Chamber History

The Chamber was founded in 1947. Its founder was Kyricos P. Tsolainos, a truly remarkable and legendary man. He was a native of Smyrna and came to Greece as a refugee after the Asia Minor disaster. Though only a youngster at that time, he became the personal secretary and trusted administrative assistant of Greece’s outstanding statesman and Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. Upon his political eclipse, Tsolainos migrated to Canada to study at the prestigious McGill University in Montreal. On graduation he came to marry Phoebe Wilson, a direct descendent of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis. She was also the favorite niece of the then chairman of Citibank. Within months he became a partner at Baker, Weeks & Harden, the investment affiliate of Citibank. He was known throughout Wall Street as K.P. When he died, Wall Street closed early to attend his funeral en masse at Trinity Church.

The Chamber’s objective at its inception was to favorably present, publicize and service the substantial Greek Shipping interests which had gathered in the downtown financial area. It is for that reason that you will find amongst its early members people such as Manuel E. Kulukundis, Nicholas P. Goulandris, Pericles Callimenopoulos, Panaghi D. Marchessini, Nicholas Rethymnis, Costas D. Pateras, John Theodoracopoulos, George P. Livanos, and Michael Embiricos.

Upon the exodus of our maritime magnates to more favorable off-shore locations, the Chamber altered its operational objectives. It promptly emphasized the foreign trade and commercial aspects between Greece and the United States. Briskly activating this program, it obtained as members American corporations which were doing business in Greece, such as Irving Trust Co., American Express, Chase Bank, Guaranty Trust Co., Bank of Nova Scotia, Mobil Oil Corp., Exxon Corp., and American Cyanamid Corp.

Today, its members include many Greek Americans doing business in Greece or trading in Greek products. The Chamber is expanding its horizon so that there may be greater participation of corporate America in its active membership and that it may activate a wider and closer relationship with Greek businesses in the United States and throughout the rest of the world.

Presidents of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce

Term                  Name

1948-1950      Peter T. Kourides, Attorney (1910-2010)
1950-1956      Charles G. Raphael, Attorney
1956-1960      Manuel E. Kulukundis, “C” Ventures
1960-1962      Clifford R. Wise, Bethlehem Steel Corp. (1917-2005)
1962-1964      John J. Steitz, Jr., Thomas Cook & Son
1964-1967      John A. Haage, Manufacturers Hanover Trust
1967-1968      John P. Diamandouras, Mobil Oil Corp.
1968-1969      Charles G. Raphael, Attorney
1969-1971      Gregory Bookis, Maritime Brokers
1971-1974      Theodore T. Cambouris, Atlantic Bank of New York
1974-1978      Harry S. Papadakis, Olympic Airways
1978-1982      Stephen P. Pendias, Irving Trust Company (1916-2007)
1982-1984      John G. Manos, Israel Discount Bank of New York
1985-1987      Basil S. Gregory, John S. Latsis (USA), Inc. (1926-2001)
1987-1989      Edward D. Hunter, Bank of Nova Scotia
1989-1992      Emmanuel Caravanos, Atlantic Steamers Supply Co. (DE) Inc.
1992-1996      Basil S. Gregory, John S. Latsis (USA), Inc. (1926-2001)
1996-1998      Robert G. Shaw, Healy & Baillie, LLP
1998-2000     George Kapetanakos, Southern Star Shipping Co.
2000-2001    Andonios Neroulias, Western Management Corp.
2001-2003    William Ioannides, Sigma Coatings
2003-2005    Bobby Mitropoulos, Compass Maritime Services, Inc.
2005-2007   Andre Gregory, John S. Latsis (USA) Inc.
2007-2009   John C. Stratakis, Poles, Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez, LLP
2009-2011    LeRoy Lambert, Blank Rome, LLP
2011-               Michael Theodorobeakos, Minosis, LLC