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~Kostas Kalogeropoulos joined Meyer Jabara Hotels in 1977. He has played an integral role in the Company's growth by serving first as a General Manager, later Vice President of Operations and is currently Executive Vice President of Development. Over the years, Kostas has been instrumental in coaching and developing a great many people within the Meyer Jabara organization. Many of those he mentored are now general managers. Kostas' present efforts are focused on new development, asset management and franchisor relations. He is active in promoting the company's achievements and unique Journey Culture through speaking engagements in hospitality and community affiliations.Kostas, who is fluent in five languages, was born and educated in Greece where his hospitality interest was ignited working for his family’s hotel business. Kostas' hospitality career spans over 30 years, originating in Europe with Hilton International where he held diverse positions in various European cities. There he developed his expertise in setting strategic directions, accomplishing long-range business goals, energizing work teams and achieving high levels of service. Kostas makes his home in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. He is active in many organizations including Lehigh University, as a visiting lecturer and graduate student mentor; Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau; Sertoma Club; Lehigh County Community Foundations; Lehigh Valley Coalition Against Addiction; Korean - Vietnam Pro Monument Association.In 1984, Kostas founded Dream Come True, an organization that grants wishes to seriously, chronically and terminally ill children in the Lehigh Valley area. Since then, additional chapters have been opened in Connecticut and Maryland. In 1986 he founded Camelot for Children, the first house in Pennsylvania to serve chronically and terminally ill children, providing them with a warm, fun, and safe environment to honor life. For the children’s' parents, Camelot provides evening group discussions where they are given spiritual and medical support.Kostas has many philanthropic and community accomplishments, including the Spirit of the Lehigh Valley Christmas Eve Dinner for the less fortunate, serving and giving Christmas gifts to nearly 5,000 people since 1989. Kostas was awarded The Sertoma Club 1991 Service to Mankind Man of the Year Award, the 1991 Aristotelian Award as the Outstanding Hellene by the Order of AHEPA, succeeding such notables as former Presidential advisor, George Stephanapolous, former ITT CEO, John Kapioltas and San Diego Charger's owner, Alex Spanos. In 1994 Kostas received the Morning Call Community Spirit Award. In 1997 he was granted the SME Distinguished Citizen Award. And in 2000 he received the Lehigh Valley Philanthropic Person of the Century and the Arthritis Foundation Community Leader of the Year.Kostas has also been actively involved in a number of industry associations and other organizations, serving on the Advisory Board for the Hospitality Industry for Northampton County Community College, the Board of Directors of the Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, ITT Sheraton Mid-Atlantic Region Council Chairman, United States Congressional Advisor for Tourism, Archdioceses of North American Councilman for the Greek Orthodox Church, Board of Directors of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Associate Board Member of PNC Bank. | 