July 18, 2024

AHEPA Senior Living Hosts Successful Annual Meeting

Gulas Re-elected Board Chairman

$500,000 in Grants Announced

FISHERS, Ind.- AHEPA Senior Living held elections for board of directors’ officers and announced grant distributions totaling $500,000 at its annual meeting, July 10 and 11, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.

The AHEPA Senior Living Board of Directors unanimously reelected Attorney Ike Gulas, Birmingham, Ala., to a three year term as chairman. Gulas has served on ASL’s board for more than 25 years.

“The confidence bestowed on me by my fellow board members is humbling.  I consider myself fortunate to work with AHEPA Senior Living as it furthers its mission of providing dignified affordable senior housing and quality aging services to those who need it.” Gulas said. “Our board looks forward to working with President and CEO Steve Beck, and the executive team, to meet our mission and overcome any challenges that come our way.”

“Ike’s contributions as a board member for decades have been critical to our position in the affordable multifamily housing markets,” Beck said. “We look forward to working with Ike and the board of directors, who continue to show a high level of commitment energy, and passion for our mission.”

$500,000 in Grant Awards: Supporting Our Communities

The Board of Directors also was pleased to announce the distribution of $500,000 in grants to nonprofit charitable and service organizations.

“Congratulations to this year’s round of grantees,” Board Chairman Gulas said. “We are proud to support these worthy mission-driven organizations. It’s a privilege to be able to partake in charitable giving, both at the national and local level. In doing so, we enhance vital services and programs that support and strengthen our local communities and the greater society.”

Since 1996, AHEPA Senior Living has supported nonprofits to an amount that exceeds $10 million.

A Salute to Youth: Emerging Leaders Hosted

AHEPA Senior Living also hosted the Greek American community’s emerging leaders as two youth service organizations, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena, the Junior Orders of AHEPA, held their annual meetings.  AHEPA Senior Living presented each organization with a $10,000 grant toward each of their missions. An “Evening at the Nashville Parthenon” served as the perfect backdrop for a kick-off celebration of Greek culture with music, dancing, and food that set the stage for an unforgettable weekend.

“These young men and women are our future leaders and for us to be afforded the opportunity to host them is a pleasure.” Gulas said.  “We look forward to many of them joining us on our boards as they settle into their career paths.”

AHEPA Senior Living Podcast Launched

In addition, the company announced the launch of its video podcast, titled, “AHEPA Senior Living.”

According to Beck, the podcast will be a dynamic platform dedicated to highlighting the importance and impact of affordable independent senior living. The first episode features a conversation with Board Chairman Gulas, who shares his perspective about AHEPA Senior Living as well as his personal family’s history of community involvement.

Board Executive Officers

In addition to Gulas, all AHEPA Senior Living Board of Directors officers earned reelection. They are: Vice Chairman John Zourzoukis, Columbia, S.C.; Secretary Demetrios “Jimmy” Makris, New Port Richey, Fla.; and Treasurer Michael Pihakis, Bridgeville, Pa. Gulas also appointed board member, Attorney Christ Coumanis, Daphne, Ala., as counsel to the board.

Executive Committee Members

Nine members comprise the Executive Committee. They are: Konstantine “Gus” Angelo, Houston; Mark Bullock, Albuquerque, N.M.; Christ Coumanis, Daphne, Ala.; Dr. John Grossomanides, Westerly, R.I.; Angelo Kostarides, Indianapolis, Ind.; John Miller, Nashville, Tenn.; George Nardone, Syracuse, N.Y.; Ellen Platis, Mobile, Ala.; and Charrie Regopoulos, Springsboro, Ohio.

Terry Mitchell, of Niantic, Conn., and a pioneer of AHEPA’s national housing program, is an Honorary Executive Board Member.

The Board of Directors is comprised of 38 members, each one representing one or more of the 87 affordable senior housing communities administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program.

Meet Ike Gulas

Gulas is an attorney with Morgan & Morgan, America’s largest injury law firm. A 1989 graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Gulas has been practicing law for 30 plus years. He is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Southern Trial Lawyer Association, the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the National Trial Lawyers Association where he has been selected as one of the top 100 lawyers in Alabama. In 1998, Gulas founded The Ike Gulas Law Firm, P.C., for which over its 20 years in existence he represented thousands of clients who suffered injuries caused by pharmaceuticals and defective medical devices. As a 40-plus-year member in AHEPA he distinguished himself by serving two terms as its National President representing its 500-plus chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

When asked about his service to AHEPA Senior Living, a non-profit corporation, Gulas cited one of his father’s memorable teachings about always giving back.

“I have been involved in AHEPA Senior Living’s mission since developing the 72-unit HUD Senior Apartment complex in Hoover, Alabama, 27 years ago.  As I witnessed my own father’s aging and the issues faced by our seniors it made my resolve even greater to work to provide solutions to our seniors.  I am honored to serve such a worthwhile cause.”

About AHEPA Senior Living

Serving more than 5,000 older adults across the United States, AHEPA Senior Living is a mission-driven, nationwide provider of affordable multifamily independent and assisted senior living communities. Since 1980, it has developed and managed more than 90 affordable independent senior living communities in 21 states administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program.

Through its subsidiaries, AHEPA Senior Living owns and manages four affordable assisted living communities under the Hellenic Senior Living brand totaling 532 units in Indiana.

AHEPA Senior Living’s mission is to provide older adults with safe, healthy, and enriching affordable residential communities and quality services that allow them to thrive and enjoy peace of mind.

AHEPA Senior Living is based in Fishers, Ind.

# # #