Stojan Nikolov
- Chairman of the Board -
Stojan Nikolov was born and raised in Strumica, Macedonia, he moved to the United States during high school as an exchange student. He is married and has two children. Nikolov holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Masters in Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University, and is also a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS). He currently works as a Project Manager/Consultant for an organization overseeing the electrical demands for New England. In the past, he has worked as a Financial/Business Analyst and Project Manager in both the HR Consulting and Outsourcing and the Marketing and Media Information industries.
During his time with UMD, Nikolov has led many projects and initiatives. Since 2008, he has served as the Development Director for our quarterly magazine and premiere publication, UMD Voice. He also heads up UMD’s youth program for developing and encouraging young Macedonian leaders, Generation M. A firm believer that only united and through hard work and collaboration can Macedonia and our people prosper and correct the mistakes and injustices of the past, Nikolov has devoted much of his own personal time and energy to contribute towards this end through UMD over the last few years.
Metodija A. Koloski
- President -
Metodija A. Koloski is Co-Founder and President of the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD), headquartered in Washington, D.C. Koloski is an expert on Macedonia’s right to its name, minorities in Southeast Europe, and NATO and EU enlargement issues, and his opinion-pieces on these topics have been published in the Washington Times, the Foreign Policy Association, The Hill’s Congress Blog, the National Post, the Journal Gazette, and the International Relations Forum. He is frequently quoted in the Macedonian and international media on topics related to Macedonia and the diaspora.
In his previous capacities, Koloski has worked for the Foreign Policy Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and DLA Piper LLP. He holds a Bachelors of Arts from Manhattanville College in Political Science and International Relations.
Koloski’s family migrated to the United States from Macedonia in the early 1950s due to communist Yugoslavia’s anti-democratic policies. Koloski was born and raised in Garfield, New Jersey. His family has roots in the Republic of Macedonia, Aegean Macedonia, and Korca, Albania.
Aleksandar Mitreski
- Vice President and Chair of UMD Advisory Council -
Aleksandar Mitreski was born in Skopje, Macedonia, and as a young adult immigrated to the United States to complete his graduate studies in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. He also holds a Master of Business and Administration from University of Arkansas at Little Rock. With over 10 years in the electric utility industry, Mitreski currently works for ISO New England, where he designs the regional wholesale energy markets. During one of the summer breaks from his university studies, on his way home to Macedonia, he met his wife, Jasmina, with whom they have two children.
As one of the co-founders of UMD, since the beginning Mr. Mitreski has volunteered his efforts to build an organization that will unite the Macedonians worldwide. He was the inaugural Chairman of the Board, and has continually served as the Vice President of the organization. Mitreski also chairs the UMD Advisory Council.
George Peters
- Secretary -
George Peters is a proud second generation Macedonian-American. His family originates from the Lerinsko region of Aegean Macedonia and the southwest region of the Republic of Macedonia. George was born and raised in the Detroit area and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Wayne State University and Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. He has been practicing law since 1988. Currently, he serves as senior staff counsel at Chrysler Group, LLC in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where he works in the commercial and business affairs group. Prior to his current position at Chrysler, he also held positions in the law departments of Owens Corning; The Walt Disney Company, and Comshare, Inc. He has also taught undergraduate Business Law and Economics courses at the Detroit College of Business. In his spare time George is an avid supporter of his church, St. Clement of Ohrid in Dearborn, Michigan, and member of the board of the United Macedonian Americans of Detroit.
Lidija Stojkoska
- Treasurer -
Originally from the Macedonian city of Kavadarci, UMD Board Member and Treasurer Lidija Stojkoskahas been living in the U.S. since 2003. She has earned her B.A. in business administration with concentration in accounting from Fresno Pacific University, and she is enrolled at the accounting Masters program at Fresno Pacific University. Professionally, since January 2012, Stojkoska has been a senior staff accountant at Tate & Tryon in Washington D.C. She gained her extensive accounting experience while working first as a staff accountant and later as a senior accountant at Wiebe Hinton Hambalek LLP. At her spare time she enjoys reading, sightseeing, volunteering and networking.
Ordan Andreevski
-Director of Australian Operations -
Ordan Andreevski is the Director of Australian Outreach with the United Macedonian Diaspora and the Director of Marketing and Customer Solutions with All Clear International. For the last 20 years, he has worked at some of Australia’s leading universities and research centers. He has advised large and complex organisations on strategies for internationalization, collaborative research, stakeholder relations, sustainability and rapid commercialization of intellectual property.
He is one of most effective and respected community activists in the Australian Macedonian community. Andreevski has a track record in government relations and advocacy using evidence based arguments to prepare foreign policy briefs and submissions to the Australian Parliament on ways to improve the effectiveness of the Australian Aid Program, Multiculturalism and Social Inclusion and how to achieve innovation and impact from Australia’s Diplomatic Representation.
He is the co-author of the Australian Research Council Linkage project on ‘Diasporas in Australia: Current and Potential Links with the Homeland’ and the report on ‘The Macedonian Diaspora in Australia: Current and Potential Links with the Homeland’. These reports were officially launched at Parliament House in Canberra on 15 August 2012 by the Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten MP and by the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Pacific Island Affairs Mr. Richard Marles MP.
Andreevski has written over a dozen opinion pieces in On Line Opinion: Australia’s e-journal of social and political debate on contemporary challenges and opportunities for Australian foreign policy on Macedonia, NATO, citizen diplomacy and Australia’s bid for a UN Security Council seat in 2012. He has organized high impact events at Parliament House in Canberra as well as the Parliament of Victoria devoted to advancing Australia Macedonia relations. He works strategically and in partnership with key stakeholders to elevate the status and influence of the Macedonian diaspora and to nurture closer relations between Australia and Macedonia.
Jim Daikos
- Director of Canadian Operations -
UMD Board Member and Director of Canadian operations James Daikos originally comes from Aegean Macedonia. In 1967, his family immigrated to Canada, escaping the human rights violations of the Macedonians in Greece. The contrast between the freedoms and rights in Greece and in Canada is what gave Daikos the passion to work tirelessly on the Macedonian cause. As a result, he has done and supported many activities to improve the human rights of the Macedonians in Greece. Professionally, Daikos has a broad experience in the hospitality business in Canada, and has run and owned several restaurants. He is currently the General Manager of Wimpy's Diner franchisee. He is one of the founders of many association and organizations in Canada. Daikos and his wife Millie have two children. Millie was born in Poland to two “children” refugees from the Greek Civil War.
Goran Saveski
- Canada Liaison Officer -
Goran Saveski is the Director of Operations at Delo Logic, a web application development company that produces web software for the healthcare and hospitality industry. Goran has been working in IT for the past 12 years, and has worked in both Canada and Macedonia.
Goran was born in Toronto, Canada where he attended York University, but has a strong connection to Macedonia, his parents’ native land. From 1999 to 2004, Goran lived and worked in Macedonia as the head of IT development for an internationally funded finance project creating credit unions throughout the country.
As a volunteer member of UMD, Goran serves on the Board of Directors and works as a Liaison Officer in UMD’s Canadian branch, reaching out to Canadian policy makers, public and private institutions, and the wider Canadian community to raise awareness about Macedonia and Macedonian issues.Saveski is married with two children.
Dame Krcoski
- UMD Regional Representative for Perth/Western Australia -
Born on January 17, 1981 in Struga, Macedonia, Dame Krcoski moved to Australia at the age of 6 where he spent most of his childhood, while returning to Macedonia on a few occasions. He is well known in the Macedonian community of Perth, Western Australia as he co-owns and manages 103.3 Mac FM, a 24/7 Macedonian radio station, which covers the Perth Metropolitan area. Krcoski has been a Macedonian activist since before joining UMD in 2008, volunteering and co-organizing countless events amongst the Macedonian community with his friends and associates in Perth. Dame was appointed the UMD Regional Representative for Perth in late 2010, further to this he was invited and accepted to join the UMD Board of Directors in June 2011 during the 3rd Annual UMD Global Conference held in Washington D.C.
Krcoski is a graduate of Edith Cowan University based in Perth, where he acquired a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Double Major in Politics & Government, History and a minor in Geography. His passion to see Macedonia prosperous and help correct the injustices made towards the Macedonian people is what motivates Krcoski to help UMD in its quest to further promote Macedonia, its people and culture amongst the nations where our Macedonian people live.
Trajko Papuckoski
Trajko Papuckoski is a proud Hoosier and earned his Bachelors of Science at Indiana University. Papuckoski’s professional career in the financial services has spanned several prominent financial institutions since graduation. Currently, he consults independent financial advisers for one of the largest broker-dealers in the nation. Previously, Papuckoski served as a relationship manager at two large retail banks where he delivered investment solutions and advised clients on how to meet their financial goals.
Outside of work he enjoys visiting family and friends throughout the U.S. and Europe, mountain biking, watching films, and is currently training for the 2012 Chicago Marathon.
