Old Bridge, NJ – June 25, 2025
The heart of Hellenic entrepreneurship beat strongly at the 34th Hermes Expo Business Conference, a cornerstone session of this year’s Expo, held at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, New Jersey. From noon to 2:00 PM, dozens of professionals and stakeholders gathered for a packed forum of ideas, collaboration, and innovation — bridging not only business sectors but also continents.
The session opened with a warm welcome to “honorable guests, ladies and gentlemen,” and reflected on the legacy of the Expo.
“For over three decades, the Hermes Expo has served as a meeting point for people who care deeply about Hellenism, about entrepreneurship, and about building something greater together,” the host noted.
Hellenism Meets Innovation
The conference emphasized Hermes Expo’s evolving identity — not merely as a networking platform but as a cultural and economic bridge.
“It’s a bridge bringing together business, culture, and community from across the Greek-American and Philhellenic world,” one speaker said early in the session.
A key highlight was the formal recognition of HELEXPO Thessaloniki, Greece’s largest exhibition organization, which joined this year’s conference in force.
“Earlier this year, we signed a memorandum of cooperation,” it was announced, “which opens the door to meaningful collaboration between Greece and the United States of America.”
The 13th Hermes Expo Trade Mission to Greece was also announced — scheduled for September 6 to 18, 2025 — an opportunity to deepen U.S.-Greece business ties through site visits, B2B meetings, and direct engagement with Greek industries.
Notable Presentations and Insights
While Ambassador George J. Tsunis was originally announced as a keynote speaker, he was ultimately unable to attend. The conference continued with impactful addresses from other notable figures.
🇺🇸 Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO of IFMA
A passionate voice in the food and franchise industry, Kafarakis addressed the significance of cross-Atlantic cooperation and the entrepreneurial spirit.
“We are proud to represent food innovation in America — and the ties to Greek entrepreneurship have never been stronger,” he said.
He also emphasized that Hermes Expo has become a true business platform.
“We are not just talking about products anymore. We are talking about services. About law. About finance. About human capital,” he explained.
🇬🇷 Dr. Kyriakos Pozrikidis, Managing Director, TIF – HELEXPO
Speaking on behalf of Greece’s exhibition powerhouse, Dr. Pozrikidis highlighted the Expo’s role in connecting economies.
“Greece today is a gateway — not just to Europe, but to a thriving region of growth, innovation, and collaboration,” he said.
He pointed to sectors such as tourism, agri-food, green energy, and digital transformation as ripe for joint investment.
🇺🇸 Michael Bolos, CEO of Thunderbird LLC
Bringing a U.S.-based business perspective, Bolos encouraged attendees to look beyond metrics.
“Let us think of success not only as profit,” he said, “but as building lasting relationships between our communities and economies.”
Bolos also stressed the importance of young Greek-American professionals:
“If we don’t activate the next generation, we lose the bridge,” he said poignantly.
⸻
A Platform of Growth and Connection
Throughout the 2-hour session, themes of transatlantic cooperation, diaspora mobilization, and strategic economic diplomacy echoed clearly.
Panel discussions focused on:
• Doing Business in the USA and Greece
• Franchise and Innovation Opportunities
• Trade & Investment Collaboration
• Greece as a Business Gateway to Southeastern Europe and the Middle East
As one speaker concluded:
“This is about more than business. It’s about impact. It’s about identity.”
The session wrapped with energetic applause and anticipation for the evening’s events — including the Grand Opening, Expo Showcase, Cocktail Reception, and Awards Dinner.
⸻
📍 For more details on the Hermes Expo and the upcoming Trade Mission to Greece (Sept 6–18, 2025), visit www.hermesexpo.com
🎥 Videography & Editing: Grammaticus Macedon
