Leadership

First Vice Chair 

George Lattas is an experienced transactional attorney who represents clients on all facets of their business legal needs. His experience with firms such as Deloitte and GE, and his JD/MBA provide a depth to his experience that makes him a formidable advocate for his clients. George represents his clients on purchase/sale agreements for every kind of commercial property, title examination and closing; loan documentation, negotiation, and review; retail, office and industrial leasing; corporate law; and loss mitigation. George also has extensive expertise in forming new business organizations, drafting shareholder/operating agreements, negotiating share/unit purchase and sale agreements, and advising on land use matters.

George has been named a Rising Star by Superlawyers in 2016-2021, a “Top 100 Attorney”, and Outstanding Young Alumnus by the DePaul University College of Law. He teaches various collegiate courses, serves as the President of the DePaul University College of Law Alumni Engagement Board, a member of the DePaul University College of Law Dean’s Advisory Council, and director of the Hellenic Bar Association. George is a life-long steward of Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church where he serves on the Executive Committee of the Parish Council and a proud alum of the Koraes School. George lives in Clarendon Hills with is wife Tina and daughters Colette and Vickie.

Second Vice Chair 

Dean Avdalas was born and raised in Sacramento, California and finishing his first term on the Metropolis Council serving as the First Vice President. In addition to serving on the Metropolis Council, he also is on the Archdiocesan Council and serves on the Finance Committee and Youth & Young Adult Ministries Committees. 

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Political Science from the University of California, Davis. Prior to moving to Chicago, he was a small business owner, managed various real estate investments and was involved with numerous political campaigns and organizations. In 2006, he moved to Chicago to pursue a new career opportunity in commercial banking. Most importantly, that is where he met his wife, Marina. Dean became involved with real estate and business lending which ultimately shaped his career. In 2014, he accepted a new challenge and was hired as a business lender at Byline Bank, a publicly traded Chicago-based bank specializing in business banking. 

During his years at Annunciation in Sacramento, Dean served on the Parish Council, coached youth basketball, supported various church and cultural organizations and served as an altar boy for fourteen years. In addition to Greek American organizations, Dean was an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at UC Davis, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Sacramento and represented Sacramento County as a Delegate at the 2004 National Presidential Convention. In Chicagoland, Dean is a board member for SomerCor, one of the largest SBA lenders in the Midwest. He’s a proud member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), AH EPA, a past board member of Neo Kyma Messinias and a strong supporter of various philanthropic organizations. He lives in Glenview, Illinois with his wife Marina and their three children: Ambri, Gia and Teddy. They are members of Saints Peter & Paul.

Co-Treasurer

I have been practicing law since 1986. After graduating, with honors, from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign in 1983 with a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Political Science, I then received my law degree from DePaul University in 1986. In 1995 I established Donatelli & Coules, Ltd. with Mark Donatelli.

I have extensive corporate, municipal, land use, real estate and not-for-profit experience as a result of his tenure with this law firm. Also an advisory Board Member of Busey Bank (Previously was on the Holding Company of First Community Bank with 15 locations), a member of Pelican Bay’s Policies and Relations Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Donald J. Doody Foundation, a Director and Co-Founder of Project Infinite Green, founding member of the Lemont High School Educational Board, a former elected Trustee of the Village of Lemont and past President of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn (Present Council Member). I am a lifelong steward of St. Nicholas. I live in Lemont, Illinois with my wife Denise and his two grown daughters.

Co-Treasurer

Tom is currently the Sr Vice President of Corporate Real Estate at U.S. Bank – a seasoned leader and accomplished asset management professional who creates a highly productive team of over 200 employees and delivers winning strategies to achieve cost effectiveness and growth.

With over 27 years of management experience, Tom has a broad scope of industry knowledge in the management of all aspects of leasing activities including contract negotiations, financial analysis, budget control, customer satisfaction and employee development.

Tom and his family are very active members of the Greek American community.

He currently is Co-Treasurer for the Chicago Metropolis Council, and the Parish Council President and Assistant Athletic Director for Holy Taxiarchai & Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Niles, Illinois. He lives in Morton Grove, Illinois with his wife Anastasia and their three children: Stavros, Alexandra, and Nikolas.

Secretary

A Chicago local, baptized at Holy Trinity but attending St. Demetrios-Chicago as an adolescent and St. Haralambos-Niles as a teen and young adult. Paul is a steward at St. George-Chicago since 2008 and serving as the Parish Council president since 2018. Having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with an emphasis in Construction Management from Illinois State University in 1995, Paul joined Leopardo Companies, one of the nation’s largest commercial builders, as a construction project manager. Serving clients such as The Metropolitan Bank Group, Miglin-Beitler Management, The Hilton Hotels, Chicago Public Schools, Kinko’s, and City of Chicago, Paul has extensive experience in all aspects of the building design and construction process.

Today, as the Vice-President of Information Systems and Technology for Leopardo Paul leads the digital transformation, business alignment, strategic planning, implementation, and security of all IT systems.

Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos serves as the parish priest of Saint Spyridon in Palos Heights, IL. He has also served as a missionary at the Orthodox Metropolis of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, as the associate pastor of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, and as the parish priest of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Sioux City, Iowa. Fr. Tilemahos graduated Loyola University Chicago majoring in Mathematics and Statistics before earning his Master of Divinity at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Along with his parish ministry, Fr. Tilemahos has served as the OCF advisor at the University of Chicago, as the advisor to the Midwest Hellenic Dance Festival and as a member of the Greek Education Committee. Fr. Tilemahos lives in Orland Park with Presvytera Georgia and their four children, Konstantine, Demetra, Marina, and Katerina.

Fr. Chris was born and raised in Rockford IL. As a youth he was a member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Rockford. He graduated from Rockford Guilford High School and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in History. He then attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline Massachusetts and graduated with honors with a Masters of Divinity in 1998.

Upon graduation, Fr. Chris was hired as the Youth Pastoral Assistant at the parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills for 5 years, until His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, of blessed memory, asked him to fill the position of the Metropolis Of Chicago Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director, which he continued to do for the next 15
years.

In 2012, Fr. Chris and Presvytera Nicole were married at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Joliet, the home parish of Presvytera. With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on November 22, 2014 and continued to serve as Youth and Young Adult ministries Director and the assistant
and Deacon to Metropolitan Iakovos. On December 15, 2018, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago ordained him to the Holy Priesthood at the parish of SS. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, where he was assigned as the associate Pastor. On March 8, 2020 Fr. Chris was assigned to the parish of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Joliet where he happily served at the home parish of Presvytera for over 3 years.

On June 1st, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanial assigned Fr. Chris to the role of Proistamenos at Sts. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills.

Fr. Panagiotis Boznos grew up in the suburbs of Chicago attending the Greek Orthodox parishes of St. Nectarios in Palatine and St. Athanasios in Aurora.He earned his BA (2008) from the University of Oklahoma with a double major in Religious Studies and Classical Greek. From there he proceeded to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he received his MDiv (2013). While at seminary, Fr. Panagiotis met and married Presbytera Nichole, who also graduated from Holy Cross the same year with an MTS. Together they have four children. Fr. Panagiotis was ordained to the Diaconate on June 29th, 2013 and to the Priesthood on July 28th, 2013. Following his ordination to the Priesthood, he served the parish of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL from 2013-2019 and currently serves as the priest of his home parish of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Aurora, IL.

Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres is the parish priest of Saint George Greek Orthodox church in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, and has served in that capacity since February 1, 2014. In addition to his parish responsibilities, Fr. Chrysanthos serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Fanari Camp. He is the spiritual advisor to the Orthodox Christian Fellowship program of DePaul University, the spiritual advisor to the Hellenic American Veterans of the Metropolis of Chicago, the spiritual advisor to the Hellenic American Police Association, and a Chaplain for both the Chicago and Park Ridge Police Departments. Fr. Chrysanthos also sits on the Metropolis of Chicago Spiritual Court, serves as the Vice President of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Alumni Association, as the Vice President of the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Chicago, serves on the Metropolis of Chicago Greek Education Committee, and is the Coordinator of the Archons of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. Fr. Chrysanthos is married to Vasiliki Kerkeres and they live in Park Ridge, Illinois.

Fr. Sotirios Malamis has been the Proistamenos at the Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Lincolnshire, IL since September 1, 2014. In that capacity, he provided leadership and spiritual guidance during a $9 million, 21-month construction project culminating in the opening of a new church and community center on June 5, 2019. Concurrently, he has been teaching Byzantine Music area students for several years. He attended DePaul University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Fr. Sotirios then graduated with distinction in 2001 from Holy Cross School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. He continued his theological studies at the University of Athens in the field of Pastoral Theology and Religious Education. Along with serving on the Metropolis Council, he is currently serving on the Archdiocesan Council as well. Fr. Sotirios and Presvytera Stefanie have three children, Maria, Nikolas, and Aimilianos.

Father Chris was raised in Palos Hills, Illinois and attended St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church and Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Olympia Fields now Homer Glen. He graduated from Amos Alonzo Stagg High School and received a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a double major in psychology. Father Chris’ love was to always work with children and to serve the Church. He began his studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology thanks in part to his spiritual father and other priestly mentors who guided and helped him follow in our Lord’s footsteps. Father Chris graduated our Holy Cross Seminary in 2013 and married the love of his life, Presvytera Toni (Poteres) Mihalopoulos on October 6, 2013. He began his ministry as the lay assistant of Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in August 2013. Father Chris was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, March 16 2014- 2nd Sunday of Great Lent- Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas. He was then transferred to the community of Saint Demetrios of Chicago on June 1st, 2014. Father Chris was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, September 26th, 2014. He and Presvytera Toni have three children, Luke, Theodore (Theo) and Apostolos Nektarios.

Fr. Douglas Papulis has served in the Metropolis of Chicago since 1986. Kimissis in Racine, Wisconsin was home for 11 years and then in 1997 he moved to serve St. Nicholas in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been appointed as Vicar of the Missouri/Southern Illinois parishes. Fr. Doug graduated from Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in 1983. He is married to Presvytera Christina (Dedes) and has three sons and three grandsons.

Fr. Dimitri Tobias is a Member of the IT/Operations Committee of the Metropolis Council. He is a priest of the Metropolis of Chicago for 7 years, serving the community of SS. Peter & Paul in Glenview, IL as an Associate Pastor; and the communities Holy Trinity in Sioux City, IA; and St. Basil in Chicago, IL as a Proistamenos. Prior to this, he has served in the Department of Internet Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Department of Registry for the Metropolis of Chicago, and the Pastoral Lay Assistant of St. Nectarios in Palatine, IL. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from Hellenic College and a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Helen Alexander has for decades served the Greek American community and Greek Orthodox Church in a variety of roles.

She served many years as the Director and Administrator of the United Hellenic American Congress(UHAC), where she was particularly known for her fundraising skills and accomplishments.  Helen has had the opportunity to meet and work with religious leaders, presidents of foreign countries, foreign ministers, U.S. congressmen and senators, members of parliament and celebrities from all over the world.  Her work with UHAC led to roles in the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) and with Hellenicare where she assisted in the establishment of health care clinics for underserved communities in the former Soviet Union and other communist bloc countries.  Helen was also instrumental in working with leadership of UHAC in securing the grant opportunities for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).  She has directly worked with dignitaries, community leaders and volunteers in organizing, directing and planning special events and fundraisers.  These include, but are not limited to, the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, the Coordinated Efforts of Hellenes (CEH), UHAC Greek Parade and Heritage Week, the Hellenic Medical Society, the Hellenic American Academy, Clergy Laity Congresses and more.  She is honored to have organized events surrounding the arrival of two Ecumenical Patriarchs: His All Holiness Patriarch Demetrios of blessed memory and His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew.  Helen is a well-respected “ambassador of good will”, forming lasting friendships with world and religious leaders.

Helen has also served as Director of Development at the National Hellenic Museum and as His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael’s initial Chief of Staff at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.

She was born in Vorios Epirus and immigrated to the United Sates (Chicago, IL) with her parents Nick and Fotini and her brother Peter during the height of Greece’s civil war.

She was honored in 2009 by the Hellenic Bar Association with their Lifetime Service Award and also honored in 2013 by the Pan Epirotic Federation’s Daughters of Epirus for her devotion to her Hellenic and American heritages, as well as for her outstanding achievements in public affairs, Hellenic education and philanthropy.  Helen is now devoting much of her volunteer energy encouraging the emergence of a new generation of active Hellenes serving in advisory roles for the Hellenic American Leadership Council.

She lives in Northbrook, Illinois with her husband Stergios.  They are members of Saints Peter and Paul. 

George K Bovis, MD is a neurosurgeon practicing in Chicago for the last 23 years. He completed his college and medical school education at Northwestern University, his neurosurgery training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and his fellowship training in cerebrovascular and skull base at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr Bovis presently serves as the Vice Chairman of Neurosurgery at AMITA Health, the Medical Director of the Illinois Gamma Knife Center and AMITA Neuroscience Institute, and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Rush University Medical School. He is the author of 57 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and academic presentations. Dr Bovis is a very active member of the Greek American community both regionally and nationally. He was elected to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis Council of Chicago, sits on the Board of the National Hellenic Museum and serves as a medical advisor at the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation and the Greek American Rehabilitation Centre. Finally, both he and his wife Raffaella are Founding Members of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.

Stephanie Dremonas is a second-generation owner of the 17-store local grocery chain Pete’s Market and the real estate development company JD Real Estate. She has served her family-owned and operated business for over a decade, and during her tenure has effectively doubled the company. Bringing a female touch to a male dominated industry, Stephanie utilized both hard and soft skills to morph Pete’s from a mom and pop shop to a sustainable enterprise, now equipped for future growth and development.

While Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Double Major in Finance and Real Estate) from Marquette University, most of her relevant schooling came from being selftaught on the job, working and learning every department from the bottom up. She is affectionately referred to as “Junior” at the company, because she has adopted the relentless work ethic of her immigrant father and founder. Stephanie is best known for being in “vest mode” pretty much always, which includes her sneakers, black pants, Pete’s vest with a pen clipped on the zipper, and, of course, her winning attitude.

Stephanie is the middle child of 5 siblings in a Greek household, so she’s a natural mediator, and is also the mother of 1.5 year-old Stella, so, is now also a multi-tasker.

Owen Field is a retired attorney. During his career with the State of Illinois, he served as an Assistant Attorney General representing public welfare agencies in complex state and federal litigation, General Counsel of the Department of Mental Health and Development Disabilities, and General Counsel of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HCFS), focusing in both agencies on Medicaid policy. He has taught film appreciation classes through the Chicago City Colleges for the past eleven years.

Owen, raised in the Baptist church, came to the Orthodox faith and was chrismated in 1998. He and his spouse of 39 years, Myra Karegianes, have been stewards at Saint George (Chicago) since 2014. They have co-chaired the Stewardship Committee there since then. He is currently vice president of the Parish Council, having previously served as recording secretary. Owen also is currently a member of the Metropolis Council. He is on the Metropolis’ Strengthen Stewardship Now & Forever team that developed the Stewardship component of the Metropolis Strategic Plan and that hosts monthly Metropolis-wide stewardship meetings. Prior to being stewards at Saint George, Owen and Myra were stewards at Saint Basil (Chicago). Owen served on the Parish Council, was president (2002-05) and vice president (2006-09), and on the Stewardship Committee (2003-11). Owen also served on the interim Parish Council at Holy Trinity (Schiller Park) and as chair of the Stewardship Committee in 2019-21.

Owen and Myra have two daughters and three granddaughters.

My name is Doug Hugdahl. I was born and raised in Rockford, IL. I was baptized and brought to Christ through the Lutheran faith. I met my wife Connie (Gekas) on September 25, 1998. We have been married for 24 fantastic years. We have two beautiful children, Johnny and Lexi. I converted to Orthodoxy through Father Jim Gordon. I have been honored to be an active member of The Ascension of Our Lord parish in Lincolnshire. I am very proud of our church home currently being led by Father Sotiri. We are truly blessed. I am a small business owner in Vernon Hills. We started LightSource Unlimited in 1999 and is has been going strong ever since providing energy efficient lighting to businesses around the United States. I thank God every day for the opportunities he brings me and the mercy he has shown me over my entire life.

We are all very blessed to have such a loving Father!

Diakonissa Dr. Alexandria Kalina has been a member of the Metropolis Council (MC) since 2021. She has served on the Metropolis’ Strengthen Stewardship Now and Forever Committee for over three years, helping to form best practices for Stewardship, aiding parishes around the Metropolis to become independent of outside sources of income, and help increase engagement and vibrancy of their communities. On the MC, she has also worked to increase engagement of parishioners across the Metropolis with one another, and recently co-chaired a Metropolis wide virtual discussion of the book For the Life of the World.

Dr. Alexandria is a member of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis, where she serves as co-chair of Stewardship, and is a Church School teacher for 11th and 12th grade. She was raised in NYC and Boston, received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College, her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and did her pediatric residency at the Mayo Clinic. She is currently in a pediatric practice in rural Minnesota with a large mental health component and is a panelist at the 2023 Chicago CLA in a session dedicated to Adolescent Mental Health.

Dr. Alexandria and her husband Fr. Deacon Dr. Paul have three children: Andrew, a graduate of Holy Cross Seminary and current ophthalmology resident at KU, Maria, an MBA graduate who resides in Atlanta and works for Delta, and Stephen, a recent MDiv graduate from Holy Cross and first-year medical student at George Washington University.

Presvytera Evangelia March grew up in Cyprus. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and, while working in the public schools, she discovered her eagerness to support students with disabilities in their learning. A Fulbright Scholarship, in 1998, allowed her to complete a Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Virginia. She continued her studies at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received her Ph.D. in Special Education. Over the course of her graduate studies, she received multiple honors and scholarships, including the Makarios Scholarship/Lappas Award, the Hellenic Link-Midwest Scholarship for Excellence, multiple William Chandler Bagley Scholarships, the European Union Center at UIUC Travel Grant, the Gerald H. Read Laureate Scholarship, multiple Educational Grants from the A.G. Leventis Foundation (France), and the Illinois International Graduate Achievement Award.

In 2004, she accompanied her husband, Fr. Nichalas March, to Holy Cross School of Theology, where she studied Byzantine Music. In 2009, they returned to Cyprus and she resumed her career in public education. While in Cyprus, they welcomed their four children and they travelled extensively to Orthodox sites in the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Romania and Turkey.

She has over 25 years of accumulated experience as an educator: a public school teacher, a Sunday school director/teacher, an adult book-study leader, a camp counselor, a Greek-language teacher and a vacationchurch-school director. She continues to practice Byzantine music and she offers her talents to her parish, her family and to anyone who might participate in the programs she organizes.

She currently lives in Mason City IA, where she and her husband serve the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

Yanni Sianis is the Chief of Staff of Calamos Investments. Prior to his current 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. He joined the firm in 2010 as a Wealth Adviser with Calamos Wealth Management. 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 second 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.

George co-manages ACG and oversees its Institutional business. As a Senior Managing Director, he helps to set the strategic direction of the firm. George is a member of ACG’s Investment Committee, which is comprised of senior members of the organization and whose primary task is to ensure continuity and consistency in its investment recommendations to clients. George works with a broad array of client relationships and brings value to clients through his strategic advisory, portfolio modeling and evaluation, and ongoing education. Prior to joining ACG in 1996, George was a Vice President for Gershman Investment Corp. in St. Louis. He brings a background in finance and real estate and earned his finance degree from the University of Colorado. George is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of St. Louis and the CFA Institute.

Outside of the firm, George is a member of the City of Town & Country Ways & Means Commission and a Board member of the Burridge Center for Finance at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado. George also serves on the Grant Committee of Social Venture Partners in St. Louis, which provides financial and hands-on resources to nonprofit organizations that provide educational programs for disadvantaged youth. George is a lifelong active member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis.

Dr. Dean Tortorelis is a private practice Urologist and partner of Minnesota Urology. He is a Board Certified Urologist and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a managing partner and a board member of the practice. He also has leadership roles as surgery section chief at North Memorial Health, and as a board member at the Allina Surgery Center.

Notwithstanding his busy practice, Dr. Tortorelis lives his Orthodox faith as a dedicated Greek Orthodox Christian and is engaged in parish life and sacraments. He has been involved in many activities of parish life including parish board vice president, Church School teacher, GOYA basketball coach, and helping to plan and implement church school activities. Dr. Tortorelis has made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos and has visited many monasteries in Greece, often ministering to the health care and needs of the monks. Dr. Tortorelis has led discussions on Men’s Health to men of his parish and provides information and care to clergy and laity who call on him throughout the Metropolis and Archdiocese.

Joan Tolios Berg is a partner with Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg LLC, where she is the Transaction Department Chair. Her practice is focused upon commercial real estate, lending and corporate matters. She and her family are stewards of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester, Illinois, where she remains active with the choir. Joan is a member of the peer-reviewed network, Leading Lawyers, and is actively involved with the boards of directors of other philanthropic organizations.

Georgia Loukas Demeros is a legal advisor to the Metropolis Council. She is a partner at the law firm of Thompson Coburn LLP. Georgia advises multigenerational families on wealth transfer and business succession planning and serves as personal general counsel to closely held businesses, business leaders and other individuals. She is the First Vice-President of the Hellenic Bar Association, a founding member of Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and serves as a board member for other nonprofit organizations. Georgia holds a BBA in Accounting from Loyola University of Chicago, a JD and LLM in Taxation from Chicago-Kent College of Law and is a certified public accountant. Georgia and her family are stewards at Holy Taxiarhai and Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church and St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.

Harry J. Secaras serves as legal counsel to the Metropolis and the Metropolis Council. He is a Shareholder of the law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. concentrating in traditional labor and employment law. Mr. Secaras has more than 30 years’ experience advising, counseling and representing employers in collective bargaining, arbitration and personnel matters and in claims brought before federal and state agencies and in federal and state courts. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer for more than 10 years. He is a Past President of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois and has served on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation. He has served on the Parish Councils of the Three Hierarchs Church in Champaign, Illinois and the St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church is Palatine, Illinois. He holds BA, MBA and JD degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he was a founding member of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Fellowship. He, his wife Maria, and their three children reside in Wilmette, Illinois and are stewards of St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago.

Gus Harris is a Resident Auditor (RA) for the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) managing an office of 32 personnel responsible for auditing a major defense company located in St. Louis, MO. Gus’ professional goals include taking on new tasks that will help him grow personally and professional in mentoring and managing people and inspiring others to take on new challenges no matter how difficult to help become better auditors and leaders. Gus is a licensed CPA in Missouri and has over 35 years of auditing of performing contract audits in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). Gus was also the Treasurer for the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Town and Country, MO and has experience in preparing church financial statements and federal/state payroll taxes, W2s and 941s using Quick Books Pro. Gus’ 35 years at DCAA include holding various roles such as auditor, technical specialist – financial capability/pensions, supervisory auditor, Sr Financial Liaison Assistant, Special Assistant and RA. Gus’ achievements and experiences including auditing companies from mom and pops to Fortune 500s across the US that include Boeing, General Dynamics, KBR, McDermott Int, Magellan Health, Cerberus Inv, Ball Aerospace, Enron, Afghan National Trust Fund, etc. saving the taxpayer money and supporting the warfighter. Gus holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and he also attended the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for the Greek language. In his spare time Gus enjoys going to church, reading history, particularly about the church, the lives of the saints, playing golf and swimming.

I am a lifelong member of Saint Peter & Paul parish in Glenview, Illinois. Professionally, I am a C.P.A., M.B.A., with 25+ years of Accounting experience, including Internal controls, accounting policies and procedures, cash management practices. Corporate Compliance Officer (5 years); with training in information security, data integrity, “arms-length” business transactions, as well as protocol in accepting gifts, cash, meals and other perks. An experienced C.P.A./M.B.A.

In my professional life, I have served as a Controller for 17 years, and Chief Financial Officer for 5 years. In that capacity, I have been the key contact for both Internal and External Audits for over 20 years.

My current and past service at my Home Church (SS. Peter & Paul) includes the following : Saints Peter & Paul Parish Council member, Council Assistant Treasurer, Council Treasurer, and Audit Committee Member.

I am intimately familiar with not-for-profit accounting and aided in our Churches transition to the Financial Reporting requirements of ASU 2016-14. Was also involved in our Payroll Protection Program Loan applications #1 and #2.

Fr. Dimitri Tobias is a Member of the IT/Operations Committee of the Metropolis Council. He is a priest of the Metropolis of Chicago for 7 years, serving the community of SS. Peter & Paul in Glenview, IL as an Associate Pastor; and the communities Holy Trinity in Sioux City, IA; and St. Basil in Chicago, IL as a Proistamenos. Prior to this, he has served in the Department of Internet Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Department of Registry for the Metropolis of Chicago, and the Pastoral Lay Assistant of St. Nectarios in Palatine, IL. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from Hellenic College and a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Dean Avdalas was born and raised in Sacramento, California and finishing his first term on the Metropolis Council serving as the First Vice President. In addition to serving on the Metropolis Council, he also is on the Archdiocesan Council and serves on the Finance Committee and Youth & Young Adult Ministries Committees. 

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Political Science from the University of California, Davis. Prior to moving to Chicago, he was a small business owner, managed various real estate investments and was involved with numerous political campaigns and organizations. In 2006, he moved to Chicago to pursue a new career opportunity in commercial banking. Most importantly, that is where he met his wife, Marina. Dean became involved with real estate and business lending which ultimately shaped his career. In 2014, he accepted a new challenge and was hired as a business lender at Byline Bank, a publicly traded Chicago-based bank specializing in business banking. 

During his years at Annunciation in Sacramento, Dean served on the Parish Council, coached youth basketball, supported various church and cultural organizations and served as an altar boy for fourteen years. In addition to Greek American organizations, Dean was an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at UC Davis, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Sacramento and represented Sacramento County as a Delegate at the 2004 National Presidential Convention. In Chicagoland, Dean is a board member for SomerCor, one of the largest SBA lenders in the Midwest. He’s a proud member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), AH EPA, a past board member of Neo Kyma Messinias and a strong supporter of various philanthropic organizations. He lives in Glenview, Illinois with his wife Marina and their three children: Ambri, Gia and Teddy. They are members of Saints Peter & Paul.

Tom is currently the Sr Vice President of Corporate Real Estate at U.S. Bank – a seasoned leader and accomplished asset management professional who creates a highly productive team of over 200 employees and delivers winning strategies to achieve cost effectiveness and growth.

With over 27 years of management experience, Tom has a broad scope of industry knowledge in the management of all aspects of leasing activities including contract negotiations, financial analysis, budget control, customer satisfaction and employee development.

Tom and his family are very active members of the Greek American community.

He currently is Co-Treasurer for the Chicago Metropolis Council, and the Parish Council President and Assistant Athletic Director for Holy Taxiarchai & Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Niles, Illinois. He lives in Morton Grove, Illinois with his wife Anastasia and their three children: Stavros, Alexandra, and Nikolas.