Annunciation Day School Board Members
Dr. Nickitas J. Demos, ADS School Board Chair
Nickitas Demos holds a DMA in Composition from the Cleveland Institute of Music & Case Western University. He also holds a MM Degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and a BM degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A noted composer, his commissions include works for the Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Georgia Music Teachers Association and the National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including a MacDowell Fellowship (2012), Grand Prize: 2004 Millennium Arts International Competition for Composers, Grand Prize: 2005 Holyoke Civic Symphony Composition Competition and 17 ASCAP Awards among others. His music is self-published through Sylvan Lake Press (ASCAP) and recorded on Albany Records, MSR Classics and Capstone Records. Professor of Music Composition and Coordinator of Composition Studies at the Georgia State University School of Music, Demos is the Artistic Director of the neoPhonia New Music Ensemble and serves on the Board of Directors for the MacDowell Arts Colony. He also served as the President of the Parish Council at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA. For more information: http://nickitasdemos.com.
Irene Fotos, Parish Council 1st Vice-President Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, ADS School Board Vice-Chair
Irene Fotos has been a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA since moving from New York with her husband and family. She attended Mohawk Valley Community College and Georgia Perimeter College taking business classes. She was also active in her husband’s business assisting in the management of 12 McDonald Restaurants while living in upstate New York. Ms. Fotos has been active in her church community since moving to Atlanta. She is a member of the Philoptochos Society, served as a co-chairman for the Atlanta Greek Festival, and has served on the Parish Council in many different officer positions including President for 5 year as well as Chair of the Annunciation Day School Board. Ms. Fotos has previously served as National Secretary of the Pan Epirotic Federation and District Governor for the Daughters of Penelope for District 1.
Maria Chininis
Maria Chininis has been a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral since 1986. She earned her BS in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as an MS in Educational Leadership at Auburn University. Lastly, completing her Specialist in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia. She was an elementary teacher for many years and an elementary and high school administrator for over 25 years. Additionally, Maria was the Co-Director of Sunday School at the Cathedral for several years. She has also been a long standing ADS Board member intermittently through the years. Currently, Maria works as the Community Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Sports Medicine and Concussion Institute at Northside Hospital Duluth. Additionally, she serves on several local advisory councils and state advisory committees.
Scott Davenport
Scott Davenport is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he received his BA in Economics. He is a long standing member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral where he is a member of the parish council as well as teaching Sunday School for the 11th and 12th grade class. Scott spent 25 years in the music industry working for Island Def Jam, Geffen and Elektra Records where he worked with artist such as Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, The Eagles, Guns and Roses and Justin Bieber. He is now a commercial real estate broker with Cone Middour Partners.
Anthea V. Economy
Anthea V. Economy is an Atlanta native and lifelong member of the Annunciation Cathedral. She has both her BA and MA from The University of Georgia, where she taught for two years during graduate school. She was then hired by The Westminster Schools in 1997 and has served in a number of different capacities ever since: middle and upper school Spanish teacher, Cross Country coach, middle school administrator, and, for the past eleven years, full-time college counselor. She is a member of numerous professional organizations in her field and sits on multiple college advisory boards across the country. An avid runner, Anthea has completed nine marathons and enjoys exercising and traveling in her free time.
Voula Giannakopoulos, Parish Council President Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta, GA
Voula Giannakopoulos was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is lifelong member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Voula is a graduate of Georgia State University where she studied early childhood education and later changing her major to Business Administration focusing on marketing. An active member of the community, she taught Sunday School for many years, served on many committees included the ADS annual GALA, is a past President of the Philoptochos Society (philanthropic organization) and is currently the Parish Council President. Voula works in the plastics and foam manufacturing industry covering the Midwest, Southeast and East Canada territories.
Suzy Lamas
Suzy Lamas is a graduate of Georgia State University, with a BS and MS degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a retired certified teacher with 30 years of experience teaching in Gwinnett and DeKalb County schools. She was named Smoke Rise Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009. Since her retirement, she has worked as a data collector for the Woodruff’s Arts for Learning Program, a part time teacher for students at risk in Atlanta Public Schools and City of Decatur Schools, and as a private tutor. She is a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a board member of the Philoptochos Society, and a former assistant teacher in the Sunday Catechetical School.
Christina Polizos
Christina Polizos is an Atlanta native and a lifelong member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She is a graduate of Georgia State University where she received both her BM degree and MM degree. She began her 26- year teaching career as Choral Director at Dunwoody High School in Dekalb County, and later was an elementary school music teacher in Gwinnett County. Christina was named Beaver Ridge Teacher of the Year in 2003. During her professional career, she held memberships in The American Choral Directors Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Orff-Schulwerk Association, The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Choirs and Musicians, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Christina served as Choir Director of the Cathedral Choir, a position she held for 30 years. She also directed the Cathedral Youth Choir for many years during that time. In addition to her service on the ADS Board, she currently serves on the St. Photini Outreach Ministry where she oversees visitations and outreach for the shut-ins/homebound of the parish. She is an active member of the Cathedral Choir, Philoptochos Society and of the Daughters of Penelope.
Dimitri Shreckengost
Dimitri Shreckengost is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (BS Business Administration, minor: Spanish) and of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (MTS, minor: Greek language studies) and is a product of public and private primary schools. He was a high-school, summer exchange student in Venezuela, and lived in 2 Kenyan villages with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center’s global mission teams, building both a church and a parochial school. Mr. Shreckengost has worked in the banking, airline, telecom and beverage industries, and now works in government, at a regulatory body that helps protect consumers. Mr. Shreckengost is a long-standing member of the Alif Institute, Atlanta’s Arab American cultural center, where he moderates discussions on films from and about the Arabic-speaking world and participates in cross-cultural events.
Ex Officio Members:
Rev. Fr. Paul A. Kaplanis, Dean, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta, GA
Fr. Paul Kaplanis, son of Anthony, (fallen asleep in the Lord) and Nitsa Kaplanis was born in Danbury, Connecticut is the youngest of three brothers.
He graduated from Western Connecticut State University in 1979, with a B.S. Degree in Social Science and History. In September 1979, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
On June 27, 1982, Father and Presbytera Evi (Spiliopoulou) Kaplanis were married at the Dormition Greek Orthodox Church in Danbury. In 1983, he graduated with his Master's of Divinity Degree and upon receiving the Taylor Scholarship, enrolled in the Master's Program at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
After one year, he returned to the U.S and was ordained by His Grace Bishop Philip to the Holy Diaconate at his hometown parish on October 28, 1984 and to the Holy Priesthood on November 11, 1984 at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Clifton, NJ. He was assigned to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church as Assistant Priest, where he served for 7 1/2 years under Fr. George Nicozisin. On August 2, 1992, he was assigned by His Grace Bishop Philip of Atlanta to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC where he served for over 18 years. In February of 1993, His Grace Bishop Philip, elevated him to the Offikia (offices) of father confessor and stavroforos. On September 15, 2002, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta elevated him to the Offikion (office) of Protopresbyter and on December 20, 2010, he was assigned as the Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, GA. On January 18, 2014, Metropolitan Alexios bestowed upon him the Offikion (office) of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Over the years, Father served on the Youth Committee of the Metropolis. He held the offices of secretary (2000-2008), Vice President (2018-2022) and he is currently the President (2022…) of the Archdiocese Presbyter's Council.
He also served as the only priest representative for Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on the Charter Revision Committee (2001-02). Recently he was appointed by the Eparchial Synod to the mixed commission for the establishment of a New Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
He served as the Spiritual Advisor for the Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos from 2011-2014. Presently he is a member of the Archdiocese Council and also served from 2012-14. He has also served as the spiritual advisor for the Metropolis Family Life ministry program, a member of the Metropolis Strategic plan Committee, President of the Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Syndesmos (2016-2021). In 2022, he was appointed by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios as Vicar for the Central Conference. Fr. Paul also serves on the school Board for Hellenic College/Holy Cross.
Father’s hobbies include, playing and/or watching sports, old movies and reading.
Father and Presbytera Evi have three children, Michael, Katerina and Christina and five grandchildren, Vivi, Maximos, Eirianna, Emilia and Evie.
Rev. Fr. Christos P. Mars, Protopresbyter, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Atlanta, GA
Fr. Christos Mars was born and raised in Palos Hills, Illinois a suburb of Chicago. He grew up in the Community of S.S. Constantine and Helen under the spiritual and priestly guidance of Fr. Byron Papanikolaou of blessed memory.
Upon completion of High School, Fr. Christos attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned his Bachelor’s degree in English. Fr. Christos then attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he earned his Master’s of Divinity in 2006. From 2006-2007, Fr. Christos completed his coursework for his Master’s of Theology, with a specialty in liturgics.
While studying at the Seminary, Fr. Christos met and married Presbytera Marilisse, who is from Athens, Georgia, and was completing her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at Hellenic College. They married on the feast day of St. Phanourios, August 27, 2006 in the chapel of the Holy Cross there on campus in Brookline.
Fr. Christos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on May 21, 2007 at his home parish of S.S. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, Illinois, and thirty three days later, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, again at his home parish on the feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 2007.
Before coming to the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Fr. Christos served the parish of the Annunciation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Fr. Christos was given the Offikion (office) of Father Confessor by His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS on November 14, 2010. Following that, he was given the Offikion (office) of Sakellarios by His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS on November 10, 2013. His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS also bestowed the Offikion (office) of Typikaris of the Metropolis of Atlanta to Fr. Christos on December 25, 2021, and finally His Eminence Metropolitan ALEXIOS bestowed the Offikion (Office) of Protopresbyter on November 13, 2022. Fr. Christos is the Vice-President of the Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Syndesmos as well as the President of the Atlanta Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood. He was a member of the Archdiocese National Coordinating Committee for the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence. He was a member of the Metropolis Council and currently chairs the Acolyte Training Committee and the Program for Continuing Education for Permanent Deacons as well as the Liturgical Text Committee for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta. He also serves as liturgical chair for many Metropolis youth events.
Fr. Christos and Presbytera Marilisse love to spend time with their one son, John. They also enjoy time with other family, friends and their two dogs, Duke and Mor’du.