Greek flag ships are considered to be of the highest quality in the world, with the vessels on the Greek register being among the most cutting-edge in global waters.
The US Coast Guard’s recognition of Greece as a Quality Flag State was granted to the Greek register for another year, for the exceptional performance recorded in inspections of Greek vessels at various ports.
In the last three years, the rate of Greek-flagged ships to be detained was below one percent, which is a key condition for the US authority to issue the Quality Flag State qualification.
The Greek register therefore maintains its position as a member of the Qualship 21 program that started in 2001 and is aimed at introducing a system for the assessment of quality and the supply of incentives for ships bearing non-US flags, traveling to American ports.
The Animals singer, Eric Burdon, talks with Chris Kontos of Mac & Lou.
It was about a year ago when young Greek entrepreneurs Marios Karkalis and Chris Kontos started working on the launch of their new jewelry line Mac & Lou, which is taking Hollywood by storm today.
The Hollywood-based brand recently participated in their first trunk show at Mondrian’s Skybar. During the Full Moon Bazaar the brand received great feedback and was sold out at an event where Hollywood celebrities and high society scout new brands.
“We couldn’t be happier about the feedback we received and the love people showed for what we do. It takes a lot of effort to start a new brand and there is much work involved in each of our handcrafted pieces, so when people recognize this, it feels good and gives us courage to continue,” said Chris Kontos who represented the company at the show.
But it wasn’t just everyday people who stopped at Mac & Lou‘s display. Among the guests that were impressed by their creations was legendary singer of the Animals, Eric Burdon, who “loved the rock feeling of the brand.”
Another celebrity that was fascinated by the unique accessories was Dr. Dre. The iconic hip-hop rapper and producer reportedly snagged a bracelet for his wife, Nicole Threatt.
Inspired by bohemian and rock culture, Mac & Lou offers statement accessories made from high-grade materials such as sterling silver, gold, brass, leather, silk and all kinds of precious and semi-precious stones.
“We believe in the raw side of beauty, we believe in standing out from the crowd, we believe in either finding a way or making your own,” reads the company’s mission statement.
FAGE, a Greek dairy company, has decided to invest in its New York plant in order to increase production in an attempt to balance the losses the company has suffered because of the economic crisis in Greece.
The company’s sales abroad are rising and as a result the production capacity of strained yogurt, the company’s key product, needed to increase too. FAGE aims to compete with rival companies, whose products cannot be compared to authentic Greek yogurt.
In fact, FAGE won a case in court, against the Kurdish owned Chobani which was selling a product under the name of Greek yogurt in the UK. The court ruled that if the product has not been produced in Greece and undergone the special straining process, then it cannot be classified as Greek yogurt.
Furthermore, the Greek dairy company sales have quadrupled increased in the last four years going from 16,600 tons in 2009 to 69,250 tons in 2013. Therefore, FAGE is planning on increasing it production capacity in New York from 85,000 tons to 160,000 tons, making an investment that is estimated to cost 100 million dollars.
The company is currently selling its products to 280 chain stores, in 40 countries around the world. In the U.S. its sales increased by 6.9% in 2013, in the UK by 5.2%, while in Italy a remarkable 51.5% increase was recorded.
However, sales in Greece are dropping as the company showed a decrease of 4.1% in sales in 2013 compared to the previous year, while the overall yogurt market in Greece is shrinking continually.
The New York Times published an article on Ioannis Zoitas, the Greek migrant from the island of Lefkada, who now has his own grocery store chain, Westside Markets, in New York City.
The 69-year-old opened his first grocery store in 1977 on Broadway, near 110th Street. Today, he owns five grocery stores in different locations and he is preparing to open a sixth.
In the extensive NYT article about Ioannis Zoitas’ life, it is mentioned that his store on 110th Street sells more than 20,000 products, including almonds, coconuts and organic milk, while customers can choose between 48 varieties of eggs and 250 brands of beer.
Ioannis Zoitas grew up in Lefkada and had a difficult childhood. As he told NYT reporter Kia Gregory, food was scarce back then. “As a boy, he worked the farm of mostly olives and grapes with his father. He recalled how he would close his eyes and smell the tomatoes. He quit school after the sixth grade so that he could work, a circumstance that still stings,” notes the article.
At the age of 26, he left Greece and migrated to the United States where he started working at a small grocery store on 110th Street. In 1977 he bought the business. He paid part of the total amount in advance and promised the previous owner that he would continue to pay in installments. He changed the store’s name to Westside Market and expanded to the bar next door. “People started to eat more quality food and they will spend more for it,” says Zoitas.
Customers can also taste and buy homemade dishes and desserts made by Ioannis’ wife, Maria, who uses her own recipes. “I think it’s good to give something to people, and they like it,” says Maria, who recently started adding ingredients such as quinoa, kale and wheat berries to her recipes.
Ioannis’ son, George, says that the sixth store “is something of a gamble: It will be less convenient to a subway station than the other stores, and it will also be going up against two nearby giants, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.”
New York Commercial Bank, a subsidiary of New York Community Bancorp, Inc., announced that Athanassia (“Nancy”) Papaioannou was unanimously appointed President of its Atlantic Bank division by the members of the Atlantic Bank Advisory Board.
In addition to assuming her new role as President, Papaioannou will continue to oversee the Premier Banking operations of the Atlantic Bank division.
Papaioannou was born, raised and educated in Athens, Greece, where she attended Arsakion, a prestigious preparatory school, as well as the French Academy. At the age of 18, she joined the National Bank of Greece and in 1990, was transferred to its U.S. affiliate, Atlantic Bank of New York.
Once in New York, Papaioannou continued her academic studies, majoring in Accounting and Banking, and graduating from Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in Business Management. Building on her extensive experience and her education, she became the manager of the Premier Banking Group of Atlantic Bank of New York in February 2001. In 2006, when Atlantic Bank of New York was acquired by New York Commercial Bank, Papaioannou continued in her leadership role with Premier Banking.
An active participant in the Greek American community, Papaioannou was recently elected President of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and is a member of various Greek American organizations in New York.
In assuming the presidency of the Atlantic Bank Division, Papaioannou follows in the footsteps of Spiros J. Voutsinas, who excelled in that position from the time of his appointment in 2006 until his tragic passing on April 26, 2014. The Atlantic Bank Advisory Board has been actively considering candidates for the role since the spring.
The Atlantic Bank Advisory Board also established a new Executive Committee. The Committee includes New York Commercial Bank President Joseph R. Ficalora, and Divisional Board members John Catsimatidis, Nicolas Bornozis, Spiros Milonas and Savas Konstantinides. In addition to the members on this committee, the Atlantic Bank Board includes Former Ambassador to Cyprus Andrew J. Jacovides, Comin Nicholas Kafes, Mitchell Rutter and John Tsimbinos.
Last week, Barack Obama made a stop at a private residence in New Rochelle, New York. The President’s visit was covered in the media as just a roundtable to benefit the Democratic National Committee.
However, somebody who knows the Greek hosts of the event, would find a much more interesting reason behind the visit, hosted by Libra Group CEO, George Logothetis, and his wife Nitzia who runs the NY-based non-profit, Seleni Institute.
George Logothetis has met the President before, but most importantly what brings them together is a common mission to help those our society has not helped yet. The outsiders, who given the right opportunities will rise despite the odds against them… just as Obama and Logothetis did in politics and business respectively. And now they are both passionate to prove that their theory works!
Obama’s administration has launched the initiative “My Brother’s Keeper, to give every child – no matter what they look like, where they live – the chance to reach their full potential, ” while Logothetis has started life-changing.
President Obama himself urged Americans to adopt the program’s ethics: “I’m reaching out to some of America’s leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds to stay on track and reach their full potential.”
Libra CEO George Logothetis and US President Barack Obama have one very important thing in common!
Logothetis is in fact a different kind of CEO whose idea of Philotimo-based business might not be usual practice of leaders for large corporations such as Libra, but encompasses perfectly the President’s message for offering opportunities to socio-economic disadvantaged students. In an attempt to give opportunities to students as well as discover talent, Libra runs one of the largest private company paid internship programs in the US.
The private initiative that had attracted attention from the White House before, takes in 100 interns per annum who work at the Libra Group or one of its 30 global subsidiaries. It is run in collaboration with several partner organizations. Initially the program focused on Greeks and the Greek diaspora through partnerships with Deree College and the Greek America Foundation. More recently Libra Group has partnered with Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to public high school students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. As such, Libra is among the first organizations to respond to President Obama’s call to action under the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.
These interns are not the first within Libra’s internship program to have experienced serious social and economic disadvantage: In July The Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP) announced that it had secured internship placements with Libra.
Laurent Lamothe, Prime Minister of Haiti, commented: “We see professional training as a fundamental element to spur a new generation of entrepreneurs, to that end my government has successfully partnered with the Libra Group and HELP. I look forward to seeing this program extend to public university students in the coming months and commend all partners for their continued engagement with Haiti.”
Other Libra Internship Program partners include Miami Dade College, The Instituto Griego Atenagoras I in South America and The University of Piraeus.
And for those who might argue that there is not much help private corporations can offer for social programs unless they see their profits declining, Logothetis’ progressive ideas have led Libra’s transformation from a relatively small shipping company to a diverse multinational and multicultural conglomerate.
It seems that Logothetis’ bond with Obama goes way beyond politics, or business, as they both seem to have walked the same path, that of the underdog who surprised the system.
Widely-respected Fortune magazine included Greek shipowner and businesswoman Angeliki Frangou in the list with the 25 most powerful women in the world for 2014.
Frangou, originating from the island of Chios, Greece, is considered one of the world’s shipping magnate. The powerful Greek shipowner obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.
Frangou has a son, Nicholas, and lives in New York. She owns houses in Chios, Athens, Monaco and New York. She loves the opera, while she is a collector of Greek, Byzantine and Chinese artwork.
She belongs to the fourth generation of the Frangos family involved in the shipping industry.
She is president and CEO of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. since August 25, 2005, and its subsidiaries Navios Partners and Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation. She is also Chair of Navios South American Logistics since its establishment in December 2007.
In the past, she had served as Chair, CEO and President of International Shipping Enterprises, which acquired Navios Holdings. From 1990 until August 2005, she was CEO of Maritime Enterprises Management SA, which specializes in dry bulk vessels management.
Greek-American Dean Metropoulos, the acquisition guru who bought Pabst Brewing Company for $250 million dollars in 2010, sold the iconic American beer-maker to Oasis Beverages, a Russian group.
According to the New York Times, Oasis Beverages paid more than $700 million to acquire the Pabst Brewing Company, which also makes Colt 45 and Old Milwaukee. The sale will net a tidy profit for Dean Metropoulos, the businessman who bought Pabst for a mere $250 million in 2010.
The company’s growth is to be credited to Dean Metropoulos’ sons who ran Pabst Brewing Co. after the acquisition until its sale. Evan and Daren Metropoulos, in a relatively short period of time, managed to make the beer a cool mainstream bargain brew with a global market.
Dean Metropoulos who was born in Tripoli, Greece definitely knows a thing or two about turning around brands. In 1996 he and partners formed International Home Foods, then revamped Chef Boyardee pasta products, PAM cooking spray and Bumble Bee seafood. In 2000 he sold IHF to ConAgra for $2.9 billion. Four years later he bought Aurora Foods out of bankruptcy and merged it with Pinnacle Foods (Aunt Jemima, Duncan Hines, Log Cabin). He and fellow investors sold it to Blackstone Group for $2.2 billion in 2007.
Metropoulos has also reinvigorated businesses such as U.K.-based Hillsdown Holdings (now public), Premier Foods and Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes.
Metropoulos was born in Greece and came to Watertown, Mass. with his family at age 10. His father moved the family to America looking for a better future for his children. At age 25, he went to Geneva, Switzerland, to become a financial director for GTE International’s (now Verizon) European, Middle Eastern and African operations; he returned to the U.S. as the company’s youngest controller.
Related Video: Interview with ‘acquisition king’ Dean Metropoulos
The rapid fall in Greece’s real estate property prices has precipitated an international land grab. Americans in particular have been keen for all types of Greek real estate properties – and, according to a recent wave of Greek real estate data, the higher the cost, the higher the demand.
Greece ranks among the top 10 most popular countries for Americans searching for property abroad. “The top five countries retained their positions in August as the most searched on the Realtor.com, a US real estate website – but Greece was a surprise entry in the top 10,” reads the website “OPP Connect.”
Among other popular countries for wealthy American property owners are Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. According to real estate expert David Lauster, “the U.S. market is wide open for international buyers. The continued interest of international buyers will soak up any excess in the US market and push prices up, which is good for property owners and for real estate agents who are able to connect with these global clients.”
Many American real estate practitioners believe that the greatest demand for overseas property concerns properties for commercial use. However, “the vast majority of international purchases in the US are of residential properties for personal use or for income purposes,” notes Lauster. OPP Connect adds that prices in Greece have dropped by 7.9% from last year, thus attracting more international buyers.
Greatist recently announced the 44 top healthiest companies to work for in America, with Greek-American green giant Earth Friendly Products being featured into the list as “a modern-day Eden.”
“From alternative health insurance, fully stocked kitchens, free mental health counseling, and domestic partner benefits to on-site fitness centers, unlimited vacation days, Ping-Pong tournaments, and regular happy hours, these workplaces are truly committed to helping their employees stay healthy and happy,” writes Greatist.
What makes EFP an Eden?
Each Earth Friendly Products facility has an organic garden where employees are encouraged to take fruits and veggies home. The produce can also be put to use at one of the company’s juicing machines.
The focus isn’t just on individual wellness, it’s also about global well-being. To that end, Earth Friendly organizes jumbo employee swap meets called “RE-Parties.” Clothes, household goods, and plenty of stories are all exchanged. Larger eco swaps, like switching a conventional car for a hybrid or other green vehicle, or installing solar panels at home, are also met with substantial financial assistance from the company. Plus any of its 300 employees who move closer to the office, cutting back on their commute and carbon footprint, receive a one thousand dollar bonus.
Earth Friendly Products was founded by Dr. Van Vlahakis in 1967 and today the Company 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.
A woman from Greece, and other perpetrators, defrauded U.S. banks out of 1.7 million dollars by creating fake businesses and bank accounts, federal authorities announced Thursday.
According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dora Argyropoulos, a 59-year-old Athens, Greece, resident, entered the United States in Miami on November 9, when he was arrested and was s indicted in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday on two counts of bank fraud. She is charged of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud in the U.S.
The woman and her unidentified accomplices registered fake business names in the U.S. and set up accounts in those names at ten banks, the report says. The perpetrators would then return to Greece taking advantage of bank procedures. They would use debit cards linked to those accounts and would create “massive overdrafts” and fees totaling 1.7 million dollars, the federal authorities said.
Earth Friendly Products, a leader in manufacturing award-winning eco-friendly cleaning products, received the 2014 Large Business award at the 15th Annual Orange County Business Journal’s Family Owned Business Awards. These prestigious awards are an opportunity for OCBJ to recognize the accomplishments and local contributions of family owned businesses, based in Orange County.
“For family businesses to survive, it takes a multi-generational commitment. Family businesses require leaders first, and owners second,” said Gavin Herbert Jr., who delivered the keynote address and whose company was the recipient of last year’s Medium-Sized Business award.
A crowd of more that 350 turned out for the awards luncheon held on November 19, 2014 at the Hotel Irvine to celebrate five honorees. This year’s award recipients covered a broad range of industries and family backgrounds. The Large Business award was presented to Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, CEO of Earth Friendly Products by Gordon S. MacLean,Partner at Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP.
“Thank you to the Orange County Business Journal for this wonderful honor today. My father built a business that is not only environmentally responsible but socially responsible,” said Vlahakis-Hanks, in her acceptance speech. “I am proud to continue his legacy, keeping Earth Friendly Products a family owned and operated business while continuing to lead our company in the environmental movement.”
Earth Friendly Products’ first Orange County facility was opened in 1977 by green pioneer Dr. Van Vlahakis and has continued to create green jobs in the community since it’s inception. Making sustainability a corporate priority in all of its five manufacturing facilities strategically located across the United States has resulted in Earth Friendly Products having now achieved carbon neutrality.
On Earth Day, April 2014, Earth Friendly Products raised their minimum wage for all employees nationwide to $17.00 per hour to ensure that every employee works according to the founding principles of the company, fairness and responsibility.
In a recent statement Vlahakis-Hanks stated, “Raising the minimum wage is essential to creating a truly sustainable workplace and economy. We lower our employee turnover and increase productivity at our company by paying a living wage and this money goes right back into the economy. To us, it is simply smart business, proving that a company can be good stewards of the environment, treat its employees with dignity and remain strong, stable and profitable.”
Earth Friendly Products has a large presence throughout Orange County with products available in Mothers Market, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Ralphs Walmart and Fresh & Easy stores. The company works closely with numerous Orange County organizations such as The Discovery Science Center and supports the Orange County Junior League, Orange County Girl Scouts and is proud to have created a green educational science program, ECOScience, which is part of the ongoing curriculum in elementary schools across Southern California.
George Logothetis, Chairman and CEO of Libra Group
President and CEO of Libra Group George Logothetis received the 2014 “Capital Link Leadership Award” for his initiatives in Greece, as well as internationally, in the business, education and charity fields. The award is part of the 16th annual Capital Link investment forum in New York.
While receiving the award, Logothetis proudly referred to his Greek heritage, and congratulated Nicolas and Olga Bornozis for organizing the forum. Furthermore, Logothetis talked about the “Greek experience,” the need to support the Greek youth, his feelings when visiting the country and analyzed his investment initiatives in Greece, aiming to restore and grow the Greek economy.
In addition, he presented the activities of the “Libra Internship Program” and the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award, which was founded and managed by Libra Group with a 10-million-dollar commitment. The Entrepreneurship Award has created opportunities for both experienced and up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Greece through funding, mentoring and a wide range of business support services.
Logothetis was introduced by the Ambassador of Greece to the US, Christos Panagopoulos, who also presented the award. The event and dinner was attended by Shipping, Maritime Affairs and Aegean Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Asimakis Papageorgiou, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, Ambassador Michel Spinellis, General Consul of Greece in New York Georgios Iliopoulos, Consul Manos Koubarakis and several Greek-American entrepreneurs. The event was presented by journalist Alexis Christoforous.
On December 20, Skyline Restoration Inc. held its 25-year anniversary party at Cipriani’s in Midtown Manhattan. Over 400 New York City professionals, including the company’s employees, clients, as well as top-level executives, engineers and architects from other Manhattan firms, attended the celebration.
The prestigious building restoration company was founded by three Greek-Americans back in 1989 – John Kalafatis, John Tsampas and Bill Pierrakeas. The company that started as a small restoration firm in 1989 has quickly grown to become one of the premier firms in New York City and was even recognized by Crain’s as one of the 50 fastest growing New York companies in 2013.
According to principal owner Kalafatis, the reason for his company’s longevity in New York City’s competitive corporate environment can be traced back to three basic business philosophies:
“Simply follow your heart and enact your beliefs in your daily business life.”
“Understand the subject well and offer your services at the highest professional level.”
“Never underestimate people, always treat them with respect and honesty.”
Skyline has proven its dedication to these philosophies in its operations over the past 25 years, achieving a reputation for honesty, integrity and professionalism in its business efforts. The company also hosts an annual charity tournament for the non-profit organization Smile Train and recently established “Skyline Foundation,” a charity foundation that is a branch of Skyline’s corporate holdings.
The anniversary celebration featured gourmet food, drinks and dancing, accompanied with live music, to entertain the 400 guests and celebrate the milestone 25th anniversary.
Greek dairy product company FAGE has been trying to increase its production capacity in foreign markets. A few days ago, the company announced that work on its new U.S. production facility was completed.
The facility, which cost a total of 120 million dollars, is expected to be fully operational by spring 2015, creating 150 jobs in Johnstown Industrial Park, NY. The company currently employs 240 people at its existing factory.
FAGE aims to double the factory’s production capacity. Meanwhile, the company’s investment that reached 200 million dollars, is expected to aid in promoting the products across the United States and increase public demand. According to a company representative, this move indicates that FAGE has decided to focus on the US market but also create opportunities in new markets.
Furthermore, the company is also exploring its growth options in the UK, even though it has been well established in that market for over 30 years. FAGE’s UK marketing director, Alison While, noted that the total yoghurt sales in the country have dropped by 0.9%, while Greek yoghurt sales are showing an increase of 29%.
Aiming at a higher market share, FAGE launched a new advertising campaign on British television, focusing on the difference of Greek strained yogurt, in an attempt to educate UK consumers.
Greeks are everywhere and that includes Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list, which selects some of the brightest and most successful young people in the world for 2015.
The list includes people from various sectors and fields. This year it included Alexandra Cavoulacos in the Media category.
The 28-year-old woman has a Greek father, while her mother has origins from Belgium and Hungary. She was born and raised in Washington and after the age of 10, she also lived with her parents in New York and Paris. In fact, at some point she even worked at the U.S. Embassy, in Paris.
Alexandra Cavoulacos had the privilege of being included on the prestigious list, after co-founding a company called “The Muse.” The company — which she founded along with Kathryn Minshew and Melissa McCreery — essentially helps thousands of people build their careers and find the right job.
This is not the first time that Cavoulacos, who studied at Yale University, has been at the center of attention. The Business Insider had included her in its “30 Most Important Women Under 30 in Tech” last year, while TIME described her as a “champion” in the field, noting that “The Muse is a must follow for anyone interested in learning the secrets of job searches, productivity and other tricks of the workplace trade.”
Paul Kotrotsios (2nd from right) with Marion J. Civera, Jr., Chairman Delaware County Council greeting exhibitors.
Persons are the Heart and Soul of Hermes Expo International. Several unforgettable Americans made an impression. Each year, A legendary educator presents his philosophy. Dr. Dean Lomis and his wife Tula made the trip from Delaware to Hermes Expo 2014 to promote Hellenism. They come every year.
Dr. Dean and Mrs. Lomis. Photo by Stavroula Raia
Who is Dr. Dean Lomis? He is an international scholar, respected university professor, patriotic Greek-American, a military man and father of medical doctors who is keeping Hellenism alive for the next generation of his family. He is a writer, widely read in the global community. “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber, said Plato,” explained Dr. Lomis at Hermes Expo 2014. “In our day, this means that if we do not support the efforts of our community, we fall into the negative citizen responsibility that Pericles despised. Supporting Hermes is a first step today.”
“When I was stationed in Germany from 1956-57, I could not go to what was then ‘East Berlin in East Germany, under Communist domination,” he explained. “But in 2002, after the fall of Communism, I attended an international education conference in East Berlin. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the Pergamum Museum from being inside it. The way it is set up, one feels that one is part of the original time. It is a magnificent site.”
Stavroula Raia, who photographed Hermes Expo International 2014, said “Dr. Lomis is an interesting person of analytical intellect, dignified and well spoken. He has orchestrated his life and family to reflect his love of his Greek-American culture’s ‘ethima and ethimata’ (ethics and traditions). An American air force veteran in addition to his education profession, he has lived and accomplished more than most. He is admirable.”
Mrs. Elaine Papantinas of Newark, Delaware, said “Dean is my brother. We have a bond of loyalty to him and Tula.” Mr. Paul Kotrotsios, Founder and Publisher of the Hellenic News of America and Hermes Expo International, has mobilized Greek Americans searching for their toots in the North East. Many families are from the early 1900’s and 1922 immigration from the dismemberment of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. His smile and dynamic family have created Hermes Expo through the help of private industry.
Dr. Nicholas Hadgis, Dean of Hospitality School at Widener University. Photo by Stavroula Raia.
Dr. Nicholas Hadgis, Dean of the Hospitality Management School of Widener University, spoke to Greek Reporter in a down to earth style about his Greek heritage and the Hospitality Industry at Hermes Expo 2014. “My wife is from Cyprus,” he said. Dr. Hadgis will moderate a panel discussion on trends in the hospitality industry at the 2015 Hermes Expo International.
Delaware County and Greater Philadelphia businesses specializing or targeting healthcare and the hospitality industries are invited to participate in this year’s Hermes Expo. It is a trade show providing networking opportunities for businesses in the Delaware County, Brandywine Valley and the Greater Philadelphia area. It will be held on Tuesday, March 31, at The Best Western Hotel, Concordville, PA from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission is free, just bring your business card.
Marion J. Civera, Jr., Chairman Delaware County Council (left) speaking at Hermes Expo 2014.
Hermes Expo International is a leading B2B Trade Show and Exhibition networking company in America, promoting commerce, communications and culture. Now in its twenty-fourth year, it is one of Philadelphia’s premier networking events. The Expo enables regional business owners make connections with their counterparts from the Greater Philadelphia Area, North America, Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The theme is “Greeks and Philhellenes Working Together.” The Expo will feature panel discussion on key areas affecting our economy: healthcare and the hospitality industry. Dr. Constantinos Plestis, System Chief, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Lankenau Heart Institute, part of Main Line Health will be the keynote speaker at the Hermes Expo dinner.
CEO Kastanis (4th from left) with Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis (left to right), Paul Kotrotsios and Aris Melissaratos. Photo by Aphrodite Kotrotsios.
The Ted Spyropoulos Seminar Series will begin. Mr. Spyropoulos was an inspirational leader in the Greek-American community. He believed that if we worked together, we could move mountains. The seminar will feature business and political leaders discussing issues to help build bridges between the US, Greece, South Eastern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean countries. The inaugural topic is “Tourism and Trade on Both Sides of the Atlantic.” The panel speakers include: Aris Melissaratos, Aris Institute; Christos Panagopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to the U.S.; Marion J. Civera, Jr., Chairman Delaware County Council; Les Vail, President of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce; Anthony Ceballos, Director, U.S. Export Assistance Center Philadelphia; Constantine Galanis, CEO, Apollo S.A.
Mr. Hionas (2nd from left) being honored.
From noon until 5:30 PM, the Hermes Expo Exhibits are open to Hermes attendees and the public. This year, there will be 60 exhibit booths. Businesses represented are from the food industry, travel and tourism, banking and finance, insurance, legal services, marbles & granites, Information technology, and more. Sponsors involved are Performance/Roma Foods Foodservice in cooperation with the Brandywine Valley Restaurant Association for vendors and manufacturers.
The evening Awards Dinner will honor: The Honorable Diane Titus (D-NV) US Congresswoman; Dr. Nicholas Hadgis, Dean of Hospitality School at Widener University; Dean Laskaris of Laskaris and Laskaris CPA Firm and President of the Saint Sophia’s Greek Community; Philip Frangos, Esq, Supreme President of the AHEPA and Supreme Lodge along with Districts #4 and #5; Dr. Angelo Karakasis APEX Medical & Rehab and the Korologos Brothers of Double T Diners.
The Hermes Expo International hosts a series of events held annually in New York and the Philadelphia region featuring exclusive level networking opportunities, professional development seminars, educational panels and a trade show exhibition platform for businesses seeking to grow and expand. For further information, visit the Expo’s website. If your business has specific needs, the Hermes Expo team can customize a sponsorship package to meet them. Please contact Paul Kotrotsios at 484-843-4984 or 610-202-4465 or e-mail.
Greek-American celebrity chef Maria Loi, nicknamed the “Martha Stewart” of Greece, recently expanded her cooking empire with a restaurant opening in midtown Manhattan. Loi Estiatorio serves traditional Greek dishes with a fresh, modern twist.
Items off the menu like lavraki (branzino), paidakia (lamb chops) and htapodaki stin scara (grilled octopus) follow Loi’s cooking philosophy by keeping it simple, nutritious and delicious.
So far, the restaurant has received rave reviews from local New York magazines and guides for its beautiful ambience as well as its top-notch food. Former “Seasonal” chef Arno Mueller is in charge of the kitchen as the chef de cuisine, but Loi oversees the entire restaurant and frequently mingles with guests.
The Greek-American chef has strongly hinted that Loi Estiatorio is just the start of a large expansion of her brand. She plans to stock Greek-made Loi yogurt and pasta in US stores within the next two to three months, most likely in the Whole Foods chain of stores.
In March, she will be presenting her own line of cookware at the International Home and Housewares show.
Finally, she has plans to open up additional restaurants in New York, with ideas for a more upscale, gourmet dining experience, as well as a more casual eating spot closer to the traditional Greek tavernas.
Once again, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was named the richest man in the world, since his estate now amounts to 79.2 billion dollars, according to the annual list published by Forbes magazine. Since last year, Gates’ fortune has grown by 3.2 billion dollars.
Gates is followed by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, who is involved in telecommunications and whose fortune amounts to 77.1 billion dollars. American businessman Warren Buffett is in third place, with his assets reaching a total of 72.7 billion dollars.
Philip Niarchos, son of shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, placed 737th on the list, making him the richest Greek in the world. The 61-year-old businessman’s net worth reaches 2.5 billion dollars and, according to Forbes, he lives permanently in Paris. Last year he was placed 687th on the same list.
The second Greek entrepreneur on the list was Spiros Latsis in 782nd place, with an estate of 2.4 billion dollars. Last year, Latsis was placed 506th.
53-year-old Greek industrial metals tycoon Aristotle Mistakidis, whose property reaches 2.1 billion dollars, was in 894th place, while last year was 687th.
Finally, Greek-Cypriot siblings Stelios Haji-Ioannou (1118th), Polys Haji-Ioannou (1415th) and Clelia Haji-Ioannou (1533rd) were also included on the list with their assets reaching 1.7 billion, 1.3 billion and 1.2 billion dollars respectively.
THI is sponsoring 22 Greek Startups to attend and present their innovative ideas to potential investors at the SXSW® Interactive Festival.
The Hellenic Initiative is sponsoring the International Accelerator booth at SXSW® Interactive on March 13-17 in Austin, TX. Last year, in partnership with Libra Group, THI sponsored 16 companies, the first time a group of Greek companies participated in the SXSW® Interactive. Three companies in attendance received more than $6 million in funding!
This year thirty-one people representing twenty-two promising Greek startups will have the opportunity to demonstrate their products and services on an international stage. They will be representing the largest group of Greek startups to ever participate in an international startup event.
If you are attending the SXSW® event, don’t forget to stop by and meet these extremely talented Greek entrepreneurs at booth 1564.
Greek flag ships are considered to be of the highest quality in the world, with the vessels on the Greek register being among the most cutting-edge in global waters.
