Greek-American students and young professionals from around the country met with and were mentored by some of the most prominent leaders of Greek heritage for the tenth year.
Over 45 current and former Greek American US government officials, business leaders, and influential thought leaders—and even some Philhellenes—held intimate meetings with these young professionals and students from July 29 – July 31 in Washington, DC in person and from across the country via Zoom. This annual program is hosted by the National Hellenic Society (NHS) and implemented by Manatos & Manatos.
Meetings again took place this year in the White House complex, the US Capitol Building (including on the balcony of the Speaker of the House), the Embassy of Greece, and the iconic Monocle Restaurant on Capitol Hill, with the program concluding with a bus tour of Washington, DC architecture and monuments inspired by ancient Greece.
Each speaker shared insights on their personal connection with their Greek heritage and how Hellenic principles and values, that burned bright in their family’s immigrants, have lived on in following generations and influenced their careers and professional development.
Values such as hard work, honor and humility, education, excellence and empathy, family, faith and philotimo were key values defining the success of our speakers this year. Now in its tenth iteration, this program has imparted a deeper understanding to our participants on the unique position Greek-Americans hold in impacting and igniting change, both regionally and globally.
Greek American mentors in the 2025 Heritage America Program
This year’s program brought together a distinguished group of Greek-American leaders to guide and inspire the next generation of students and young professionals.
Government
- Four Star General Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of US Army Forces Command
- Four Star Admiral James Stavridis, Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Global Forces
- George Tenet, Longest-serving CIA Director in US history
- Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
- Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, California Lieutenant Governor
- Eleni Roumel, First Greek-American woman to serve as a Federal Judge
- Michael Kratsios, White House Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Brian Bulatao, Former Under Secretary of State
- Athina Lawson, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) Press Secretary
- Greg Steele, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) Communications Director
- Rebecca Angelson, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Jon Husted (R-OH)
- Alex Angelson, Former Special Assistant to the President, White House Office of Legislative Affairs
- Jack Kalavritinos, Former HHS Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Senior policy advisors to other Greek-American members of Congress (who were not in DC)
- Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) Senior Policy Advisor Nathan Stamps
- Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) Senior Policy Advisor Michelle Shevin-Coetzee
- Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Senior Legislative Assistant Alex Schroeder
- Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) Senior Legislative Assistant Jake Friedman
- Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) Chief of Staff Mitchell Moonier
Media
- George Stephanopoulos, ABC News Chief Anchor
- Peter Baker, New York Times Chief White House Correspondent
- Athan Stephanopoulos, CNN Worldwide Former EVP and Chief Digital Officer
- Laura Evans Manatos, Fox 5 News Former Anchor / President and CEO, Laura Evans Media
- John Sakellariadis, Politico Cybersecurity Reporter
- George Wallace, WTOP News Sports Director
Business leaders
- John Calamos, Vietnam War Hero / Founder & Chairman, Calamos Investments
- George Stamas, Gibson & Dunn Partner / THI Co-founder and President
- Manny Rouvelas, K&L Gates Partner / NHS Board Member
- Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, ECOS President and CEO
- Paul Skoutelas, American Public Transportation Association President & CEO
- Diana Doukas, Meta Platforms Head of Econ. Opp. & Advocacy / Fmr. White House Small Buss. Liaison
- Tom Manatos, Block Inc. Head of Americas Policy / former Speaker Pelosi’s House Democrats Liaison
- Dr. Dimitri Sigounas, Adventist Healthcare Neurosurgery Chair
- John Sitilides, Trilogy Advisors Principal
Hellenic and Orthodox leadership
- Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros [by video]
- Father Alex Karloutsos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne
- Lea Soupata, NHS Chair
- Art Dimopoulos, NHS Executive Director
- Andy Manatos, Heritage America Founder / Former Asst. Sec. of Commerce / Manatos & Manatos CEO
- Mike Manatos, Heritage America Co-Founder / THI Executive Director
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