BY ANUSH HOVSEPYAN
How often do we get to celebrate being an achiever? The Armenian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) does so every year. AACC’s 6th Annual Women in Excellence Luncheon, co-sponsored by Ameria Group, brought together 15 powerful Armenian-American women from all aspects of life and honored them for their extraordinary achievements and contribution to the Armenian community.
This year’s honorees include names such as Union Bank’s VP Sara Citak Demir, Telemundo’s Director of National Sales Eliz Ghazarian Semerjian, Western Diocese Chair Araxi Boyamian, Senator Carol Liu’s District Director Talin Mangioglu, AGBU MDS Vartouhy Keshishian-Kojayan and more.
For more than a year now Ameria Group Inc. has been working closely with AACC, as one of the outstanding Diaspora organizations, that has kept together the Armenian-American business community for years. Alissa Asmarian, the Immediate Past Chair of AACC, says the Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of the Armenian-American businesses and has helped many businesses in the community achieve their full potential: “AACC has been going strong for 13 years now; each year adding new members to the Armenian-American business community and creating mutually beneficial connections. AACC has gained the respect of both Armenian and non-Armenian businesses.”
Asmarian also stressed the importance of engaging Armenia-based businesses: “Even though Armenia is only 21 years old as an independent republic, we are proud to see how Armenia’s business world has progressed. Ameria Group, with headquarters in Armenia, is modeling that very business success possible in Armenia these days. We are proud to see companies, such as Ameria, expand beyond the borders of Armenia and establish powerful presence in the United States working toward building an Investment Bridge between the Diaspora and Armenia.”
AACC’s founder Armen Janian says, with years of experience at the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, more than a decade ago had a vision to create a similar chamber in order to connect the Armenian-American businesses in benefit of the Armenian community. That is how the Armenian-American Chamber was born. “I started AACC with the main purpose to help Armenia. In think AACC’s input in representing Armenian businesses from Armenia at International Expos is one of chamber’s major accomplishments. I always say that people in Armenia and from Armenia are the ones that keep Armenia alive. They are the ones that create companies such as Ameria Group. They have the intelligence, the knowledge, are financially well-off, know the local mentality and yet follow world-class standards. Ameria has been planting seeds in the diaspora and connecting the diaspora to Armenia through Ameria’s LA office. Companies like Ameria are the future of Armenia.”
Ameria Group Inc’s CEO Rafi Manoukian says Ameria has been working closely with AACC since Ameria Group’s establishment in California. Manoukian stated that AACC’s mission is very much in line with Ameria Group Inc’s mission to connect the Diaspora Business Community to Armenia. “We always attend chamber’s business mixers, informing that Armenia is a great emerging market with promising business opportunities, now open to new franchises. Ameria itself is a great example of business success possible in Armenia; as it has turned $ 100,000 initial investment to more than $ 600 million in assets and has become a leader in Armenia’s financial and advisory services market.” Ameria has been a proud member of AACC since February 2012 when it joined the AACC’s 13th Business Awards, as AACC’s new member and Business Awards co-sponsor.
Ameria Group of Companies is an established financial and advisory services provider based in Armenia. With more than 500 employees, $ 600 million dollars in assets, branches across the country, Ameria is performing the most aggressive development in the Armenian financial and advisory market through a range of financial & advisory services. Ameria Group is a winner of multiple global financial awards. It is the only financial institution in the South Caucasus region recognized as a Global Growth Champion in DAVOS World Economic Forum for its exceptional growth and expertise. The group is renowned in the region with Ameria Legal & Management Advisory, Ameriabank and Ameria Asset Management Company. As an international pan-Armenian advisory group Ameria has a mission to reach out to Diaspora Armenians worldwide. Since 2011 Ameria has established a presence in Los Angeles, USA, through Ameria Group Inc. connecting the American Diaspora to Armenia’s promising business & investment opportunities. Ameria’s LA office located in the heart of Glendale is a one-stop resource for all potential investors interested in Armenia and the region.
