CLASS OF 2002 - "HAS IT BEEN 5 YEARS ALREADY?"

March 1, 2007

Hard to believe it’s been almost 5 years since graduation…At least that’s what most of you told us.   Here is what some of the ’02 graduates are up to nowadays…

“…After graduating in 2002, I started the ACT MBA program from which I graduated in 2004. Right now, I am working at CITROEN FESSAS, a car dealership.
In 2003, I was working as a secretary in a company in the Industrial Area of Thessaloniki. Around the same time, ACT organized the first annual automobile conference, where I participated and successfully networked with managers from the car industry. I had always dreamed of working in a car dealership company. I quickly got a job at HYUNDAI and then, a year later, in KIA AUTOPOINT. My biggest passion was working in sales.
Since October 2006, I have been working at CITROEN FESSAS. My time is divided between administrative, accounting and sales tasks. I enjoy finding ways to utilize my knowledge and believe that I am a person open to challenges…”

LJUBICA ATANASOVA

“For the past 5 years, my focus has been on career advancement. As of October 2002, I have been working at INTRACOM Ltd. Skopje - an affiliate of INTRACOM Telecom and, for the past few years, I have managed to prove my capabilities as a hard-working individual and have been promoted a few times. During 2005, I was relocated to INTRACOM Bulgaria for a short time in order to help the company with its internal working procedures and processes and, as of my return from Bulgaria, I am supervising the procurement section of the company and am coordinating and following all purchases made (from the moment a purchase request is initiated until the moment it has been finalized i.e. the purchased goods/services have been delivered to the originator of the purchase request). However, I am involved in many other undertakings of the company related to marketing & sales, cost follow up, PR, etc.

In the meantime, I am working on my MBA studies (i.e. I have finished with the courses and exams and I am currently working on my consultancy project), which have been supported financially by INTRACOM. I enrolled in the program of the University of New York in Skopje and Institut Universitaire Kurt Bösch, Master of Business Admninistration in Marketing, and my anticipated graduation date is June, 2007.

Additionally, I have managed to attend various courses, seminars and exhibitions and have been involved in different projects that have helped me to grow professionally and personally…”

KIKI AVRAMIDOU

"...After I left ACT, I completed a one-year MA in European Studies in KU LEUVEN in Belgium. After that, I worked for 3 months as an English teacher at ISON language schools and as of January 2004 I'm working at Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) as a member of the HR and Training team. I'm still single and I keep in touch with Elisavet Penteridou and Eleftheria Votsari from my old fellow students..."

MARIA DOULGERI 

“…My brother and I run the family business which involves the service of medical machines. Concerning my personal life, during Christmas I got engaged and I am preparing for the wedding.  During the last 5 years many changes have happened in my life, positive and negative.  The point is to continue, no matter what.  My best wishes to all alumni…”

MARIA GIANNOPOULOU

“…I’m working for the “Periferia Kentrikis Makedonias” (Region of Central Macedonia) in the department in charge of residence permits for foreigners. I do a lot of travelling and try to enjoy life as much as possible!...”

ALEXANDRA KANELLIS

“… I graduated from ACT in the year of 2002, which was also the year my daughter was born.  A year later my husband, daughter and I moved to the United States where I completed my masters in Special Education.  At the time of my graduation, I was offered an academic scholarship to remain in school and pursue my Doctorate in Special Education which I gratefully accepted.  During my studies, I taught Special Education courses at Indiana State University and also taught at the elementary and high school levels.  My son was born in 2005, a big surprise to all of us, but I continued with my coursework.  In May of 2006, I was offered an assistant professor’s teaching position at Saint Mary of the Woods College, a private college similar to ACT, where I have been teaching for the past year and a half.  I truly look forward to returning to Greece sometime soon and raising my children in the Greek culture.  I am very hands on with my children so I try to devote my spare time to my children and to research related to children (not necessarily my own).  I have pretty much been studying, working and raising children non-stop for the past 5 years.   Still, they have been a few of the most remarkable years of my life since I have grown both personally and professionally…”  

BORJAN KOLEMISEVSKI

“…I'm currently in Skopje, still not married, and working my guts out at Fersped A.D. - Skopje. I'm the chief of the Marketing Unit of "Fersped Group" which owns 5 hotels in our country, 2 casinos, the Macedonian Lottery, the winery "Skovin" and, of course, Freight Forwarding which is our core business since 1968. I've been employed here for 4 years now. Overall,  I'm pretty satisfied with my current position which explains the reason why I haven't changed my job ever since I got  this one!
In 2004-2005, I got a scholarship here in Skopje through the "Liaison Office of the Greek Republic" and my company "Fersped A.D." for studies at the ICBS Business School which is also located in Thessaloniki. Now, I'm back in Skopje and my life goes on here…”

KIKI PAGONIDOU

“In October of 2002, I started working for a company in Sindos called Agroline ABEE dealing with agricultural machines and spare parts. I was in the accounting department and my job was to contact the external suppliers from Europe and arrange the orders, supplies etc. In May 2005, I moved to Orestiada and I quit my job. In Orestiada, I worked in an office dealing with economic projects from small enterpreneuriships as an administrative assistant. At the same time, I began to teach English at a foreign language school (from Sept 2005 till now).

Also, in the summer, I started working at an institution that provides services to people with mental illnesses. I work in the accounting department. The institution’s name is "Psixaspis". Also, I am a member of an NGO called "Egnoia" and last summer we "ran" a project with Turkey and we provided humanitarian help (household appliances) to people who suffered from the floods last winter. I got married last year but I don't have children yet.”

ANNY PANIDOU

"...I would like to share the most important thing that happened to me in the past 5 years since graduation: I got engaged with one of our classmates - Konstantinos Papadopoulos! Our life is great!
Since 2003, I've been working in Millennium Bank and I'm very satisfied with the job. The knowledge that I gained at ACT is has helped me become successful in my work. I hope to become Branch Manager some time over the next 10 years (may sound like a long period of time but it's one of my dreams!)..."

IOANNA PAPANIKOLAOU

“…These 5 years I have managed to finish my Master in International Business and Management degree in the UK. It was a unique experience for me with wonderful memories. At this moment, I work in Komotini in a European Program in cooperation with Athens University. I am responsible for all the administration issues. The program has to do with the education of the Muslim minority in Thrace. I am also thinking of getting married during the summer after seven years of a relationship with my boyfriend. I am also thinking about returning to the UK since the job opportunities, as well as the help from the university, are opening up new prospects for me. This, however, is still just a plan so I do not know if it will come true...”

ELENI PERRAKI

“Over the past few years, I was in France (Nice and Strasbourg) where, with my BA in Psychology from ACT, I entered the final year of the University of Nice 'Sophia Antipolis', obtaining the French "Maitrise en Psychologie" (specialization in 'Social Psychology').

Afterwards i did a Master of Arts in Sociology (professionally oriented) at the University of Strasbourg 'Marc Bloch' in "Social intervention, Conflict and Development" and the following year a Master of Arts in "Social and Cultural Anthropology" (research oriented).

I’m back in Thessaloniki since September and planning my future steps...”

MILOS RADULOVIC

“…It is a fact that I didn’t even notice the time, five years passed so quickly.  After graduation I was working for a few months in Greece, but in December 2002, I accepted an offer from Wrigley Jr. Company to work in the Rep. Office in Skopje.  I worked for Wrigley as a Reg. Sales Manager for a year then moved to another company, a domestic company producing confectionary products.  I stayed at Interkam for another year where I was responsible for the sales in the domestic market and than moved to Alkaloid AD - Skopje.  Alkaloid is the oldest and largest producer of pharmaceutical products in the country.  I’m responsible for the OTC (over the counter) division.  I’m working with my team on developing the OTC portfolio as well as all the ATL and BTL sales support activities in the markets in which we operate, mainly ex-Yugoslav republics and the rest of the Balkan countries plus Russia.  I’ve been working here for almost three years.

I got plenty of corporate training in this period and I’m also part of SAP implementation in the company as a key user. I’ve participated as a guest speaker in some events organized by Allan Lloyds regarding the generic markets, etc.

Unfortunately, I  have less and less time to play tennis, don’t do clubbing often, quit smoking ten times and started all over again.  I miss the college days.

Got married in April 2006…”

IOANNIS ROUSSIS

“…Things haven't changed that much in my life, after serving my military obligations, as a marine-paratrooper, I entered the "real world" and at the moment I am working for an orthopaedics company, promoting stuff for broken bones, etc. and assisting
doctors during surgery... Recently I started coaching a girls’ team (BAO) and assisting with the women’s team. No marriage, no kids (yet).....”

ELIZA SALPISTI
Class Agent 2002, Secretary of the Alumni Council

This 5-year period following my graduation from ACT can be rightfully characterized as a rather productive one, my first leading role in life. My choice to acquire a university-level education at ACT proved me more than right while pursuing a Masters degree in one of the world’s finest universities in what I consider the most exciting industry to work in—tourism. It is a people industry and thus is full of life and potential but, nonetheless, quite neglected in our country, with exceptions that have set high standards for others to follow, thus offering a promising future ahead.

Following my graduation from NUBS, I returned to Thessaloniki having decided to become an active member of ARGONAFTIS Ltd. Working for a pioneer company in the field of marine tourism, a team with vision and substantial experience seemed the best choice upon completion of my dissertation. Our company’s business activity is that of a turnkey solution in floating constructions, more precisely floating marinas, pedestrian bridges, bars, restaurants etc, having initiated and constructed the largest number and most significant constructions of the type throughout Greece to date. Other fields of operation include marina administration, beach protection and nourishment with innovative technology, as well as our latest concern--floating houses.

College years at ACT are over for us, still there is more to follow through our association’s activities. Alumni constitute ACT’s legacy to the outside world, its greatest asset actually. We know it and ACT accordingly!

Feel free to contact me at info@argonaftismarine.gr