Democrat US Cypriot Chris Zannetos, is running for Congress to represent the 4th district of Massachusetts in the USA, on June 29, announced two key elements of his plan to fix our broken economic system that has delivered a huge and widening income gap in the midst of massive economic expansion. As a tech entrepreneur, job creator, and education activist, Zannetos knows that we need bold leadership on each of these issues and he possesses the necessary experience to get things done.
Chris was born in Boston, and raised in the suburbs. He went to college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and then received his master’s degree from MIT Sloan. He started and built his companies here.
Chris and his wife Jenny have lived in our district for over 20 years, raising their children, coaching soccer teams, staffing school events, and volunteering wherever they can – whether at their church, helping to clean up conservation areas, or serving pre-race meals to Marathon runners.
A believer in the American Dream
Chris’ father immigrated to the United States to find opportunity unavailable in his homeland of Cyprus. He stepped off the boat with $100 in his pocket, and a scholarship to a college that went bankrupt after his first semester. With a lot of hard work, risk taking, help from others – and the opportunity given him by the greatest country on earth – he and Chris’ mother built a great life for themselves and a head start for their children. Chris believes in the American Dream. His family has lived it. But he knows that many in our community face obstacles that make it seem impossible to achieve. That must change.
After graduating from MIT, Chris started three technology and cyber security companies, creating hundreds of jobs and over $250 million of salary for Massachusetts residents. In today’s world, technology is driving our economy, jobs, response to climate change, personal and national security, healthcare and more. Chris has spent his schooling and entire career in the technology world.
Chris also founded STEMatchMA, a non-profit that brings companies and schools together to make STEM opportunities more accessible to marginalized communities. STEMatchMA has brought over 700 Boston Public Middle School students to leading tech companies, to learn about careers in tech and inspire their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Chris convinced leading Massachusetts financial, healthcare, and tech companies to invest $500,000 of time and money in a STEMatchMA-led workforce development effort at MassBay Community College to make cybersecurity jobs accessible to those who can’t afford 4-year degrees.
Chris is known in the tech industry as someone who brings people together for the common good. Whether with STEMatchMA, or as a founding member of the United Way’s BoSTEM Advisory Board, a board member for the Advanced Cyber Security Center, a board member of the Mass High Tech Council, or in his other volunteer activities, Chris’ colleagues know him as a persuasive creator of win/win solutions to tough challenges in our community
