One of the country’s most popular and successful mayors of a major U.S. city, the Honorable Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale, will be the special guest speaker at the upcoming Forty Under 40 Alumni Reunion and Networking Brunch, taking place on Saturday, June 7 in New York City.
Hosted at Boro Hotel in Long Island City, this gathering marks a special moment to reconnect and reengage with past honorees of the Greek America Foundation’s Forty Under 40—our signature recognition of young leaders who have excelled professionally while giving back to their communities.
The event is part of the foundation’s ongoing effort to foster deeper engagement, community building, and mentorship within the Forty Under 40 network. With Mayor Trantalis’ inspiring journey as a backdrop, attendees will hear firsthand how public service, identity, and cultural pride intersect in meaningful ways—and how our alumni can continue to make an impact in their own fields and communities.
Event details
Saturday, June 7 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Boro Hotel
38-28 27th St
Long Island City, NY 11101
Click here to purchase tickets.
The Forty Under 40 Alumni Reunion and Networking Brunch is part of the Greek America Foundation’s 2025 Gabby Awards weekend. Our main gala event will take place on the night of Saturday, June 7 at The Plaza Hotel. We encourage all past Forty Under 40 award recipients to attend the Gabby Awards and enjoy a 50% discount on their individual ticket purchase. Click here for full details and to purchase tickets.
About Mayor Dean Trantalis
Dean Trantalis has served as Mayor of Fort Lauderdale since March 2018. A proud Greek American, his grandparents emigrated from the island of Lesbos nearly a century ago—all from the same village. As one of the few American mayors of Greek descent, he has worked to elevate and share the richness of the culture in which he was raised and to highlight its contributions to broader American society.
Mayor Trantalis has been an active member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Lauderdale for more than 40 years and a member of AHEPA for more than two decades. He was first introduced to the Greek America Foundation in 2018 and has been a dedicated supporter ever since.
His public service career began on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, where he represented District 2 for eight years. His 2018 mayoral victory marked the largest margin ever for a first-term candidate in city history, and his 2020 re-election featured the highest voter turnout of any municipal election in Fort Lauderdale. In November 2024, he was elected to his third and final term as mayor, bringing his total public service to more than 15 years.
Born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut, Trantalis graduated cum laude with distinction from Boston University in 1975 with a degree in political science. He earned his Juris Doctor in 1979 from Stetson University College of Law, while also completing international law coursework in Eastern Europe, Russia, and London. He was admitted to the Connecticut and Florida Bar Associations in 1980 and has practiced law in Florida since 1982. Today, he maintains a successful general law practice with an emphasis on real estate, probate, estate planning, bankruptcy, and corporate law, and is also a member of the Federal Bar.
Trantalis’ commitment to civic engagement began with his fight for equal rights. In 1995, he co-chaired Americans for Equality, helping to pass the Broward County Human Rights Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. He also played a key role in enacting the Broward County Domestic Partnership Law, extending benefits to domestic partners of county and affiliated employees.
His leadership in the community has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He received the Small Business Award from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and was named a Community Champion by the Broward County Commission and the Human Rights Board. In 2015, he was an inaugural honoree of the Diversity Honors Award presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation. In 2018, the foundation—along with the Pride Center at Equality Park—honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The following year, he received the Visionary Award from the Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit https://greekamerica.org/gabbyawards2025.