Dear Chris & all

Am very happy to be here with you all and want to congratulate you for all that you offer to us free of charge.

I remember when I first connected at LinkedIn with Christian Mayaud and was sure that he is a fine networker.

My knowledge and experience of mass media communications is vast and for years now I have a keen interest in learning more and more of this endless world of internet and try to transform this knowledge into society through my various business & professional tasks.

During the past few months I also follow closely LinkedIn Lions as a member of linkedin network and as an open networker.

My base is Greece where I was born. My ancestors were economic immigrants in America since 1861 and that is why I have more than 3000 relatives in the U.S. alone. My grandfather came back to Greece in 1918. Ever since, this segment of the family lives in Athens.

I am now almost 43 years old and have studies film & television, mass media communications, marketing & advertising, sociology and some business management.

Worked in almost all fields of mass media, be it film production, print media, television, radio etc.

Became known as a war cameraman & news producer in all war zones during 90s.

During the past 8 years worked in most large advertising groups as a campaign strategist & communicator for some of the most known products globally.

Today I usually work directly with governments or with strong mass media groups & advertising groups for large-scale issues that require an extra touch.

Also am into travel & leisure business and my companies offer such services worldwide through a top global tour operator, however since Greece is a well known holiday destination and also my country, I do maintain a strong presence in the tourism industry here and offer complete travel services to individuals as well as to travel agencies from all over.

Our coalition of companies rank among the three top in Greece, handling more than one million direct clients per year, while our global partner ranks among the 2 top in the world of travel.

I really love tourism business because this brings cultures closer and makes people feel better from the every day struggle.

Needless to mention our yacht charter business that is second to none thanks to our alliance and our firm policy to treat each individual visitor in Greece as a memeber of our family.

I guess that many of you dear fellow lions & networkers know little about Greece. Well, I don't blame you for that. Greece is little too!

There is one only industry that a country smaller than Texas, is a leader all over the world: SHIPPING.

Greeks control (own) almost 20% of the worlds commercial fleet. This is our real power and not Parthenon & Acropolis, nor Plato and nor kebads and restaurants ))

So through this leadership we manage and survive in this global financial & political jungle.

Tourism also, in a local level, is big: Accounts for 20% of Greece's gross domestic product, say one billion euros per month.

Greeks are warm people and like Armenians, Jewish, Chinese & Persians (to name just a few oldies) have a vast genetic experience in dealing with unknown people... Usually it works in the favor of global culture, but at some other instances, it works against.

Concluding my 'marathon' introduction here, I want to declare that I am an open networker, a businessman too, and an ordinary person, which I value most.

I will always respond to people who approach me with a good reason. Also, anyone of you who would like to make some extra cash through travel business, I am also open to hear and see such interests and help with my systems.

I will be very strict with time wasters and people who do not respect others.

Best regards to all and for once again a big thank you to Chris,

George