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Aris Melissaratos: Industrialist of the Year

The Baltimore Museum of Industry has named Aris Melissaratos, Senior Advisor to the President for Enterprise Development at Johns Hopkins University, the 2009 William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year.

Mr. Melissaratos was selected because of his extraordinary commitment to Baltimore businesses and his efforts in promoting technology throughout the region. In accepting the honor, Melissaratos said: “I have lived in Baltimore since my arrival from Greece at age 13. Since then, I have had increased opportunities to work in all aspects of Baltimore’s and Maryland’s industries. Over that time, I became conversant with the technology and business details of all Maryland manufacturing companies, from large to small. I am truly honored to be considered worthy of this prestigious William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award, which is most appreciated at this stage of my post industrial career.”

A 1966 Johns Hopkins graduate, Aris currently serves as Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University with responsibilities for technology transfer, corporate partnerships, and enterprise development. From 2003 to 2007, he served as Secretary of Business and Economic Development for the State of Maryland, driving the state’s unemployment figures down to an impressive 3.6% and positioning Maryland for leadership in the emerging “knowledge economy”.

Mr. Melissaratos worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation for 32 years. When he retired he was the corporation’s Chief Technology Officer and Vice President for Science and Technology, responsible for running Westinghouse’s research and development functions. Before that he served as the Chief Operations Officer for the company’s Defense Electronics Group, where he was responsible for managing 16,000 employees (9,000 engineers) and $3.2 billion dollars in sales. On leaving Westinghouse he became Vice President of Thermo Electron Corporation and CEO of its Coleman Research Corporation and Thermo Information Solutions subsidiaries. He formed Armel Scientifics, LLC which invested in over 30 start-up companies in Life Sciences and Advanced Technology.

He holds a Master of Science in engineering management from George Washington University and has completed the program for Management Development at the Harvard University School of Business. He completed the course work for a Ph.D. in International Politics at the Catholic University of America but did not complete the dissertation.

Among many honors, Melissaratos was named 2008 Baltimore’s Extraordinary Technology Advocate (BETA). He is the founding co-chair of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council and is a former vice president of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. “BMI is extremely pleased to honor Aris Melissaratos. He is a man who has had a significant positive impact in many areas of the Maryland business economy both in supporting existing industries and in fostering businesses of the future. His professional career and his work in the community exemplify the criteria for our honorees,” said Roland Woodward, Director of the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

The William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award was introduced in 2004 to recognize and celebrate Maryland’s visionary business leaders as distinguished by their innovative approaches to industry, and dedication to the well-being of their communities. The award is named for William Donald Schaefer, a founder of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and former Mayor of Baltimore who in 1977 began a project to recognize and preserve the innovations of this region’s industrial heritage.

Past Industrialists include: (2008) Edwin F. Hale Sr., chairman and chief executive officer of 1st Mariner Bancorp, (2007) Suzanne F. Jenniches, Vice President, Government Systems Division of Northrop Grumman Corporation, (2006) the late Mark Sneed, president Phillip Foods, Inc., (2005) Kevin Plank, president UnderArmour, and (2004) Richard Baker, plant manager Domino Sugar.

(Source NEOmagazine)

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