The Daughters of Penelope, a leading international service organization comprised of women of Hellenic heritage and Philhellenes, hosted a successful District Governors Leadership Conference on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
On behalf of the Daughters of Penelope, Grand President Antoinette Marousis Zachariades proudly presented the Daughters of Penelope Spirit Award to Georgetown Cupcake Co-Founders Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne.
This award is given to women who exemplify dignity, perseverance, creativity, and inspire and empower women. The award was presented at the conference’s luncheon. The DOP thanks the Past Grand Presidents who helped sponsor this special celebratory lunch.
Sisters Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne are the cofounders and co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake, stars of DC Cupcakes and Cupcake Cam LIVE on TLC (watch on Discovery+, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video), and best-selling authors of the cookbooks The Cupcake Diaries (HarperCollins/HarperOne) and Sweet Celebrations (HarperCollins/HarperOne). Inspired by their grandmother, Katherine and Sophie opened Georgetown Cupcake on Valentine’s Day 2008 in Washington, DC.
Over the past 15 years, Katherine and Sophie have made Georgetown Cupcake’s DC flagship bakery a destination for cupcake lovers across the globe. With a menu of over 100 different flavors, Georgetown Cupcake ships its cupcakes nationwide.
Sophie and Katherine and their cupcakes have been featured in publications and programs such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, CNN, Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, People, InStyle, Town & Country, NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Martha Stewart Show.
The annual leadership conference took place on Saturday, September 20. The DOP Foundation Inc, Maids of Athena, and Sons of Pericles also held a conference. Daughters of Penelope elected officers from around the world traveled to Washington, DC to learn more about and discuss DOP goals, projects, and plan the year for their respective Districts.
The exchange of ideas and information is an important aspect of empowering our leaders to assure outstanding success in the year ahead.
The District Governors started with a warm welcome by Grand President Antoinette Marousis-Zachariades, Growth & Expansion Strategy by Grand Vice President and Growth & Expansion Chair Gretchen Holtsinger, DOP Academy by Grand Secretary Patty Didik, Maids of Athena and Sons of Pericles Presentation by MOA Grand President Stephanie Owens and SOP Supreme President Basili Ronstadt, DOP Maids of Athena Advisor Duties by Maids of Athena Grand Lodge Executive Officers, Respectful Communication & Branding by Grand Treasurer Effie Kirkiles, Review of Headquarters by Executive Director Elena Saviolakis, DOP Mandatory Obligations and Projects by Grand Governor Zone III Helen Santire, Building a Cohesive Leadership Team by Grand Governor Zone I Lainie Damaskos-Christou, Bringing the “Honey into the Hive” by Grand Governor Zone IV Cathy Keyser, and a Getting to Know your Grand Lodge session.
The Daughters of Penelope were proud to have Jill A. Pantaleo of LCSW & Associates, as the Conference’s Featured Speaker. Jill’s speaker presentation was on navigating success through wellness. The DOP thanks the DOP Foundation, Inc, for sponsoring this special presentation.
After lunch the conference continued with team building sessions by Grand Secretary Patty Didik and Grand Treasurer Effie Kirkiles, a presentation by DOP Foundation, Inc. President Robbie Jackson, a message by MOA Past Grand President Pamela Stamm on the DOP Salute to Women to be held in Philadelphia at the 2026 Supreme Convention, a presentation on building confidence, mentoring, and developing leadership skills by Grand Governor Zone V Roula Maginas, and a Q&A session to close out the conference.
