By Terry Poulos, special to the Hellenic News
NHL PICK: Morton Grove, IL native Nicholas Kempf is a goaltender for the University of Notre Dame hockey team. He was selected in the 4th round of the NHL draft by the Washington Capitals, who are owned by Ted Leonsis. Nicholas’ mother is Georgia Papanagiotou Kempft and his father is Mike Kempf.
BEARS STADIUM CONNECTIONS: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recently hired attorney Steve Argeris of the Washington, DC firm Weil to consult on a new stadium for the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Argeris has repped multiple pro sports teams and owners, including in the NFL, MLS and NWSL. Two northwest Indiana villages have put forth competing proposals to lure the Bears. The team itself owns the land that was home to Arlington International Racecourse, seen as the Bears’ primary goal. Two years ago, Arlington Heights school districts retained Ares Dalianis of Franczek PC to appeal property tax assessments for the land and provide an impact study. For many years, the president of the Bears was Ted Phillips, whose last act before retiring was overseeing the purchase of the Arlington property.
GREEK BRIDGE: Starting in late 2025 and continuing throughout 2026, ENOSIS (Federation of Hellenic American Organizations of Illinois) is hosting a series of town hall meetings at the Chateau Ritz in Niles, IL with the intention of putting talk to action and mobilizing to inspire youth to be involved with their ethnic peers. ENOSIS “serves to unite Hellenic American organizations and communities under a common banner,” reads its mission statement. Among other functions, it organizes the Greek Independence Day parade and Greek flag raising ceremony at the Daley Center. The first town hall was attended by many active participants in the local Hellenic community. The meeting was chaired by businessman George Revoliotis. Consulate General for Greece Emmanuel Koubarakis offered remarks. Others sharing thoughts were philanthropist Eleni Bousis, social media influencer Yianni Dimoulis (who discussed creation of a kind of Greek Google map for businesses and organizations), Chris Tsiolis of the Hellenic Professional Society of Illinois, the Greektown Education Foundation’s Louis Mossos, Hellenic Heartbeat radio/TV’s Vicky Kournetas and Costas Maritakis, Windy City Greek publisher Maria Karamitsos, omnipresent Greek community organizer Kostas Zografopoulos, famous photographer Diane Alexander White, school principle Marianthe Koritsaris, Perrie Veremis of the Hellenic American Women’s Council, recently retired Judge Anna Demacopoulos, and Kiki Whitehead, chair of the Hellenic Voters of America.
NEW MUSEUM EXHIBIT: The Hellenic Museum of Michigan in Detroit opens its “We Are Greek Warriors” exhibit on March 19, running through May 17. The theme: “The power of Heroines of 1821 lives in every woman.”
JUNE 20 SCHOLARSHIP GALA: The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation announced its annual awards ceremony and gala will be held June 20 at the Hilton Hotel & Towers. More than $250,000 in grants, and ongoing mentorship and networking, is provided annually to high-achieving Greek American students.
JULY 20 CUBS GREEK NIGHT: The Chicago Cubs are hosting Greek Heritage night July 20 at Wrigley Field. A commemorative jersey is being offered to select attendees, designed by artist Vasiliki Sposito and available with purchase of 15 tickets or more. Call 773.404.4236 or email [email protected].
TICKETS & WILLS: Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos in early February launched an e-ticket driver pilot program designed to expedite the clearing of cases. She is also leading an effort to get a bill passed that would allow court clerks to create a statewide depository for wills.
DL STREAMLINING: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias introduced a new digital IDs in Apple Wallet program, and expanded online services that alleviate visits to SOS offices for some functions.
NU MEDILL HOF: In 2025, Georgina Karas Flores was inducted into the Medill School of Graduate Journalism Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University. She’s currently Chief Marketing Officer at AAA Auto Club Group, former CMO of Encore, the world’s largest global meeting and events production company, and former VP of marketing at Aetna and Allstate.
FASHION/LIFESTYLE: Three local Greek American women are weaving quite a stitch in the fashion industry. Emmy-winning lifestyle radio/TV host and DIY/apparel re-purposing guru Jane Monzures Claus was selected to be this year’s spokesperson for the annual Home Inspired Show (March 10-12) at McCormick Place. Fashion and beauty strategist Suzanne Kopulos is founder at SLK Brands, and Connie Michalarias is marketing director for Fashion Group International.
STATE WRESTLING CHAMP: In February, Marmion Catholic team captain Demetrios Carrera won the state Class 3A wrestling title in the 144-pound weight class. His mother is Sophia Karountzos Carrera.
MAY 29 DEADLINE: Greek American Billy Kerstein (Kaulentis), president of National Solar Energy, helps not-for-profits benefit from solar tax credits offered by the State of Illinois with zero out-of-pocket costs. $14 million in credits are about to expire. He’s already partnered to help some local Greek churches.
- PANTON PASSES: Dr. Robert W. Panton, MD passed away in late February after a 10-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. He hails from a nationally recognized family of ophthalmologists. A Brown University grad, Dr. Panton interned at Johns Hopkins, the University of Chicago, and University of Illinois. In addition to the Panton Eye Care Center, he was on staff at Rush Oak Park, Gottlieb-Loyola, West Suburban Hospital, and Westlake Community, and was appointed by the governor to assist with the state’s pandemic strategies.
MORE: Marketing and media expert Tina Manikas, a former top executive with blue-chip firm Draft FCB, in February was appointed chief engagement officer at Rate Companies…Angeliki Minor, director of business development at software firm IFS.ai, recently took on client Cadillac Formula One racing…Mike Poulos is now vice chair and global head of strategy at Dechert Law.
Until next…
Terry Poulos is a writer and publisher of TheSportsIndex.com who also chronicles Greek America. He’s co-founder of Chicago’s Greek Media Club and a member of the AHEPA Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee
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