BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
John P. Calamos Sr., Chairman
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, AND GLOBAL CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, CALAMOS INVESTMENTS
John P. Calamos, Sr. is Chairman and Global CIO of Calamos Investments, a firm he founded in 1977. With origins as an institutional convertible bond manager, the firm has grown into a global asset management firm.
Mr. Calamos has established research and investment processes centered around a team-based approach designed to deliver superior risk-adjusted performance over full market cycles. With 46 years of industry experience, Mr. Calamos is often quoted as an authority on risk-managed investment strategies, markets and the economy, and he has authored two books on convertible securities. Mr. Calamos received his B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He joined the United States Air Force after graduation where he served as a combat pilot during the Vietnam War and ultimately earned the rank of Major.
ARISTOTLE HALIKIAS, VICE-CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, REPUBLIC BANK, PRESIDENT, INTER CONTINENTAL REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT
Aristotle P. Halikias served as Chairman of the National Hellenic Museum Board of Trustees from 2005-2011, overseeing the successful completion of the new Museum building construction. Mr. Halikias is also Chairman of the Board of Republic Bank of Chicago
which focuses on community and commercial lending, and real estate financing. He is also President of Inter Continental Real Estate & Development Corporation (ICD), an international full-service real estate development company with holdings in Chicago, Toronto, and Athens. In addition to his other responsibilities, Mr. Halikias is Executive Director of the Halikias Family Foundation and for the last 22 years has served as the Honorary Consul General for The Republic of Iceland – Chicago Office that serves the Midwest area, through the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C.
Peter Parthenis, Vice-Chairman
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, GRECIAN DELIGHT FOODS, INC.
Peter is the founder and Chairman of Pure Mediterranean Foods and Grecian Delight Foods. Over the course of his illustrious career, Peter has not only built successful companies, he has helped drive
the burgeoning consumer demand for Mediterranean Foods in the United States. His influence is no better exemplified then in his position to introduce and popularize gyros over the course of the past 40-plus years. Outside of his professional life, Peter has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic, civic, and religious organizations. He is co-founder and a major contributor to the Foundation of Hellenic Studies, which has endowed a chair of Greek Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is Executive Vice President of the National Hellenic Museum, as well as a member of its Board of Trustees. From 1997 to 1999, Peter was National President of the Scleroderma Foundation. He has also served as a Board Member of the United Hellenic American Congress and as a member of the Board for the Elgin Academy. In 2005, Peter was awarded with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He was appointed an Archon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2007. Peter and his wife Ethel live in the Chicagoland area and are surrounded by their loving children Stacy, Tina, and Peter Jr., along with their spouses and seven grandchildren.
Konstantinos Armiros, Secretary
Dino Armiros serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Hellenic Museum and as Secretary of the organization. He has been involved with the Museum since 1993 in various capacities including serving as President between 1999 and 2003. During that time, he has seen the Museum flourish from loft space originally made available by the generosity of its board members though two temporary homes and now in its current location, a stunning 40,000 square foot modernist building, literally in the heart of Chicago’s Greektown. The Museum is a source of unending pride for Dino both as a Trustee and as a Greek American. Dino was born in Greece and emigrated to the United States in 1955 with his family. He grew up in Milwaukee, upstairs from his parents’ 19 seat diner, attended the University of Wisconsin and then Boston University Law School. He has been practicing law in Chicago since the late 1970s and currently is counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, a 400 lawyer business law firm with 16 offices throughout the Midwest, Northeast and Southeastern United States. He serves as the Chicago lead for the Firm’s Emerging Companies practice and represents a number of middle market businesses, institutional lenders, tech start-ups and various other business enterprises. He has extensive experience representing arts and media clients, and has been actively supporting Chicago’s arts community throughout his career. He has been married to Linda for over 28 years and they have two children, Zoe, age 26 and William, age 24.
BILL J. VRANAS, TREASURER
PARTNER, VRANAS & VLAHOS ACCOUNTANTS, PARTNER, COMPTROLLER, TREASURER, VRANAS & CHIOROS REALTY GROUP, INC., LTD.
Bill J. Vranas is an Accountant and Real Estate Broker for more than 30 years. Mr. Vranas is an active member in the community. In the past, he has been President of
Hellenic Foundation/Hollywood House, President of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, President of the NHM, General Chairman of the Hellenic Parade, General Chairman of AHEPA District Convention, Vice President AHEPA Woodlawn Chapter #93, and Member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He is still an active member in the organizations listed above as well as President and Board of Director of St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Chairman of IOCC Chicago Metropolitan Committee, Treasurer and Board of Director of Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and St. Paul Medal Recipient.
John S. Koudounis
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALAMOS INVESTMENTS
John Koudounis joined Calamos Investments as Chief Executive Officer in 2016. His principal duties include overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations, fiscal function and overall performance. His responsibilities
include managing operations, leading business and corporate development, and directing strategic growth initiatives. Mr. Koudounis has 33 years of financial services experience including executive leadership in the global securities business and a deep background in global capital markets. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. (MSUSA), a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, one of the world’s largest full-service financial institutions. Mr. Koudounis, often sought after for his thought leadership, serves as a speaker at conferences worldwide and appears frequently on financial news programs including CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, TD Ameritrade Network, Yahoo Finance Live, and others. He is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the Bretton Woods Committee. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in International Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. Mr. Koudounis is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee. He is a member of the board of trustees of the National Hellenic Museum, a patron of the Prince’s Trust International, and an executive advisory board member for the SEAL Future Foundation. He is a founding board member and executive committee member of The Hellenic Initiative, a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the aim of supporting Greece and Cyprus in the aftermath of the financial crisis by helping to foster entrepreneurship in both countries. He is also a member of Leadership 100 and the Metropolis of Chicago Foundation. In October 2016 he was inducted as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Order of St. Andrew, the highest honor bestowed on a layman by the Orthodox Church. He also serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
Jim Logothetis
Jim retired from Ernst & Young (EY) effective June 30th, 2019 extending three years beyond normal retirement at the request of the EY Executive Board. Throughout his forty-year career, Jim served some of the firm’s largest global clients and fulfilled senior leadership roles
within the firm. He developed deep insights into relationships and governance practices among boards, senior management and their auditors; extensive knowledge of SEC financial reporting rules and regulations; familiarity with corporate financial staff organization and development; and experience with reporting and integration of mergers and acquisitions. Jim’s responsibilities were focused in the manufacturing, consumer products, technology and automotive sectors, and he also held significant recruiting, people development and training responsibilities. Jim holds an M.B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and a B. S. degree in Accountancy from De Paul University and is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He has also taught many EY training programs as well graduate accounting classes at De Paul University. He served for several years on the De Paul University, Richard H. Driehaus College of Business advisory council and since 2017 on the board of Trustees of the University as vice-chair of the audit committee and member of the finance committee
Yanni H. Sianis
CHIEF OF STAFF
Yanni Sianis is an Executive Officer and is the Chief of Staff of Calamos Investments.
He joined the firm in 2010 as a Wealth Adviser with Calamos Wealth Management.
Yanni currently serves as a Board Director of Calamos Antetokounmpo Asset
Management LLC. Prior to his current appointment, Yanni served as Vice President of
Global Business Development and was responsible for managing both domestic and
international relationships for the private and institutional channels.
Prior to joining Calamos, Yanni was a senior derivatives broker and trader at LaSalle
Global. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development and Director
of the GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) and the Middle East
at America 2030 Equity, a private equity firm outside of Chicago.
Yanni earned a B.A. from Boston University, an M.A. in Industrial Psychology from National Louis University and an AMP from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Yanni is active in the Greek American community and is currently serving his third term on the Metropolis Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, is Chairman of Project Hope – a Humanitarian Ministry, a Board Member of the American Hellenic Institute, an Executive Committee Member of the Board of the National Hellenic Museum, a member of Leadership 100 and the National Hellenic Society, and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Order of St. Andrew, the highest honor bestowed on a layman by the Orthodox Church.
Yanni earned a B.A. from Boston University, an M.A. in Industrial Psychology from National Louis University and an AMP from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Yanni is active in the Greek American community and is currently serving his third term on the Metropolis Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, is Chairman of Project Hope – a Humanitarian Ministry, a Board Member of the American Hellenic Institute, an Executive Committee Member of the Board of the National Hellenic Museum, a member of Leadership 100 and the National Hellenic Society, and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Order of St. Andrew, the highest honor bestowed on a layman by the Orthodox Church.
Trustees
PAUL ATHENS
Paul Athens graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a Political Science degree in 1986. Since 1950, his family owned Metron Steel. When Andrew Athens and Thomas Athens sold the company in 1991, it was worth $125 million and had 120 employees. Paul Athens then started up Alpha Steel that brought in revenues of $75 million and had 80 employees. When Alpha Steel was sold in 2005 to Macsteel, a privately held $2 billion steel company, he served as President. The Midwest division brought in $250 million in revenue and had 175 employees. It was sold in 2012 to Kloeckner, a publically traded steel conglomerate. In 2012, he joined Service Steel Warehouse at EVP, a $175 million company with 120 employees. Currently, he acts as President and CEO of Alpha Building Corporation, a real estate holding company with industrial building assets. Paul Athens has been married to Kellee Athens since 1990. They live in Burr Ridge and have three 3 children, Andrew (23), Alexa (21), and JP (16). They also have two twin grandchildren, Seamus and Paul, 3 years old.
DR. GEORGE BOVIS
MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE ILLINOIS GAMMA KNIFE CENTER
Dr. George Bovis started his distinguished medical career at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. After earning his MD degree,
Dr. Bovis received his neurosurgical training at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he completed six years of intensive training. He then pursued more advanced training by completing a fellowship program in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is one of the finest neurosurgical training programs in the United States. Dr. Bovis is known throughout the United States for his passionate belief in the effectiveness of non-invasive surgery utilizing a powerful technology called the Gamma Knife. He has treated hundreds of patients with brain tumors using the leading-edge Gamma Knife technology. Due to Dr. Bovis’ expertise and national standing, he was appointed Medical Director for the Illinois Gamma Knife Center at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Illinois and in 2012 was named ‘Hellene of the Year’ by the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.
WILLIAM G. CONOPEOTIS
PRESIDENT, CONOPCO.
Founding ConopCo in 1999, Bill’s experience in real estate development and construction since 1981 encompasses over 11.5 million square feet in both the private and public sectors. Bill has been involved with over 5.4 million square feet of interior project
management and over 7 million square feet of Build-to-Suit and Base Building Projects. His experience includes projects in the following sectors: commercial office, manufacturing, industrial, hospitality, transportation, fitness, residential, retail, health care, public, institutional, and infrastructure. Bill remains closely involved with his alma mater and is an active member of the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Alumni Control Board, and provides valuable leadership as a member of the Fraternity Alumni Control Board of the school’s Delta Sigma Phi chapter. In 1988 he lead a national team of 25 selected Greek-Americans from all parts of America to Kenya, Africa, whose mission was to build a 1500 square foot medical clinic — by hand, brick by brick. Bill insists that “giving-back” be an integral part of ConopCo’s activities — and the activities of his family.
ANDREA DARLAS
Andrea Darlas is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning radio and television news anchor/reporter and talk show host based in Chicago. In 2019, she was inducted in the prestigious WGN Radio Walk of Fame. Andrea is currently the Senior Director of Constituent Engagement for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, based at the
Illini Center in Chicago. She’s a regular contributor to WGN-AM, WLS-AM, WCPT-AM, WCIU-TV and the nationally syndicated home improvement TV show “House Smarts”, as well as other radio and TV shows/programs across Chicago. Having worked in the Chicago media for three decades, Andrea was a news anchor and reporter at WGN Radio for more than 22 years and a news reporter and weekend break/features reporter for WGN-TV for 10 years. Prior to WGN, Andrea worked as a News Director/News Anchor/Reporter in Joliet, IL and as a News Anchor/Reporter in Champaign, IL. During her tenure at WGN, Andrea won more than 30 awards from the Illinois Associated Press and the Illinois Broadcasters’ Association for anchoring, reporting, hosting, breaking news coverage, and investigative series reports. Andrea has six IBA Silver Dome Awards for “Best Newscast”, three IBA Awards for “Best Reporter” and two prestigious Peter Lisagor Awards – one for TV and one for radio. A three-time Emmy award nominee, Andrea has also won two Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism excellence, 1st place honors from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology for her ground-breaking series on food allergies, and the Better Business Bureau’s Diogenes Award for media excellence in business and public affairs reporting. Andrea has a ‘BS in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois and currently works with the Chancellor, the office of Public Affairs and the Office of Advancement serving as a media liaison, promoting, and advancing the U of I throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Andrea has served on the U of I’s College of Media’s National Alumni Board, the University’s Alumni Association, and the Campus Alumni Advisory Boards. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the H-Foundation, and is actively involved with the Special Olympics, Rags of Honor, the National Hellenic Museum. Andrea has also dabbled in feature films with roles in WTTWS’s “The Trial of the Parthenon Marbles” (2018), “The Trial of Helen of Troy” (2019) and Robert Alaniz’ “Honest to God” (2021).
Hon. Judge Anna H. Demacopoulos
HON. ANNA H. DEMACOPOULOS(RET.) IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A SENIOR MEDIATOR/ARBITRATOR AT JAMS
The largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide. She served with distinction for fifteen years on the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois) and for over twenty years at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
During her time in the Criminal Division, Judge Demacopoulos handled a high-volume felony courtroom, presiding over bench and jury trials, including sexual assault, stalking, financial crimes, official misconduct, and complex, multijurisdictional RICO matters involving drug trafficking. This experience leveraged her proficiency with Illinois practice, especially around the admissibility of forensic and expert testimony and complex, multiparty case management.
Since 1987, she serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law in Trial Advocacy at UIC Law and served on the John Marshall Alumni Board of Directors and as a faculty advisor to the Hellenic Law Student Association. Through this work she has shared her knowledge and experience with a new generation of young legal professionals. In 2005, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award at the annual Freedom Award luncheon and in 2015 she was bestowed with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.
Judge Demacopoulos is a founding member of the Order of Themis, Hellenic Judges Association and was elected its inaugural President in 2022. She also serves as a board member of the Illinois Judges Association. In 2022 she received the Libertatum Award for her work to preserve judicial independence. The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois recognized Judge Demacopoulos with the Mary Heftle Hooton Award in 2021. She’s also a prior board member and an active member of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.
A longtime supporter of the National Hellenic Museum, Judge Demacopoulos has been actively involved in the NHM Trial Series.
Despite her long list of accomplishments, her true passion is her family. She is married to Andreas Kosmas and the mother of 23-year-old twin daughters Erini and Angelina.
Alex Gianaras
PRESIDENT, TRANSFORMERS MANUFACTURERS, INC.
Alex A. Gianaras is President of Transformer Manufacturers, Inc. Mr. Gianaras “grew up” in the transformer business, working closely with his father and gaining over 20 years of experience.
Under Mr. Gianaras’ charge, the company has continued to expand its product lines to meet today’s demanding quality and delivery standards. Until the early 1970’s TMI focused on the radio and television industry, which was concentrated in Chicago. As the industry changed, TMI reacted quickly and today supplies transformers, chokes, and toroids for products in various industries. His experience is vital in the progress of our new facility. Mr. Gianaras is Chairman of the Board of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago, IL. He is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Mr. Gianaras’ father was an early supporter of the Museum, contributing annually to help sustain the exhibition and programs.
KENNETH KONDRAROS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DYROS, INC.
Kenneth Kondraros is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dyros, Inc., a leading wireless construction contracting company serving the telecommunications
infrastructure industry. He’s a Chicago native and a graduate of DePaul University, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting. He also holds a Master Electrical License and is a proud member of the IBEW, NECA and National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). His licensure allows him to provide electric design and construction permitting in numerous states throughout the country. Dyros builds and maintains telecom installations on all types of cellular towers, for all major US telecom companies throughout the United States.
DEMETRIOS (JIM) G. LOGOTHETIS
within the firm. He developed deep insights into relationships and governance practices among boards, senior management and their auditors; extensive knowledge of SEC financial reporting rules and regulations; familiarity with corporate financial staff organization and development; and experience with reporting and integration of mergers and acquisitions. Jim’s responsibilities were focused in the manufacturing, consumer products, technology and automotive sectors, and he also held significant recruiting, people development and training responsibilities. Jim holds an M.B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and a B. S. degree in Accountancy from De Paul University and is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He has also taught many EY training programs as well graduate accounting classes at De Paul University. He served for several years on the De Paul University, Richard H. Driehaus College of Business advisory council and since 2017 on the board of Trustees of the University as vice-chair of the audit committee and member of the finance committee
C. DEAN METROPOULOS
Mr. Metropoulos is an internationally known investor and deal maker. Concentrating in the food industry, Mr. Metropoulos has enjoyed unrivalled of success buying well known consumer brands turning them around and adding tremendous value. His successes have included
household names such as Chef Boyardee, Duncan Hines, Bumblebee Tuna and Vlasic Pickles. Several years ago his Company acquired Pabst Brewing and has overseen spectacular growth in that Company’s sales. Most recently, he was part of the group that acquired Hostess Brands. Mr. Metropoulos lives in Connecticut but is a frequent traveler to the Midwest and is well familiar with the Museum and eager to support its mission.
GEORGE TSETSEKOS
George Tsetsekos is dean emeritus and the Francis Professor of Finance at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. He served as dean of LeBow (2002-2012) and under his transformative leadership the College achieved important quality milestones including recognition by BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur-Princeton
Review, Financial Times and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, during his deanship, LeBow commenced an ambitious capital campaign program that allowed for the completion of two business school buildings (total 225,000 square feet), naming of four new centers of excellence, the establishment of new endowed professorships and the launching of more than 30 student scholarships. Prior to his appointment as dean, he served as Drexel’s vice provost and vice president for academic administration and worked on the strategic merger between Drexel and MCP Hahnemann University. Tsetsekos has served on the advisory boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Penjerdel Council, the Pennsylvania Economic League, the Conference Board, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Global Interdependence Center and other organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in finance (1986) from the University of Tennessee, an MBA in finance from Wright State University and a B.Sc./M.Sc. in electrical and mechanical engineering from the University of Athens, Greece.
LIFE TRUSTEES
ANDREW A. ATHENS†
CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, CEO, METRON STEEL, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, UNITED HELLENIC AMERICAN CONGRESS (UHAC), PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, HELLENICARE, HONORARY AND FOUNDING PRESIDENT, WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES (SAE)
Andrew A. Athens is a man who has not only achieved business success, but has also distinguished himself through his lifelong commitment to charitable causes and the alleviation of human suffering. He has received numerous awards and honors, each recognizing his outstanding service to his faith, his Hellenic heritage,public affairs, and philanthropy. In 1950, Mr. Athens co-founded Metron Steel Corporation and served as its President and CEO from 1950 through 1991. In 1974, after the invasion of Cyprus, he founded the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) to advocate for human rights and religion freedom for all Hellenes living in the Diaspora. Under his leadership, diplomatic relations between Greece, Cyprus, and the United States have been strengthened, Hellenic culture has flourished, and human rights violations have been addressed. In 1995, Mr. Athens became the founding President of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE) and served as World President until 2006. Mr. Athens has supported the Museum from its inception, helping to secure the property for the Museum’s new building with the assistance of The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago and the City of Chicago.
DR. MARY DOCHIOS KAMBEROS†
RETIRED PEDIATRICIAN
Dr. Mary Dochios Kamberos is a retired pediatrician after 50 years of practice in Burbank, Illinois. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS Degree in Bacteriology from the University of Idaho and earned her M.D. degree at
Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. For 32 years she was Chief Medical Officer for the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center where she was recognized nationwide as a leader in this unique branch of Pediatric Medicine. She is a supporter of the National Hellenic Museum benefited by her gift of $1,000,000 for the Special Events Hall of the new building. She has served on the Board of Directors since the 1990’s. Dr. Mary is also a generous benefactor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn Illinois. She is well known in the Chicagoland community as a supporter of the Greek American Nursing Home and numerous philanthropic organizations that provide scholarships for inner city and handicapped children in addition to the scholarship funds that she supports for other American youth. Her motto in life is “It is more enjoyable to give than to receive.”
FRANK S. KAMBEROS†
The National Hellenic Museum mourns the passing of Frank S. Kamberos. Mr. Kamberos, who has served on NHM’s Board of Trustees since 2005, financed the construction of the National Hellenic Museum’s Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center.
A cornerstone of the Museum’s work to preserve and share the Greek American story, the Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center has grown in the past fifteen years to become the largest depository of Greek American oral histories in the world and an important resource for scholars, genealogists, and the public. We invite you to listen to Mr. Kamberos’s own oral history here to learn more about the life of this fascinating and generous man–and to see for yourself the incredible value of oral histories in preserving the past. Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη! May his memory be eternal!
CO-FOUNDER, TREASURE ISLAND FOODS, CHAIRMAN, GREEK STAR NEWSPAPER
Frank S. Kamberos, a native of Chicago, attended Illinois Institute of Technology and served in US Air Corps during WWII in England, France, and Germany. In 1962, Mr. Kamberos along with his brothers, Chris and George, founded Treasure Island Foods, Inc. A leader in the community, Mr. Kamberos is active in many organizations: United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), Leadership 100, Hellenic Foundation, and others. Mr. Kamberos has served on the Board of Directors of the National Hellenic Museum since 2005. He financed the construction of the Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center.
DR. GEORGE J. KORKOS†
PRESIDENT, PLASTIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES, REJUVA SKIN CARE & LASER CENTER
Dr. George J. Korkos serves as the President of both Plastic Surgery Associates and Rejuva Skin Care & Laser Center, and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
He is Co-founder and former Contact Director and Investor of the Milwaukee Bucks Expansion Basketball Team. He has been Chairman and Member of Business Advisory Board at Sleep Holdings, Inc. since September 2007. Dr. Korkos is a Director at Fibrocell Science, Inc. since July 2010, and serves as a Member of Advisory Board of Skinvisible Inc. He has served as scientific Advisory Board Member of Cellgen Company, Sleep Holding Company, and Skin Visible Company. He is and has been a member of numerous prestigious medical societies, is an experienced academic lecturer and author and has presented on a variety of plastic and reconstructive surgery topics at meetings of regional and national medical associations. During his career, Dr. Korkos has earned a number of humanitarian awards, including the Outstanding Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was also honored with the prestigious Hellene Award and the Ellis Island Award in New York.
JAMES M. MEZILSON†
RETIRED JOURNALIST
James M. Mezilson is a retired journalist and founding member of the National Hellenic Museum. Mr. Mezilson joined the Chicago Sun in 1942 working his way up from copy boy to street reporter. Mezilson stayed with the Sun until just before the 1947 merger with the Chicago
Times which transformed the two into the Chicago Sun-Times. For Greek Americans, Mezilson’s career as a journalist began in 1939 with his column ‘Periclean Patter’ in the pages of the Thessaloniki (later the Greek Press). He wrote a regular column in the pages of the Greek Star, The National Herald, Hellenic Chronicle, Athene Magazine and the AHEPAN until at least 2000. During his sixty years as a regular columnist, Mezilson succeeded to serve as a bridge between the average American and the average Greek American reader. Between 1948 and 1954, Mezilson was on the staff of United States Senator Paul Douglas. Mr. Mezilson is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while also receiving both the Order of St. Paul (1985) from Archbishop Iakovos as well as the Order of St Andrew (1990). Among his ongoing involvement in American civic life were Mezilson’s sustained efforts on behalf of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
ANGELA PARRY PATERAKIS†
PROFESSOR EMERITUS, ART EDUCATION, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Angela Parry Paterakis has directed and chaired art education training programs for future teachers of art.
She has been recognized locally and nationally for her advocacy role in the arts and arts education. Mrs. Paterakis has served on the National Hellenic Museum Board for many years, co-chairing the Exhibitions Committee. She has helped in the development and mounting of such noteworthy exhibitions as Philoxenia: A Friend to the Stranger. She has a passion for and commitment to bringing quality arts programs to the public.
THEMI VASILS
RETIRED
Prior to her retirement, Themi Vasils was Managing Director of the National Confectioners Association Chicago Office. She also served for a time as Acting President of the Association. Ms. Vasils has been an active member of the community for more than 30 years.
She served the National Hellenic Museum for some 20 years in a variety of leadership roles including President of the Board of Directors. Her background in Journalism has helped her to become a published translator of short stories; also co-translator of two books by renowned Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. Ms. Vasils has served as Director, volunteer writer and Advisor to the Editor for The Greek Star newspaper which is the oldest Greek-American newspaper, running without interruption since 1904. Her volunteer community services include working with The Greek Welfare Foundation Retirement Home project –Public Information services for the Metropolis of Chicago—Media Director for Orthodox Christian SYNERGY and for the Chicago Chapter of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ARISTOTLE HALIKIAS, VICE-CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, REPUBLIC BANK, PRESIDENT, INTER CONTINENTAL REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT
Aristotle P. Halikias served as Chairman of the National Hellenic Museum Board of Trustees from 2005-2011, overseeing the successful completion of the new Museum building construction. Mr. Halikias is also Chairman of the Board of Republic Bank of Chicago
which focuses on community and commercial lending, and real estate financing. He is also President of Inter Continental Real Estate & Development Corporation (ICD), an international full-service real estate development company with holdings in Chicago, Toronto, and Athens. In addition to his other responsibilities, Mr. Halikias is Executive Director of the Halikias Family Foundation and for the last 22 years has served as the Honorary Consul General for The Republic of Iceland – Chicago Office that serves the Midwest area, through the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C.
BILL J. VRANAS, TREASURER
PARTNER, VRANAS & VLAHOS ACCOUNTANTS, PARTNER, COMPTROLLER, TREASURER, VRANAS & CHIOROS REALTY GROUP, INC., LTD.
Bill J. Vranas is an Accountant and Real Estate Broker for more than 30 years. Mr. Vranas is an active member in the community. In the past, he has been President of
Hellenic Foundation/Hollywood House, President of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, President of the NHM, General Chairman of the Hellenic Parade, General Chairman of AHEPA District Convention, Vice President AHEPA Woodlawn Chapter #93, and Member of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He is still an active member in the organizations listed above as well as President and Board of Director of St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Chairman of IOCC Chicago Metropolitan Committee, Treasurer and Board of Director of Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and St. Paul Medal Recipient.
Jim Logothetis
Jim retired from Ernst & Young (EY) effective June 30th, 2019 extending three years beyond normal retirement at the request of the EY Executive Board. Throughout his forty-year career, Jim served some of the firm’s largest global clients and fulfilled senior leadership roles
within the firm. He developed deep insights into relationships and governance practices among boards, senior management and their auditors; extensive knowledge of SEC financial reporting rules and regulations; familiarity with corporate financial staff organization and development; and experience with reporting and integration of mergers and acquisitions. Jim’s responsibilities were focused in the manufacturing, consumer products, technology and automotive sectors, and he also held significant recruiting, people development and training responsibilities. Jim holds an M.B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and a B. S. degree in Accountancy from De Paul University and is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He has also taught many EY training programs as well graduate accounting classes at De Paul University. He served for several years on the De Paul University, Richard H. Driehaus College of Business advisory council and since 2017 on the board of Trustees of the University as vice-chair of the audit committee and member of the finance committee
John P. Calamos Sr., Chairman
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, AND GLOBAL CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, CALAMOS INVESTMENTS
John P. Calamos, Sr. is Chairman and Global CIO of Calamos Investments, a firm he founded in 1977. With origins as an institutional convertible bond manager, the firm has grown into a global asset management firm.
Mr. Calamos has established research and investment processes centered around a team-based approach designed to deliver superior risk-adjusted performance over full market cycles. With 46 years of industry experience, Mr. Calamos is often quoted as an authority on risk-managed investment strategies, markets and the economy, and he has authored two books on convertible securities. Mr. Calamos received his B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He joined the United States Air Force after graduation where he served as a combat pilot during the Vietnam War and ultimately earned the rank of Major.
John S. Koudounis
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CALAMOS INVESTMENTS
John Koudounis joined Calamos Investments as Chief Executive Officer in 2016. His principal duties include overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations, fiscal function and overall performance. His responsibilities
include managing operations, leading business and corporate development, and directing strategic growth initiatives. Mr. Koudounis has 33 years of financial services experience including executive leadership in the global securities business and a deep background in global capital markets. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. (MSUSA), a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, one of the world’s largest full-service financial institutions. Mr. Koudounis, often sought after for his thought leadership, serves as a speaker at conferences worldwide and appears frequently on financial news programs including CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, TD Ameritrade Network, Yahoo Finance Live, and others. He is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the Bretton Woods Committee. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in International Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. Mr. Koudounis is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee. He is a member of the board of trustees of the National Hellenic Museum, a patron of the Prince’s Trust International, and an executive advisory board member for the SEAL Future Foundation. He is a founding board member and executive committee member of The Hellenic Initiative, a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the aim of supporting Greece and Cyprus in the aftermath of the financial crisis by helping to foster entrepreneurship in both countries. He is also a member of Leadership 100 and the Metropolis of Chicago Foundation. In October 2016 he was inducted as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Order of St. Andrew, the highest honor bestowed on a layman by the Orthodox Church. He also serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
Konstantinos Armiros, Secretary and Vice-Chairman
Dino Armiros serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Hellenic Museum and as Secretary of the organization. He has been involved with the Museum since 1993 in various capacities including serving as President between 1999 and 2003. During that time, he has seen the Museum flourish from loft space originally made available by the generosity of its board members though two temporary homes and now in its current location, a stunning 40,000 square foot modernist building, literally in the heart of Chicago’s Greektown. The Museum is a source of unending pride for Dino both as a Trustee and as a Greek American. Dino was born in Greece and emigrated to the United States in 1955 with his family. He grew up in Milwaukee, upstairs from his parents’ 19 seat diner, attended the University of Wisconsin and then Boston University Law School. He has been practicing law in Chicago since the late 1970s and currently is counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, a 400 lawyer business law firm with 16 offices throughout the Midwest, Northeast and Southeastern United States. He serves as the Chicago lead for the Firm’s Emerging Companies practice and represents a number of middle market businesses, institutional lenders, tech start-ups and various other business enterprises. He has extensive experience representing arts and media clients, and has been actively supporting Chicago’s arts community throughout his career. He has been married to Linda for over 28 years and they have two children, Zoe, age 26 and William, age 24.
Peter Parthenis, Vice-Chairman
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, GRECIAN DELIGHT FOODS, INC.
Peter is the founder and Chairman of Pure Mediterranean Foods and Grecian Delight Foods. Over the course of his illustrious career, Peter has not only built successful companies, he has helped drive
the burgeoning consumer demand for Mediterranean Foods in the United States. His influence is no better exemplified then in his position to introduce and popularize gyros over the course of the past 40-plus years. Outside of his professional life, Peter has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic, civic, and religious organizations. He is co-founder and a major contributor to the Foundation of Hellenic Studies, which has endowed a chair of Greek Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is Executive Vice President of the National Hellenic Museum, as well as a member of its Board of Trustees. From 1997 to 1999, Peter was National President of the Scleroderma Foundation. He has also served as a Board Member of the United Hellenic American Congress and as a member of the Board for the Elgin Academy. In 2005, Peter was awarded with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He was appointed an Archon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2007. Peter and his wife Ethel live in the Chicagoland area and are surrounded by their loving children Stacy, Tina, and Peter Jr., along with their spouses and seven grandchildren.
Yanni H. Sianis
CHIEF OF STAFF
Yanni Sianis is currently the Chief of Staff at Calamos Investments. Prior to this position, Yanni served as Vice President of Global Business Development and was responsible for managing both domestic and international relationships for the private and
institutional channels, as well as developing strategies for new business development for Calamos Wealth Management and Calamos Investments as a whole. He joined the firm in 2010 and has 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, Yanni was a senior derivatives broker and trader at LaSalle Global. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development and Director of the GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) and the Middle East at America 2030 Equity, a private equity firm outside of Chicago. Yanni earned a B.A. from Boston University, an M.A. in Psychology from National Louis University and is currently pursuing an AMP from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Trustees
Alex Gianaras
PRESIDENT, TRANSFORMERS MANUFACTURERS, INC.
Alex A. Gianaras is President of Transformer Manufacturers, Inc. Mr. Gianaras “grew up” in the transformer business, working closely with his father and gaining over 20 years of experience.
Under Mr. Gianaras’ charge, the company has continued to expand its product lines to meet today’s demanding quality and delivery standards. Until the early 1970’s TMI focused on the radio and television industry, which was concentrated in Chicago. As the industry changed, TMI reacted quickly and today supplies transformers, chokes, and toroids for products in various industries. His experience is vital in the progress of our new facility. Mr. Gianaras is Chairman of the Board of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago, IL. He is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Mr. Gianaras’ father was an early supporter of the Museum, contributing annually to help sustain the exhibition and programs.
ANDREA DARLAS
Andrea Darlas is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning radio and television news anchor/reporter and talk show host based in Chicago. In 2019, she was inducted in the prestigious WGN Radio Walk of Fame. Andrea is currently the Senior Director of Constituent Engagement for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, based at the
Illini Center in Chicago. She’s a regular contributor to WGN-AM, WLS-AM, WCPT-AM, WCIU-TV and the nationally syndicated home improvement TV show “House Smarts”, as well as other radio and TV shows/programs across Chicago. Having worked in the Chicago media for three decades, Andrea was a news anchor and reporter at WGN Radio for more than 22 years and a news reporter and weekend break/features reporter for WGN-TV for 10 years. Prior to WGN, Andrea worked as a News Director/News Anchor/Reporter in Joliet, IL and as a News Anchor/Reporter in Champaign, IL. During her tenure at WGN, Andrea won more than 30 awards from the Illinois Associated Press and the Illinois Broadcasters’ Association for anchoring, reporting, hosting, breaking news coverage, and investigative series reports. Andrea has six IBA Silver Dome Awards for “Best Newscast”, three IBA Awards for “Best Reporter” and two prestigious Peter Lisagor Awards – one for TV and one for radio. A three-time Emmy award nominee, Andrea has also won two Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism excellence, 1st place honors from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology for her ground-breaking series on food allergies, and the Better Business Bureau’s Diogenes Award for media excellence in business and public affairs reporting. Andrea has a ‘BS in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois and currently works with the Chancellor, the office of Public Affairs and the Office of Advancement serving as a media liaison, promoting, and advancing the U of I throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Andrea has served on the U of I’s College of Media’s National Alumni Board, the University’s Alumni Association, and the Campus Alumni Advisory Boards. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the H-Foundation, and is actively involved with the Special Olympics, Rags of Honor, the National Hellenic Museum. Andrea has also dabbled in feature films with roles in WTTWS’s “The Trial of the Parthenon Marbles” (2018), “The Trial of Helen of Troy” (2019) and Robert Alaniz’ “Honest to God” (2021).
C. DEAN METROPOULOS
Mr. Metropoulos is an internationally known investor and deal maker. Concentrating in the food industry, Mr. Metropoulos has enjoyed unrivalled of success buying well known consumer brands turning them around and adding tremendous value. His successes have included
household names such as Chef Boyardee, Duncan Hines, Bumblebee Tuna and Vlasic Pickles. Several years ago his Company acquired Pabst Brewing and has overseen spectacular growth in that Company’s sales. Most recently, he was part of the group that acquired Hostess Brands. Mr. Metropoulos lives in Connecticut but is a frequent traveler to the Midwest and is well familiar with the Museum and eager to support its mission.
DR. GEORGE BOVIS
MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE ILLINOIS GAMMA KNIFE CENTER
Dr. George Bovis started his distinguished medical career at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. After earning his MD degree,
Dr. Bovis received his neurosurgical training at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he completed six years of intensive training. He then pursued more advanced training by completing a fellowship program in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is one of the finest neurosurgical training programs in the United States. Dr. Bovis is known throughout the United States for his passionate belief in the effectiveness of non-invasive surgery utilizing a powerful technology called the Gamma Knife. He has treated hundreds of patients with brain tumors using the leading-edge Gamma Knife technology. Due to Dr. Bovis’ expertise and national standing, he was appointed Medical Director for the Illinois Gamma Knife Center at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Illinois and in 2012 was named ‘Hellene of the Year’ by the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.
DEMETRIOS (JIM) G. LOGOTHETIS
within the firm. He developed deep insights into relationships and governance practices among boards, senior management and their auditors; extensive knowledge of SEC financial reporting rules and regulations; familiarity with corporate financial staff organization and development; and experience with reporting and integration of mergers and acquisitions. Jim’s responsibilities were focused in the manufacturing, consumer products, technology and automotive sectors, and he also held significant recruiting, people development and training responsibilities. Jim holds an M.B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and a B. S. degree in Accountancy from De Paul University and is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He has also taught many EY training programs as well graduate accounting classes at De Paul University. He served for several years on the De Paul University, Richard H. Driehaus College of Business advisory council and since 2017 on the board of Trustees of the University as vice-chair of the audit committee and member of the finance committee
GEORGE TSETSEKOS
George Tsetsekos is dean emeritus and the Francis Professor of Finance at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. He served as dean of LeBow (2002-2012) and under his transformative leadership the College achieved important quality milestones including recognition by BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur-Princeton
Review, Financial Times and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, during his deanship, LeBow commenced an ambitious capital campaign program that allowed for the completion of two business school buildings (total 225,000 square feet), naming of four new centers of excellence, the establishment of new endowed professorships and the launching of more than 30 student scholarships. Prior to his appointment as dean, he served as Drexel’s vice provost and vice president for academic administration and worked on the strategic merger between Drexel and MCP Hahnemann University. Tsetsekos has served on the advisory boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Penjerdel Council, the Pennsylvania Economic League, the Conference Board, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Global Interdependence Center and other organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in finance (1986) from the University of Tennessee, an MBA in finance from Wright State University and a B.Sc./M.Sc. in electrical and mechanical engineering from the University of Athens, Greece.
Hon. Judge Anna Demacopoulos
HON. ANNA H. DEMACOPOULOS(RET.) IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A SENIOR MEDIATOR/ARBITRATOR AT JAMS
The largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide. She served with distinction for fifteen years on the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois) and for over twenty years at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
During her time in the Criminal Division, Judge Demacopoulos handled a high-volume felony courtroom, presiding over bench and jury trials, including sexual assault, stalking, financial crimes, official misconduct, and complex, multijurisdictional RICO matters involving drug trafficking. This experience leveraged her proficiency with Illinois practice, especially around the admissibility of forensic and expert testimony and complex, multiparty case management.
Since 1987, she serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law in Trial Advocacy at UIC Law and served on the John Marshall Alumni Board of Directors and as a faculty advisor to the Hellenic Law Student Association. Through this work she has shared her knowledge and experience with a new generation of young legal professionals. In 2005, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award at the annual Freedom Award luncheon and in 2015 she was bestowed with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.
Judge Demacopoulos is a founding member of the Order of Themis, Hellenic Judges Association and was elected its inaugural President in 2022. She also serves as a board member of the Illinois Judges Association. In 2022 she received the Libertatum Award for her work to preserve judicial independence. The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois recognized Judge Demacopoulos with the Mary Heftle Hooton Award in 2021. She’s also a prior board member and an active member of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois.
A longtime supporter of the National Hellenic Museum, Judge Demacopoulos has been actively involved in the NHM Trial Series.
Despite her long list of accomplishments, her true passion is her family. She is married to Andreas Kosmas and the mother of 23-year-old twin daughters Erini and Angelina.
JOHN S. KOUDOUNIS
include managing operations, leading business and corporate development, and directing strategic growth initiatives. Mr. Koudounis has 33 years of financial services experience including executive leadership in the global securities business and a deep background in global capital markets. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. (MSUSA), a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, one of the world’s largest full-service financial institutions. Mr. Koudounis, often sought after for his thought leadership, serves as a speaker at conferences worldwide and appears frequently on financial news programs including CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, TD Ameritrade Network, Yahoo Finance Live, and others. He is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the Bretton Woods Committee. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in International Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. Mr. Koudounis is a member of the Leadership Council at Concordia and the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee. He is a member of the board of trustees of the National Hellenic Museum, a patron of the Prince’s Trust International, and an executive advisory board member for the SEAL Future Foundation. He is a founding board member and executive committee member of The Hellenic Initiative, a non-profit, non-governmental organization with the aim of supporting Greece and Cyprus in the aftermath of the financial crisis by helping to foster entrepreneurship in both countries. He is also a member of Leadership 100 and the Metropolis of Chicago Foundation. In October 2016 he was inducted as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Order of St. Andrew, the highest honor bestowed on a layman by the Orthodox Church. He also serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
KENNETH KONDRAROS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DYROS, INC.
Kenneth Kondraros is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dyros, Inc., a leading wireless construction contracting company serving the telecommunications
infrastructure industry. He’s a Chicago native and a graduate of DePaul University, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting. He also holds a Master Electrical License and is a proud member of the IBEW, NECA and National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). His licensure allows him to provide electric design and construction permitting in numerous states throughout the country. Dyros builds and maintains telecom installations on all types of cellular towers, for all major US telecom companies throughout the United States.
PAUL ATHENS
Paul Athens graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a Political Science degree in 1986. Since 1950, his family owned Metron Steel. When Andrew Athens and Thomas Athens sold the company in 1991, it was worth $125 million and had 120 employees. Paul Athens then started up Alpha Steel that brought in revenues of $75 million and had 80 employees. When Alpha Steel was sold in 2005 to Macsteel, a privately held $2 billion steel company, he served as President. The Midwest division brought in $250 million in revenue and had 175 employees. It was sold in 2012 to Kloeckner, a publically traded steel conglomerate. In 2012, he joined Service Steel Warehouse at EVP, a $175 million company with 120 employees. Currently, he acts as President and CEO of Alpha Building Corporation, a real estate holding company with industrial building assets. Paul Athens has been married to Kellee Athens since 1990. They live in Burr Ridge and have three 3 children, Andrew (23), Alexa (21), and JP (16). They also have two twin grandchildren, Seamus and Paul, 3 years old.
PETER PARTHENIS- VICE CHAIRMAN
the burgeoning consumer demand for Mediterranean Foods in the United States. His influence is no better exemplified then in his position to introduce and popularize gyros over the course of the past 40-plus years. Outside of his professional life, Peter has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic, civic, and religious organizations. He is co-founder and a major contributor to the Foundation of Hellenic Studies, which has endowed a chair of Greek Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is Executive Vice President of the National Hellenic Museum, as well as a member of its Board of Trustees. From 1997 to 1999, Peter was National President of the Scleroderma Foundation. He has also served as a Board Member of the United Hellenic American Congress and as a member of the Board for the Elgin Academy. In 2005, Peter was awarded with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He was appointed an Archon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2007. Peter and his wife Ethel live in the Chicagoland area and are surrounded by their loving children Stacy, Tina, and Peter Jr., along with their spouses and seven grandchildren.
WILLIAM G. CONOPEOTIS
PRESIDENT, CONOPCO.
Founding ConopCo in 1999, Bill’s experience in real estate development and construction since 1981 encompasses over 11.5 million square feet in both the private and public sectors. Bill has been involved with over 5.4 million square feet of interior project
management and over 7 million square feet of Build-to-Suit and Base Building Projects. His experience includes projects in the following sectors: commercial office, manufacturing, industrial, hospitality, transportation, fitness, residential, retail, health care, public, institutional, and infrastructure. Bill remains closely involved with his alma mater and is an active member of the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Alumni Control Board, and provides valuable leadership as a member of the Fraternity Alumni Control Board of the school’s Delta Sigma Phi chapter. In 1988 he lead a national team of 25 selected Greek-Americans from all parts of America to Kenya, Africa, whose mission was to build a 1500 square foot medical clinic — by hand, brick by brick. Bill insists that “giving-back” be an integral part of ConopCo’s activities — and the activities of his family.
LIFE TRUSTEES
ANDREW A. ATHENS†
CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, CEO, METRON STEEL, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, UNITED HELLENIC AMERICAN CONGRESS (UHAC), PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, HELLENICARE, HONORARY AND FOUNDING PRESIDENT, WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES (SAE)
Andrew A. Athens is a man who has not only achieved business success, but has also distinguished himself through his lifelong commitment to charitable causes and the alleviation of human suffering. He has received numerous awards and honors, each recognizing his outstanding service to his faith, his Hellenic heritage,public affairs, and philanthropy. In 1950, Mr. Athens co-founded Metron Steel Corporation and served as its President and CEO from 1950 through 1991. In 1974, after the invasion of Cyprus, he founded the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) to advocate for human rights and religion freedom for all Hellenes living in the Diaspora. Under his leadership, diplomatic relations between Greece, Cyprus, and the United States have been strengthened, Hellenic culture has flourished, and human rights violations have been addressed. In 1995, Mr. Athens became the founding President of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE) and served as World President until 2006. Mr. Athens has supported the Museum from its inception, helping to secure the property for the Museum’s new building with the assistance of The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago and the City of Chicago.
ANGELA PARRY PATERAKIS†
PROFESSOR EMERITUS, ART EDUCATION, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Angela Parry Paterakis has directed and chaired art education training programs for future teachers of art.
She has been recognized locally and nationally for her advocacy role in the arts and arts education. Mrs. Paterakis has served on the National Hellenic Museum Board for many years, co-chairing the Exhibitions Committee. She has helped in the development and mounting of such noteworthy exhibitions as Philoxenia: A Friend to the Stranger. She has a passion for and commitment to bringing quality arts programs to the public.
DR. GEORGE J. KORKOS†
PRESIDENT, PLASTIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES, REJUVA SKIN CARE & LASER CENTER
Dr. George J. Korkos serves as the President of both Plastic Surgery Associates and Rejuva Skin Care & Laser Center, and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
He is Co-founder and former Contact Director and Investor of the Milwaukee Bucks Expansion Basketball Team. He has been Chairman and Member of Business Advisory Board at Sleep Holdings, Inc. since September 2007. Dr. Korkos is a Director at Fibrocell Science, Inc. since July 2010, and serves as a Member of Advisory Board of Skinvisible Inc. He has served as scientific Advisory Board Member of Cellgen Company, Sleep Holding Company, and Skin Visible Company. He is and has been a member of numerous prestigious medical societies, is an experienced academic lecturer and author and has presented on a variety of plastic and reconstructive surgery topics at meetings of regional and national medical associations. During his career, Dr. Korkos has earned a number of humanitarian awards, including the Outstanding Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was also honored with the prestigious Hellene Award and the Ellis Island Award in New York.
DR. MARY DOCHIOS KAMBEROS†
RETIRED PEDIATRICIAN
Dr. Mary Dochios Kamberos is a retired pediatrician after 50 years of practice in Burbank, Illinois. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS Degree in Bacteriology from the University of Idaho and earned her M.D. degree at
Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. For 32 years she was Chief Medical Officer for the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center where she was recognized nationwide as a leader in this unique branch of Pediatric Medicine. She is a supporter of the National Hellenic Museum benefited by her gift of $1,000,000 for the Special Events Hall of the new building. She has served on the Board of Directors since the 1990’s. Dr. Mary is also a generous benefactor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn Illinois. She is well known in the Chicagoland community as a supporter of the Greek American Nursing Home and numerous philanthropic organizations that provide scholarships for inner city and handicapped children in addition to the scholarship funds that she supports for other American youth. Her motto in life is “It is more enjoyable to give than to receive.”
FRANK S. KAMBEROS†
The National Hellenic Museum mourns the passing of Frank S. Kamberos. Mr. Kamberos, who has served on NHM’s Board of Trustees since 2005, financed the construction of the National Hellenic Museum’s Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center.
A cornerstone of the Museum’s work to preserve and share the Greek American story, the Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center has grown in the past fifteen years to become the largest depository of Greek American oral histories in the world and an important resource for scholars, genealogists, and the public. We invite you to listen to Mr. Kamberos’s own oral history here to learn more about the life of this fascinating and generous man–and to see for yourself the incredible value of oral histories in preserving the past. Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη! May his memory be eternal!
CO-FOUNDER, TREASURE ISLAND FOODS, CHAIRMAN, GREEK STAR NEWSPAPER
Frank S. Kamberos, a native of Chicago, attended Illinois Institute of Technology and served in US Air Corps during WWII in England, France, and Germany. In 1962, Mr. Kamberos along with his brothers, Chris and George, founded Treasure Island Foods, Inc. A leader in the community, Mr. Kamberos is active in many organizations: United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), Leadership 100, Hellenic Foundation, and others. Mr. Kamberos has served on the Board of Directors of the National Hellenic Museum since 2005. He financed the construction of the Frank S. Kamberos Oral History Center.
JAMES M. MEZILSON†
RETIRED JOURNALIST
James M. Mezilson is a retired journalist and founding member of the National Hellenic Museum. Mr. Mezilson joined the Chicago Sun in 1942 working his way up from copy boy to street reporter. Mezilson stayed with the Sun until just before the 1947 merger with the Chicago
Times which transformed the two into the Chicago Sun-Times. For Greek Americans, Mezilson’s career as a journalist began in 1939 with his column ‘Periclean Patter’ in the pages of the Thessaloniki (later the Greek Press). He wrote a regular column in the pages of the Greek Star, The National Herald, Hellenic Chronicle, Athene Magazine and the AHEPAN until at least 2000. During his sixty years as a regular columnist, Mezilson succeeded to serve as a bridge between the average American and the average Greek American reader. Between 1948 and 1954, Mezilson was on the staff of United States Senator Paul Douglas. Mr. Mezilson is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while also receiving both the Order of St. Paul (1985) from Archbishop Iakovos as well as the Order of St Andrew (1990). Among his ongoing involvement in American civic life were Mezilson’s sustained efforts on behalf of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
THEMI VASILS
RETIRED
Prior to her retirement, Themi Vasils was Managing Director of the National Confectioners Association Chicago Office. She also served for a time as Acting President of the Association. Ms. Vasils has been an active member of the community for more than 30 years.
She served the National Hellenic Museum for some 20 years in a variety of leadership roles including President of the Board of Directors. Her background in Journalism has helped her to become a published translator of short stories; also co-translator of two books by renowned Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. Ms. Vasils has served as Director, volunteer writer and Advisor to the Editor for The Greek Star newspaper which is the oldest Greek-American newspaper, running without interruption since 1904. Her volunteer community services include working with The Greek Welfare Foundation Retirement Home project –Public Information services for the Metropolis of Chicago—Media Director for Orthodox Christian SYNERGY and for the Chicago Chapter of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).