9 percent)
5. Electronic circuit protection devices, $46.83 million (+17.5 percent)
6. Aircrafts and aircraft parts, subcontracting work by Hellenic Aerospace Industry S.A., $36.25 million (-0.5 percent)
7. OPC cement, $30.31 million (+12.1 percent)
8. Virgin olive oil, $28.25 million (+57.8 percent)
9. Copper tubing primarily by Halcor Metal Works S.A., $22.84 million (+187.9 percent)
10. Variety of resistors (rheostats and potentiometers), $26 million (+74.9 percent)

Have you heard of Olive Water? Probably not, because such a beverage it doesn’t exist, well, yet!

Greek-American Yani Andrianos and his brother Thanassi just produced the first prototypes of Olive Water, a drink that promises to give you the benefits of olive oil without the fat. Andrianos came up with the idea for the beverage as he was doing research to import olive oil.

“I realized that Americans do not consume much of it. No one here in the States is getting the nutritional value of olive oil, however Americans drink a lot of beverages. We tried to combine the two and came up with Olive Water,” says Andrianos who was born in Los Angeles but both his parents come from Greece.

The nutritional benefits of Olive water are very similar to olive oil according to the inventor of the beverage.

“It’e extremely good for your cardiovascular system, it’s anti-inflammatory, and it’s also good for your hair skin and nails,” states Andrianos during our interview at the Natural Products West Expo where he showcased Olive Water for the first time.

“People are skeptical in the beginning but when they try it they become pleasantly surprised.” Watch our interview below:

The first Olive Water comes in ginger-lime flavor but the company has plans to make more flavors available in the near future.

“We will be doing our first production run in about a month and our plan is to have Olive Water available in beauty salons and spas and also in super markets.”

“It’s a Greek-American fathers dream to have his son import olive oil,” says Andrianos who actually did not import oil, but invented an olive flavored drink which is made with olive juice, an oil extract.

“Every bottle of olive water is equivalent to consuming the nutritional value of a quarter bottle of extra virgin olive oil without the calories, fat and taste, says the young Greek-American certified public accountant – turned entrepreneur.

According to the annual survey by the National Herald, the combined fortune of the fifty wealthiest Greek Americans amounts to 36 billion dollars. The National Herald‘s list includes at least 15 expatriates who were born in Greece.

The article mentions that the list includes representatives of every sector, such as businessmen, scientists, investors etc. As noted, the Greek community of the U.S.A. is among the wealthiest and more educated of the other ethnic groups that constitute the modern American society.

Every year, the National Herald publishes a list of the 50 wealthiest Greek Americans, detailing their age, professional sector and property.

This year’s list includes: Lily Hassiotis, John Catsimatidis, John Paul DeJoria, George Argyros, Michael Jaharis, Peter Peterson, George Logothetis, Dean Mitropoulos, Efstathios Valiotis, Alex Spanos, Tom Kartsotis, Theodore John Leonsis, John Calamos, George Marcus, George Behrakis, George Sakellaris, John Payiavlas, Peter G. Angelos, John Pappajohn, Sotirios Vahaviolos, Vasilis Stavropoulos, Evangelos Tsakopoulos, Theodore Spyropoulos, Arianna Stassinopoulos-Huffington, Andrew Liveris, Tina Fey, James N. Gianopulos and Rita Wilson.

We recently caught up with Gary Erickson, founder and owner of Clif Bar & Company, and – what a surprise – Gary and his nutritious bars have a Greek story to tell.

Although with a last name like Erickson it’s hard to imagine that Gary would be a Greek-American, the story behind the Clif bar started in his Greek grandmother’s kitchen. Gary’s grandmother, Kaliopi, was the one that inspired him as a kid to be a healthy food advocate and know how to eat well.

“We used to eat everything fresh and organic. My grandma taught me a healthy lifestyle and this is what I implemented in my business,” tells us the Clif bar’s inventor and author of the highly praised book Raising the Bar.

“I remember she used to open the phyllo dough from scratch and we would be together and I would help her in the kitchen. She really made me think of eating healthy. The Mediterranean diet, which is based on organic ingredients. is a great start.”

“This was the reason that made me name our first bakery, Kali, after my grandmother, Kaliopi. She was a great cook and always prepared healthy meals. She really made some amazing Greek foods and one of my favorites was her spanakopita (spinach pie).”

But how did he come up with the first Clif bar no longer only loved by cyclists, but also by millions around the world.

“In 1990 I was on a one-day, 175-mile bicycle ride. As usual, I packed six energy bars for the ride—using the only bar on the market at the time. Halfway through the ride I had eaten five of them and I could not eat my last one. It seemed hard-to-digest and not very healthy.”

Then and there, in a moment Gary now calls “the epiphany,” he conceived the idea of a better, healthy and nutritious bar which, today, is widely known as the Clif Bar. He named it after his father, Clifford, the man who introduced him to wilderness
adventures and encouraged him to follow his passions in life.

“I started thinking that something healthier could be made, a better tasting bar made with nutritious, wholesome ingredients to sustain energy.”

And then he went to the best baker he knew – his mother and “we started playing around with the idea and finally came up with the recipe for the Clif bars.”

An instant hit with cyclists and climbers, Clif Bar was formally launched in 1992, distributed first by bike shops, outdoor stores and natural food retailers and has since expanded to include grocery stores, convenience stores and other retail outlets nationwide.

In the late 1990s, the energy bar market experienced rapid growth and consolidation. As huge, multinational food companies began to acquire Clif Bar’s competitors, Gary and his wife, Kit Crawford, were under pressure to sell their business. In 2001, they made the brave decision to keep Clif Bar independent, allowing them to develop an innovative business model guided by five aspirations: sustaining its business, brands, people, community and the planet.

In 2010, Clif Bar & Company Inc implemented an employee stock ownership plan, whereby employees acquired 20% of the company, the other 80% still owned by Gary and his wife.

Supporting its employees’ work-life balance, Clif Bar provides employees with an onsite fitness center, personal trainers and concierge services such as haircuts and organic produce delivery. Employees can also opt for a flexible workweek and are encouraged to participate in volunteer opportunities during the workday. They also enjoy a sabbatical program, sustainability benefits, and onsite childcare.

Gary is also very passionate about his Greek roots.

“Of course I cherish my Greek heritage and I have been to Greece many times, around the Peloponnese and the Greek islands, of course. I love the country.”

“For now we do not have plans to go to a different product category, we want to stay in what we know to do best and this is making healthy and tasty bars but our plans include expanding our distribution.”

“We recently started selling in Europe and we hope to be able to distribute our products in Greece soon,” concludes the businessman, author, passionate cyclist, and environmental activist.

Greek businessman Andreas Raptopoulos plans to deploy military-style hardware for humanitarian purposes by using drones – unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) – to deliver medical supplies to remote areas.

“When you think of all the robotics companies in the world, I don’t know any whose first customer was not military. This is how robotics companies are built. We thought: screw that, we are going to replace the military with the humanitarian,” the entrepreneur said.

The idea came the night before a presentation at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University. This light-bulb moment evolved into a startup company called Matternet to provide help to people in developing parts of the world without road access.

Raptopoulos says such a system could leapfrog the installation of infrastructure, just as mobile networks had overtaken fixed lines in developing countries.

Small eight-propeller UAVs will be used to carry small items weighing up to 2kg, years before modern road networks could be constructed to connect remote areas.

The system would include the UAVs themselves, landing stations where the packages can be dropped off and transferred as well as the drone’s piloting and navigation software. Due to their short battery life, the drones would have to work in shifts of 10 minutes each.

The company has performed tests in Haiti and Dominican Republic as well as in Lesotho, which suffers from an AIDS epidemic. Lesotho has been identified as a place where the system could transfer laboratory samples from the countryside to urban hospitals.

According to Mr. Raptopoulos, aid agencies are being targeted as first users as well as pharmaceutical and logistics organizations. The company has ruled out the possibility of sales to the military. Ideally, drones and base stations would be bought by villages.

“Anybody can basically set up the transportation networks. It is decentralized. You don’t need governments, you don’t need big companies,” Raptopoulos noted.

The cost is estimated at about 7,200 euros per aircraft and 3,600 euros per base station.

Greek yogurt in recent years has taken New york by storm, becoming a key nutrient of the American diet and resulting in the increase of profits for companies selling it. However, apart from FAGE, that has conquered the American market, the Chobani company, owned by a Turk of Kurdish origin, has also taken an important place in the market. Now, his ex-wife revealed to the American media that he had stolen the recipe from FAGE.

According to New York Post, Hamdi Ulukaya, also known in New York as “the king of Greek yogurt,” was proud and revealed to several friends that he had stolen the recipe from an employee of FAGE. His wife Ayse Giray denounced him in court, claiming that Ulukaya had traveled to Europe to meet with a former FAGE employee, whom he bribed with 30,000 euros.

This unbelievable accusation is the last saga in the bitter legal battle between the former couple. Giray claims to be entitled to 53 percent of the Chobani company.

The Hellenic Initiative (THI) announced the launch of a new program called “The Fellowship for a New Economy”. The program invests in human capital – the mindsets and capabilities required to shape sustainable growth over the long-term.

Early and mid-career Greek professionals will complete 12-month rotations in leading U.S. businesses, building the functional skills and mindsets to guide strategic growth in core economic sectors. Fellows will also participate in a rigorous professional development program to create a community of change leaders committed to a shared vision of the future.

Participating companies include well-known multinationals such as Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, Libra Group and IBM; leading US companies such as Hostess, Pabst, Huffington Post, and strong regional firms like R&R Partners, Suffolk Construction, Gristedes, Admirals Bank, Res-Tech Plastic Molding and Metanautix.  More than 20 companies have signed on to host one or more Fellows.

Fellows will also participate in a rigorous executive education program that will combine lectures, practitioner-led classes, roundtables with business leaders, real-life cases and workshops focused on self-discovery, interpersonal skills and team building.

The Fellowship offers a stipend of $35,000-$45,000 US to support living expenses.  The program will also provide health insurance and will assist with travel expenses and obtaining a J-1 Visa.

Successful candidates will demonstrate complete English language proficiency (written and oral) and possess academic and/or professional experience in targeted growth sectors or functions important to those growth sectors (e.g., marketing, business development, operations, etc.).

Fellows will be selected based on problem solving and analytic skills and a track record of academic and professional success.  Candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and a vision for building a strategic growth sector in Greece, and they must be committed to returning to Greece upon completion of the fellowship.

“The Fellowship for a New Economy will build new foundations for the Greek economy by investing in a new generation of Greek business leaders. This program will build the skills and mindsets to shape long-term growth in strategic sectors of the Greek economy.  We are deeply appreciative that so many strong US companies have signed on to host Fellows – this is truly a fantastic development opportunity for early and mid-career Greek professionals,” said THI’s Program Director Michael Printzos.

The program comprises two tracks:

1) Intern Fellowship – Enrolled graduate student or graduate of a graduate degree program no more than six months prior to date of application

2) Trainee Fellowship – Graduate degree with at least one year of relevant work experience OR at least an undergraduate degree and five years relevant work experience.  For candidates with at least five years relevant work experience the degree need not be related to their current profession.

Applications are due May 7, 2014.  Selections will be made by July and Fellowships will begin in September 2014.

For more information and to apply visit: www.thehellenicinitiative.org/fellowship

Boston-based business owner Kristina Tsipouras will soon be marketing her own original new brand of Greek iced tea named ZOOS.

Tsipouras came up with the idea for the company some years ago when she moved back to Boston from New York City, where she had been working as an events planner. “I was completely burnt out from wedding planning and not loving it. When I came back to Boston, I wanted to make something happen,” she said.

Along with her business partner, Niari Keverian, funding from family and friends and her family recipes for iced tea, she decided to brand a traditional iced tea beverage, similar to the tea she was drinking as a child in Greece.

ZOOS is a herbal iced tea made from Sideritis, a Mediterranean flowering plant, and is a healthier alternative to other iced tea beverages currently on the market. It’s made with organic tea leaves, and is high in antioxidants, low in calories and has no additives, preservatives or artificial colors and flavors. It comes in three flavors, original (unflavored with cane sugar), peach and lemon flavor, which is the most popular flavor for Greeks when it comes to iced tea.

ZOOS beverage is pronounced Zeus, and the name is a reference to the ancient Greek god Zeus. As Tsipouras said, she chose that name because: “It’s a play on words. Something fun and easy on the eye.”

She is very positive with high ambitions for her company. After a three-month tryout in Massachusetts, the iced tea will be available in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and in the future will also expand to other U.S. states. “We want to be a national, well-known brand,” Kristina Tsipouras stressed.

Nick Stamoulis is the owner of GreekBoston.com

GreekBoston.com, a community website for Greeks in Boston and the greater New England region, and its parent company Worldwide Greeks LLC today announced a strategic business alliance with MyParea.com, a Greek social networking website which is sponsored by the National Hellenic Society based in Washington DC.

As part of the business alliance, MyParea.com will feature all events posted to GreekBoston.com’s Greek events calendar on the main MyParea.com website, as well as the new MyParea Apps that are available for the iPhone/iPad and Android based devices. This will give Greek events and festivals in New England, and ultimately across the country, the opportunity to market to an even wider audience. MyParea.com will also be promoting the new content created on Greek Boston® and Worldwide Greeks® as part of the sites’ redesign and new business strategy.

Local Greeks that work for a Greek church, or a Greek-themed event who want to promote upcoming festivals/events for free on both GreekBoston.com, as well as the MyParea.com Boston Greek events section, can submit an event for free. To post your event and learn more visit:www.greekboston.com

MyParea.com is owned by the National Hellenic Society (http://www.nationalhellenicsociety.org), whose focus is on the promotion of Hellenic heritage and the furtherance of Hellenic ideals through the sponsorship of scientific, educational and charitable programs. MyParea.com was created as a social networking site to connect Greek-Americans from around the country.

As part of the business alliance, Worldwide Greeks and Greek Boston will be promoting MyParea.com, encouraging social fans and followers, as well as visitors to the two sites, to sign up for a free account on MyParea.com and connect with fellow Greek-Americans.

The old Worldwide Greeks website, which underwent a major redesign in March 2013, used to have a proprietary social networking site built into the main website. But this social platform was removed with the new website design.

“It just didn’t make sense to have two Greek social networking sites out there,” says Worldwide Greeks® owner Nick Stamoulis. “The new direction of Worldwide Greeks™ has us focused on content creation and promotion, and not on social networking, and so we are proud to partner with MyParea.com to help create one fantastic Hellenic social network that Greek Americans and Greeks all around the world can use to keep in touch.”

Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions of the world. The Greek city Naoussa, in Macedonia, has played a leading role in Greek wine production, being the homeland to one of the most famous Greek wines, Xinomavro (meaning acid black). Xinomavro is known for its superb aging potential and its rich tannic character. The complex aromas are a combination of red fruits such as gooseberry with hints of olives, spices and dried tomatoes.

Wine producers from Naoussa are focusing on exports since their wines are becoming more and more popular in the U.S. They will pay a visit to San Diego, California and Los Angeles to meet top trained testers, wine dealers and independent consumers. The tour will take place on June 4 to June 10.

Recently, the quality of Greek wines were praised by foreign newspapers. Katie Kelly Bell praised Greek wines in Forbes magazine calling Greek wine “elegant and interesting.” The awarded Vinography blogger Alder Yarrow stated that “We should all be drinking more Greek wine. Why? Because the best Greek wines offer incredible unique flavors, often at fantastic prices, thanks to being relatively unknown even to more serious wine lovers” “Naoussa’s wines are fascinating,” said Tara Q. Thomas, editor of “Wines & Spirits” magazine

It is also worth mentioning, that Trip Advisor includes Greece in the list with the top ten travel destinations, adding that “If you love wine, when you go to Greece, a visit to the VQPRD Naoussa region should be on the top of your list of places to visit.”

Thanos Papadimitriou (first from the right) is a prominent Greek entrepreneur and business professor who decided to return to and work in Greece after an impressive and coveted career abroad.

In his interview to the Greek newspaper “I Kathimerini” Papadimitriou said that he is very interested in the Greek business industry and since his return he actively supports all Greek entrepreneurship efforts and start-up businesses. He is a little concerned however, about the soaring increase of Greek start-ups.

From a very early age Papadimitriou was interested in computers and he decided to study computer science abroad. At the age of 17 and in cooperation with his mathematics professor and school director Spyros Kalomitsines, he wrote a computer manual which led to a scholarship at the renowned MIT university in the U.S. He also attended UCLA university, where he earned a master and a doctorate degree.

After finishing his studies, Papadimitriou had a thriving career abroad. He worked in Cambridge Technology Partners, a technology consulting company, and then in Silicon Valley, the U.S. technological hub. The following four years Papadimitriou worked there on several projects in ten different technological sectors. He also met and cooperated with leading professionals and experts in computer science and technology in general.

In 2012 Papadimitriou decided to sell his California-based market research company AlphaDetail and return to Greece. In Greece he came up with the idea of giaola.gr, an online platform where people can find and hire all kind of workers, such as plumbers, builders and carpenters.

At the same time, Papadimitriou along with five more technological experts from Greece and the U.S. founded mBriyo, an incubator for technological start-ups, which has supported and promoted several Greek start-ups so far.

Grades of Green co-founders with Verte 2014 honorees Suzy Amis-Cameron and Jon Landau (center). Photo by Pamela Spyrs.

Earth Friendly Products CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, along with actor Suzie Amis-Cameron and Avatar Producer Jon Landau, were the honorees of Verte 2014, a celebration to benefit Grades of Green, an environmental education non-profit whose mission is to inspire and empower kids and the broader school community to care for the environment.

The environmentally-inspired evening that draw many esteemed members of the green movement, was hosted by John Ireland, ESPN710 host and the radio voice for the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Whether they are creating inspirational films like Avatar and ensuring the production is carbon neutral, or founding schools focused on environmental education and the arts, Jon and Suzy bring a tremendous amount of energy and passion for protecting the earth,” said Kimberly Lewand Martin, a co-founder of Grades of Green.

“And we really admire how Earth Friendly Products make it easier for all of us to live sustainably in our everyday lives. All three are terrific role models for the children we strive to inspire and empower – showing young people that you can simultaneously live your dreams and love the planet.”

Earth Friendly Products CEO Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, receives a recognition at the event’s green carpet by California State Senator Ted Lieu.

“It’s a great honor to receive this award and it has an extra-special meaning for me because it also honors my father. Being Dr, Van Vlahakis’ daughter fills me up with great pride,” noted Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks who was recently appointed as the new Earth Friendly Products CEO after her father’s passing.

Suzie Amis-Cameron who has also be working with the world’s largest manufacturer of green cleaning products, for the green school “Muse” she co-founded , said that “caring for the environment is the only true love we can show towards the future generations.”

Verte 2014 that serves as the main fundraising event for Grades of Green was held on June 6th at MBS Media Campus in Manhattan Beach where James Cameron is getting ready to film his next Avatar movie, the production of which will be carbon neutral, thanks to solar panels installed at the Campus.

Grades of Green strives to make environmental protection second nature in young minds by providing parents, students and educators with the tools to inspire and empower K–12 school communities to care for the environment. A recipient of the U.S. EPA’s coveted Environmental Award, Grades of Green currently is inspiring and empowering more than 150,000 students enrolled across 36 states and 5 countries to care for the environment. For details, visit www.gradesofgreen.org.

Watch our green carpet interviews from Verte 2014:

The American magazine Forbes has published and extensive article regarding the Greek paradox of the international company Starbucks. Putting aside the issues of Greek bureaucracy, or the Greek financial crisis, Forbes attempted to find the reason behind the fact that Starbucks is lowering it prices in Greece, when everywhere else in the world, prices are increasing.

Making reference to a Wall Street Journal report, Forbes mentions that Starbucks in the U.S. has increased its prices due to an increase in coffee prices. “Starting Tuesday, some beverages in Starbucks U.S. company-operated stores will increase by between five cents and 20 cents,” notes the article, while it continues with the paradox “But there is one country where Starbucks is cutting prices, Greece.”

Furthermore, the Forbes columnist gives some examples of the drop in prices, which he found out during his visit in Thessaloniki two weeks ago. “According to a store catalogue I obtained during my visit in the city of Thessaloniki two weeks ago, the company has lowered prices substantially for several coffee beverages. A double espresso, for instance, now costs 2 euros, down from 2.60 euros; an espresso macchiato 2.50 euros, down from 2.95 euros; and a cappuccino Freddo 3.95 euros, down from 4.65 euros—to mention but a few,” he wrote.

But why has Starbucks, a well-established international company, decided to change its policy in just one country?

“The reason for this price decline is a recent drop in the Value Added Tax (VAT), which Starbucks passed on to customers, according to one of the baristas we asked for an explanation. That sounds kind enough on the part of the company. But the price cuts are sizable, much more than could be justified by a decline in VAT. So something else is at work—competition. Yes, competition from Mikel,” mentioned the Forbes article.

Making a brief reference to Mikel’s history, Forbes noted that the company was launched in Larissa in 2008. Seeing as coffee is a daily ritual for most Greeks, the company was very successful and even managed to overthrow Starbucks.

“Most notably, Mikel seems to be a popular destination for young people, helping the company spread buzz and grow by leaps and bounds, beating Starbucks by a big margin. In Thessaloniki, for instance, Mikel already has 20 stores and Starbucks only 4—with some Mikel stores located right next to Starbucks. Worse, the rapid spread of the new chain seems to have put Starbucks on the defensive, fueling a price war not seen in other overseas markets—Mikel offers all sorts of discounts that entice price-conscious customers.”

Finally, the columnist wonders if Starbucks in Greece will end up like franchise companies such as McDonald’s who are slowing fading out or will Mikel be able to enter the American market?

A solar panel installation at the Earth Friendly Products Manufacturing facility in Addison, IL.

Last week, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) and  Admirals Bank announced a strategic relationship in which Admirals Bank has committed to make $200 million in loan funding available for SunPower residential solar projects over the next two years.

The partnership supports the SunPower® Loan program in the U.S., expanding the financing options available to homeowners interested in owning high-efficiency SunPower solar power systems. Under the program, borrowers may apply for a loan of up to $60,000 to install a SunPower system.

Admirals Bank was created about four years ago when Greek-American Nick W. Lazares and a group of investors bought a small, capital-challenged institution in Cranston, R.I. and renamed it to Admirals Bank. Since 2012, Chairman and CEO Nicholas W. Lazares has focused the bank’s home improvement lending efforts in the residential solar and renewable energy industry, opening Admirals Alternatives, the renewable energy lending division of Admirals Bank.

[L-R] Admirals Bank VP Nick P. Lazares spearheaded the agreement between the bank and the solar panel provider. Here, with his father, Nick W. Lazares, at the 2014 PV America show in Boston.

“As a lending leader for residential solar power systems, Admirals Bank understands the unique value proposition that SunPower’s proven, high performance solar technology offers,” said Lazares. (Watch an interview with Nick W. Lazares)

“For that reason, under this program, we are offering preferred interest rates for homeowners who choose SunPower solar energy systems. Admirals stands behind families and communities that choose to maximize their savings and minimize their carbon footprint.”

“Admiral Bank’s funding and affordable rates are enabling SunPower to expand its residential loan program to allow more U.S. homeowners to own the most efficient and reliable solar technology available,” said SunPower CFO Chuck Boynton.

SunPower’s loan program is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. SunPower loans may allow homeowners to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit now available for installing solar power systems, as well as additional incentives offered by many states and municipalities.

Businessman Paul Kotrotsios

Greece has a competitive economy in the European Union. Its access to the sea and gateway to Europe is ideal for businesses looking to expand in this geographical region. On July 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Trade and Investment Seminar hosted by Hermes Expo International, in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia and the U.S. Commercial Service of Philadelphia, will be held at the Fox Board Room on the 3^rd floor of the Temple University’s Fox School of Business (1801 Liacouras Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6038).

Thessaloniki, Greece and Philadelphia share a Memorandum of Understanding since 2000, resulting in a free exchange of ideas and goods between the two cities. Exports totaled 64 million dollars in 2008 from Philadelphia to Greece.

Mr. Paul Kotrotsios, a dynamic international businessman and philanthropist, together with his network of family and friends, catapulted Hermes Expo International into a catalyst role in building these business relationships.

Hermes International Expo has another unique goal: building the ‘American Pavilion’ at the HELEXPO in the 79th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), September 6-14, 2014. Mr. Andreas Daroudis, Director of Exhibitions, stated “TIF is a trade and consumer exhibition with more than eight hundred exhibitors and 200,000 visitors which gives each country the opportunity to have a coherent presentation through its products and commercial capacities to the business world, as well as to make its culture and civilization known to the public.”

Thessaloniki is the unofficial capital of the Balkans with a significant outward trade flow. A jewel coveted by all nations for centuries, Thessaloniki has trade relations with Europe, Asia and America.

The July 10 Seminar’s aim is to discuss trade opportunities and Hermes Expo International’s participation in the September 2014 International Fair. Panelists include: The Honorable Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to the USA; Tony Ceballos, Director, Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center; Carol Brooks-Bryant, Manager of Business Services, Dept. of Commerce, Philadelphia.

To learn more visit: Hermesexpo.com.

When he realized he couldn’t find a pair of quality men’s shoes, Greek-American George Vlagos decided to make his own. Currently, there is a six-week waiting list for his shoes.

When George Vlagos was in middle school, his father John, who worked as a cobbler, would take him into their shop in Chicago to shine shoes. This way, he would show his son that manual work is difficult and that he should get an education to find a better job.

Eventually, young George studied English and got his masters degree. However, when he realized that his job couldn’t get him a nice pair of men’s shoes, he decided to get involved in the family business.

“I didn’t have particularly crazy expectations,” says Vlagos, “I wanted a shoe made in America, full grain leather, at a reasonable price. I was really surprised that something that existed 20 to 30 years ago was disappearing.”

Moreover, his father had also seen a huge change in the shoes he was repairing as many of them were made out of plastic that couldn’t be resoled or had molded rubber soles that couldn’t be repaired or modified.

So Vlagos decided to design the type of shoe he was looking for, by himself. He found a shoemaker who would hand sew his creations and he purchased leather from the Chicago based Horween Leather Company, one of the oldest tanneries in the USA. On August 31, 2010, he launched his own company, Oak Street Bootmakers, and without any advertising he managed to sell out every shoe he had within 24 hours.