John Catsimatidis

John Catsimatidis is the owner, president, chairman, and CEO of the Red Apple Group and Gristedes Foods. He is also the chairman and CEO of the Red Apple Group subsidiary United Refining Company. The Red Apple Group also has holdings in aviation and real estate interests in New York, Florida, and the U.S Virgin Islands. He owns and operates the "Hellenic Times" newspaper. John Catsimatidis has also received an Ellis Island Medal of Honor. [ [http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/catsimatidis_john.html John A. Catsimatidis ] ]

Early life

Catsimatidis grew up in New York, NY after coming to the United States as an infant with his parents from the island of Nisyros, Greece. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1966.

While pursuing a BS in electrical engineering at the Bronx campus of New York University (NYU), Catsimatidis worked for an uncle in a small supermarket on 137th Street. Catsimatidis ultimately dropped out of college, [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_John-Catsimatidis_76JT.html #220 John Catsimatidis - Forbes.com ] ] , and in 1971, convinced he could make money in the grocery business, he opened his first store on Manhattan's Westside at 99th Street and Broadway under the name "Seven Eleven" (which was not part of the similarly named franchise). Soon afterwards he opened a Red Apple supermarket on 87th street just west of Broadway. [ [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Red-Apple-Group-Inc-Company-History.html Red Apple Group, Inc. - Company History ] ] personal communication]

Business Interests

Aviation

A certified jet pilot, Catsimatidis has been involved in the airline industry since the early 70's. His holdings in the aviation industry have included a fleet of leased commercial aircraft operated as C&S Acquisition and Capitol Air Express. His corporate jet company, United Air Fleet, operated as many as forty corporate aircraft.

Red Apple Group

In 1986 the Gristedes supermarket chain was acquired by the Red Apple Group. Gristedes was founded in 1888 by brothers Diedrich and Charles Gristede. There are over 50 stores in the chain operating throughout New York City, Westchester and a single store in Locust Valley, Long Island.

United Refining Company of Warren, PA., founded in 1902, currently employs over 3470 people and is a subsidiary of Red Apple Group. The refinery processes 70,000 barrels of oil a day providing fuel to 372 Kwik Fill/Red Apple food marts and Country Fair gas stations, as well as associated motels and truck stops, in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. [ [http://finance.google.com/finance?cid=12859885 Red Apple Group, Inc. - Google Finance ] ]

As of November, 2007, the Red Apple Group ranked 87th on Forbes list of largest private companies with revenue of $3.63 billion and 7800 employees. [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/21/biz_privates07_Americas-Largest-Private-Companies_Rank_4.html America's Largest Private Companies - Forbes.com ] ]

Later life

Marriage

On October 2, 1988, John A. Catsimatidis married Margo Vondersaar. This was his second marriage. Mrs. Catsimatidis works in the advertising industry as President of MCV advertising and is also co-publisher "The Hellenic Times". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE0DF173BF930A35753C1A96E948260 John Catsimatidis Wed To Margo Vondersaar - New York Times ] ] They have two children, Andrea and John jr.

Charitable involvement

Catsimatidis' charitable interests are largely centered in his Greek roots, such as the Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation and the Greek Orthodox church where he served as President of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. However, he is a large donor to the G&P Foundation for Cancer Research. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,7295,00.html FOXNews.com - Mariah's Movie: Labor Day Release Beckons - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment ] ]

Catsimatidis has been on the Board of Directors of New York's Police Athletic Leagues (PAL), since the 1980's, and on the Board of Directors of the Drum Major Institute since 2002 [ [http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/board.php DMI > Board ] ] He was the Vice-chairman of the Ellis Island Awards Foundation, of the National Ethnic Coalition Organization (NECO), and is co-founder of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation. This foundation has a $10 million endowment and the first foundation in the country established on behalf of a public school.

Mr. Catsimatidis is also involved with Juvenile Diabetes', Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research foundations. He and his wife, Margo, raised over $1,000,000 for the Diabetes and Alzheimer's Foundations. This year, Catsimatidis added the Interfaith Theological Center of New York and Outward Bound to his circle of charitable interests.

Political affiliations

He has made donations to Democratic Party and Republican Party campaigns [ [http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=CATSIMATIDIS&first=JOHN NEWSMEAT ▷ JOHN CATSIMATIDIS's federal campaign contribution search results ] ] , and helped run a fund-raiser in 2006 with New York City Mayor Bloomberg for Joseph Lieberman. This was for Lieberman's run as an Independent after losing the Connecticut Democratic Party primary for the U.S. Senate. [ [http://www.nysun.com/article/39799 Bloomberg To Host Fund-Raiser for Lieberman - September 18, 2006 - The New York Sun ] ]

Personal Finances

As per the Forbes' Magazine's list "The 400 Richest Americans", published in September, 2008, Mr. Catsimatidis ranked #215 with a net worth of $2.1 Billion. Note that this list was developed prior to the major stock market shakeup of September. [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_John-Catsimatidis_76JT.html The 400 Richest Americans, #215 John Catsimatidis] ]

Potential Mayoral Run 2009

Previously a Democrat (during the Bill Clinton administration), John Catsimatidis will reportedly make a bid in the New York City mayoral election in 2009 as a Republican. [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/05/catsimatidis_gets_serious.html] He plans to self-fund his campaign. [ [http://cityhallnews.com/022007/news07_022007.html CityHallNews.com ] ]

In the fall of 2007 he repeatedly confirmed his mayoral candidacy in media interviews. [ [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6486493172079030028 catsimatidis.mov ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.htsfund.org/ "Helenic Times" Scholarship Fund]
* [http://www.gandp.org/index.html The G&P Foundation for Cancer Research]
* [http://cityhallnews.com/022007/news07_022007.html "Planning the Path from Gristedes to Gracie Mansion" interview at CityHallNews.com]
* [http://www.gristedes.com/ Gristedes Supermarket website]
* [http://www.urc.com/home/home.php United Refining Company website]
* [http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0809,322613,322613,1.html Village Voice profile, 26-Feb-2008]
* [http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0324/116.html Forbes profile/interview, March 2008]