Executive Board

President: Petros Besieris

Petros is currently an MBA candidate attending the College of Business at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Prior to entering graduate school, he received his B.S. with distinct honors in Computer science from UM-Dearborn in 2018. Mr. Besieris also received the National Engaged Leader award, recognizing high academic accomplishments and leadership traits that have helped him thrive both in his professional and academic career. Petros is very active within the Detroit Greek community and is currently a member of the District 10 AHEPA organization. Greek dancing is a passion for Petros as he has been a member of the Metro-Detroit dance group, Zoé, since the age of 10. Mr. Besieris has professional experience working in the IT industry for a Fortune 250 corporation. His ambition as president for NHSA is to combine both his professional and cultural background to the organization in continuing to promote a strong Greek community on a national level.

Director Of Operations: Fotis Karantonis

Fotis was born and raised in the heart of Toronto’s Greektown. His Greek roots are from Karditsa on his father’s side and Sparti from his mother’s side. Fotis is a recent graduate of the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, majoring in hospitality and tourism management. His education at Ryerson consisted of a theoretical knowledge base and practical skill set, preparing him for the hospitality & tourism industry. In 2015, Fotis attended the Pan- Messinian Kalamata University Program where he participated in Greek language, history, and music classes as well as touring all over the Peloponnese with students of Greek descent from all over the world. During this trip, Fotis developed a deep appreciation for the connection of Greek Diaspora. For two years he was President of the Hellenic Students Association at Ryerson University, which allowed him to get involved with the Ryerson Student Union, collaborate with a variety of student groups and engage with the Greek student body. Most importantly, he had the chance to practice various skills that can be applied in the professional world such as leadership, team building, effective networking and marketing. For two years, Fotis has been in the food and beverage division at the Four Seasons hotel in Toronto where he is growing his skill sets of the hospitality industry. Fotis was the NHSA Toronto - Regional Director for two years and is very excited to apply his NHSA experience towards the position of Director of Operations. Fotis is very proud that the NHSA community has expanded well into Toronto and that their spring convention has returned to Toronto in 2020.

Treasurer: Nia Drimonis

Nia Drimonis was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and is currently living in Toronto. Her Greek roots are from Monemvasia. Growing up she would spend a couple of months out of each year living in Athens and all over Lakonia. She is an Undergraduate student at Ryerson University and is studying International Relations, minoring in Psychology and is in the process of obtaining a Human Resource Management certificate. During her second year of University, she interned at Bisha Hotel and had the opportunity to work alongside the Human Resource and Finance Director. Once graduated, she hopes to work in the field of Organizational Behaviour. On the side, Nia has had the opportunity to work on the Marketing team at one of Toronto’s popular summer lounges, Lavelle and has also worked on the events team at a Greek fine-dining restaurant. Nia is excited to get involved with NHSA as Treasurer and to apply her knowledge and skills from previous internships.

Director of Marketing: Anastasia Vonortas

​Anastasia Vonortas is a first-generation Greek American, born and raised in Canton, Ohio. Anastasia is a current undergraduate student at the University of Akron, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Integrated Marketing Communications. Anastasia currently holds the role of Vice President of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter on campus; she is a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon, the co-ed marketing and sales fraternity; and she is employed as a Fitness Manager at the University’s Recreation and Wellness Center. When Anastasia has free time, you can find her surrounding herself with friends and family, traveling to the homeland, or sipping on a frappe. Anastasia is excited to continue her position here with NHSA by integrating her passion for marketing with her love for her Hellenic Heritage!

Logistics Director: Theodore Papoulis

Raised in Canton, Massachusetts, Theodore Papoulis is a second generation Greek American studying History and Economics at St. John’s University. It is with great joy, that he currently lives in Astoria, New York amongst his beloved Greeks. In his studies he has dedicated a historical work to the comparison of the waves of Greek immigration to New York City over the past century. As President of the Hellenic Society at his University, Theodore and his talented Executive Board have revamped their club to be one of the most active and pleasurable cultural clubs on campus. He takes great pride in his position and promotes Hellenism at every opportunity he finds. Theodore admires the profound impact which NHSA has on the Greek community of North America. He quickly realized NHSA is an organization he wanted to be a part of. To promote Hellenic values, meet the amazing Greeks of North America, and make great things happen for everyone is a dream come true.

In his free time, Theodore likes to explore, enjoy life in the company of friends, have 2 hour sessions at the gym (due to constant chatting), and advance his knowledge in the sciences, history, philosophy, and psychology.

Recruitment Director: Maria Lysandrou

Maria grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, but her family now resides in Columbus, Ohio. She is a Neuroscience major and a Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations minor at the University of Chicago, where she is hoping to pursue a career in medicine and research. She currently is President of the University of Chicago Hellenic Student Association, Vice President of UChicago KAP, Secretary of Phoenix Biology, and is in the process of publishing a computational biology research paper about research she conducted while at Weill Cornell Graduate School in NYC. In 2019, she assisted with NHSA membership where she loved contacting and meeting different HSA’s across the country. Last summer, Maria interned at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard conducting computational neuroscience research. When not doing science and promoting Hellenism, she loves to play guitar, piano, and sing.

IT Director: Agis Diamantis

​Agis is currently studying for his BA in Computer and Information Science and minoring in Information Systems Management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and is expecting to graduate in April 2021.  While at school, he joined the Association for Computing Machinery and Upsilon Pi Epsilon: International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines. He is also a member of the local District 10 AHEPA and while being a member of these three organizations, he has helped teach local boy scouts programming and the history of computers.  Agis wishes to help continue the sense of community that the Greeks have established by going to local events and inviting as many people as he can in the process.

Chairman: Konstantine Ouranitsas

Konstantine Ouranitsas is an Engagement Financial Advisor at Deloitte, LLP. in New York City. Prior to that he was an analyst on the research & underwriting team for LBC Credit Partners, a private debt fund. Mr. Ouranitsas is NHSA’s Chairman and Past President. He was responsible for incorporating NHSA and turning it into an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Within the Hellenic community, Mr. Ouranitsas is a Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) 2030 Fellow, the volunteer coordinator and on the New Leaders events committee for The Hellenic Initiative (THI), and a Parade Ambassador for the New York City Greek Independence Day Parade. He has served as the Treasurer of the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley, Vice President of AHEPA Chapter #26 Philadelphia, Young Professional Director of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia. He is the Co-Founder & Past President of the Hellenic Student Association of Philadelphia and the Past President of the Drexel University Hellenic Student Association. Mr. Ouranitsas graduated from Drexel University in 2014 with a BSBA in finance after completing a 5-year co-op program. He was born and raised in New York City and is of Pontian descent.

Digital Media Strategist: ​Stamatina Mylonas

Stamatina Mylonas is a first-generation Greek American born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She studied Communications and International Relations at Penn State University and the University of Sydney.  Stamatina is an experienced English teacher, working with kids and adults from all different backgrounds in the United States and Greece.  She works with Greek heritage groups in her community who aim to preserve our history and traditions and pass it on to the next generation, as well as various philanthropic and human rights advocacy groups.  Traveling, writing, and photography are her passions and she hopes to use these to tell a story and make a positive and lasting difference in the world.  Always staying close to her roots, she seizes every opportunity to travel to Greece and to be involved in organizations and events that celebrate our Greek heritage.  She is now a Journalist for Greek City Times, and is proud to share various stories and current events within Greek culture, for the popular publication’s vast audience!  Stamatina is optimistic and excited for the future in her new role with NHSA, and all the good things this organization is doing for our community.

Regional Directors

New York: Georgios Araujo

Georgios Araujo was born and raised in Manhasset Hills, New York.  His cultural background shares the rich customs of both Greek and Portuguese traditions. He is currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at Adelphi University under the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in the Molecular Sciences. He performs research at Adelphi on Functional Morphology studying the locomotion of Lepidosiren Paradoxa, analyzing the species’ axial motor patterns and kinematics out of the water. Georgios founded the Hellenic Society at Adelphi University and has been elected as President for two consecutive terms. This position allowed him to collaborate with a variety of student organizations on campus as well as at other universities, all to help promote Hellenism. While looking to expand his club’s overall membership and gain recognition, he explored NHSA as an option and immediately fell in love with the values that the organization stands by. Georgios is proud of the Greek customs that he celebrates within his family and community. By joining NHSA, he will have the opportunity to expand his knowledge of Greek culture, leadership, and networking to help uphold a strong Greek community in North America.

 

Chicago: Alexandra Patzakis

Alexandra is originally from Pasadena, California, and is a sophomore at the University of Chicago, where she is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Human Rights and hopes to pursue a career in the legal field. She currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for the UChicago Hellenic Student Association, and she has previously assisted with NHSA’s membership and recruitment teams. On campus, Alexandra also volunteers in Chicago Public Schools and interns at the UChicago Institute of Politics. Last summer, Alexandra interned at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a legal non-profit in Los Angeles. In her free time, she loves to drink coffee, try new restaurants, bake, read, sing, and listen to Greek music. Alexandra is thrilled to continue to promote Hellenism while serving in this new role!

Mideast: Zachary Cotronakis

Zachary Cotronakis is an undergraduate economics student at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is involved with several organizations based around promoting Hellenism and philotimo, including National Hellenic Society, with whom he traveled to Greece on the Heritage Greece Trip in 2019, and the GWU Hellenic Student Association, with whom he serves as an executive board member, and Manatos & Manatos, with whom he serves as a project manager. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Juno Beach, Florida. Growing up, Zac served as a tonsured acolyte, played GOYA basketball, competed in the Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, and competed for his parish in several Greek dancing competitions. He also was an active soccer player, football player, and swimmer. In 2011, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta decorated him with the Archangel Michael Award for Outstanding Stewardship and Service to the Church. His family roots are from Crete on his father’s side and Samos on his mother’s side, and greatly enjoys traveling to Greece with his family and friends. Zac is an avid reader, runner, swimmer, and is a member of GWU’s Boxing Team. Zac is excited to join the NHSA team in their quest to promote, protect, and celebrate Hellenism in the United States.

Toronto, Canada: Kristina Valkanas

Kristina Valkanas is a Undergraduate Student at the University of Toronto. She is in her fourth and final year of her specialist degree in Neuroscience, with a hope to pursue a career in medicine in the future. She works part-time as an aqua-fitness and swim instructor as well as a lifeguard at her local community center, and is working towards becoming a head-guard and deck supervisor. In the summers she runs her own private swim school, teaching children and adults of all ages how to swim and be safe in the water. On top of that she works at the Diamandis II lab in the Toronto General Hospital and Mars Research Tower. As a research student, she has combined her passion for science, creativity, and desire to spread knowledge to kick-start a Neuroscience based YouTube channel, “NeuroscIQ” to educate the public on the wonders of the brain.

Born a second-generation Greek Canadian, Kristina’s involvement in the Greek Community is innate and has been life-long. Currently she is the President of her University HSA, and has been involved with the association in all her years at University of Toronto. She was even once on the local news teaching Toronto’s Mayor the Kalamatiano. Both her parents are from Peloponnese, and so she frequents southern Greece when she can find time off.