Glendale News Press, CA
Oct 18 2007

Armenian women win recognition

Professionals are honored for their contributions to the community
at awards ceremony.

By Chris Wiebe

More than 200 residents and local dignitaries gathered Thursday in a
banquet hall at the Oakmont Country Club to honor six Armenian women
who have emerged as business leaders in Glendale.

In its first year, the Armenian-American Women in Business Excellence
Luncheon was a way to recognize the unique contributions of women
leaders, said Armond Aghakhanian, a board member for the Armenian
American Chamber of Commerce, which put on the event.

`It’s about time Armenian-American women are recognized in our
community, not only as leaders in business, but in philanthropy,’ he
said.

The honorees represented a broad cross-section of professionals –
from business to education to social services.

The event recognized Maria Mehranian, chief financial officer and
managing partner of Cordoba Corp., where she orchestrates financial
planning; Jasik Jarahian, accountant and controller for the Armenian
Relief Society; Alice Petrossian, assistant superintendent of the
Glendale Unified School District; Frieda Jordan, president and
co-founder of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry; 25-year-old
attorney Jeannette Yazedjian; and Rema Bandarian, owner and chief
executive officer of American Microimaging, a microfilming services
and equipment repair company.

`This is an exceptional group of honorees who are really leaders in
the larger community and the Armenian community as well,’ state
Assemblyman Paul Krekorian said. `And it sends a signal to young
women in the community . . . that there is no limit to
what they can achieve.’

Armenian women in America tend to get mixed messages about their role
in the community, said keynote speaker Keri Tombazian, host of radio
station 94.7 The Wave.

While the tradition of women staying home and raising a family is
deeply ingrained in Armenian culture, modern America encourages women
to pursue careers, she said. But the contributions of women in both
roles share equal importance, she added. advertisement

`Whatever your path . . . hold on to family and those
principles that guide you so your path can be one of enlightenment,’
she said.

Jarahian’s path has taken her through 45 years of charity work, she
said.

`I love what I’m doing because I’m living with my people and working
for my people,’ she said. `I hope with this honor, I get to do an
even better job for my people.’

Petrossian said she was happy to see that the Armenian American
Chamber of Commerce recognized strides in education, along with the
overall business community.

`As we talk about business, I want people to know about the wonderful
business that we do in the schools,’ she said.

The honor was also a way to spread the word about the work of the
bone marrow registry, which matches blood marrow donors with patients
suffering from blood disease, Jordan said.

`I feel very honored, very happy to receive this award – not as an
individual, but for the cause,’ she said.

Recognizing the accomplishments of Armenian women in the community
can also serve as an inspiration to young Armenian women, said
Bandarian, who started as a bookkeeper in the company she now runs.

`If you want to be successful, you just go for it and make it
happen,’ she said.

Special challenges can emerge as women strive to achieve their goals,
Mehranian said.

`As with any other ethnic group, you are constantly facing
obstacles,’ she said. `But people need to understand that they are
obstacles that can be overcome.’

Yazedjian said the event fueled her wishes to give back to a
community that has given her so much.

`It’s actually inspiring to me that the chamber sees in me what they
see in these other ladies – and my potential to get where they are,’
she said.