IN PICTURES: Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce February Power Lunch

(TROY, MI)...The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) held its monthly President’s ‘Power Lunch’ today at Maggiano's Ristorante, gathering some of the region’s top business and civic leaders including: captains of industry, chief executives, financial gurus, medical & legal experts, academic heads, successful entrepreneurs, and fast-growing young professionals. This highly anticipated series is an extension of the Leadership Luncheon program, which was spearheaded in 2006 by LACC President & CEO John Akouri, and features prominent elected officials and decision-makers from throughout the country. At today's event, Akouri announced the inaugural 'Stars in the Skies' Concert to benefit the Lebanese Chamber which will debut April 3, 2009 at the Town Center's Skyline Club.

In addition to Akouri, luncheon guests included: Andary Real Estate Chairman Fred Andary, Ansara Restaurant Group (Big Boy/Red Robin) Vice President & LACC Chairman of the Board Lew Ansara, Advanced Strategies Group Senior Vice President Rick Appel, Atrient, Inc., Founder & CEO Sam Attisha, C Energy North America Partner Tony Cappussi, St. John Hospital & Medical Center Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Richard Cross (Saliba), Consulate of Macedonia Consul General & Chief Diplomat Hon. Igor Dukoski, Michigan Mortgage Brokers Association Past President Steve Hagar, Galaxy Homes Builder & Developer Aziz Haridy, NAI Farbman/The Farbman Group Chief Operating Officer Michael Kalil, Former Detroit FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge & Kerby, Bailey & Associates Vice-President Bill Kowalski, J-Mack Investigative & Security Solutions & Former Mount Clemens Police Chief Joe Macksoud, MCI Construction President & CEO Ibrahim Marji, The Community Guide Publisher Nizar Matta, the LACC General Counsel, Automotive Executive Elie Naim, CMPS Institute Chairman & CEO Gibran Nicholas, Madonna University Vice President for Academic Administration Dr. Ernest Nolan, Paramount Bank Executive Vice-President Louis J. Peters, Jr., Peninsula Wealth Management Group/UBS First Vice-President Ron Pruette, Consulate of Mexico Consul General & Chief Diplomat Vicente M. Sanchez-Ventura, ACN, Inc. Vice President of Customer Operations Claude Semaan, IPS Technology Services President Pradip Sengupta, and Chrysler NVH Development Laboratory Manager Elie Tohme. Participants in the past have included ABC -TV Channel 7 Action News Financial Survival Team Advisor Jack K. Riashi, Jr., and Michigan Bailiff's Association President Gregory Saffady.

The President’s Power Lunch series is an exclusive meeting designed to create new rules and new avenues for powerful impact in the region and business world. It is about bringing business leaders together to discuss current and future goals while forging tangible relationships that turn networking into substantial gains for Chamber members, associates and the business community. The goals and objectives of the Chamber’s new luncheon series are focused at achieving business objectives well beyond foremost organizations and prime individuals across the nation. These structured business goals are aggressive and participants are part of the power of working together to further deliver the mission and contribute to the overall growth and advancement of the national Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.