GLENDALE—Congressman Adam B. Schiff and Glendale City Council Member (and former Glendale Mayor) Rafi Manoukian will be the guests of honor as the Armenian Bar Association (ArmenBar) hosts a reception at the Phoenicia Restaurant on Thursday, February 23.
ArmenBar’s Vice Chairman, Dean of the Peoples College of Law and member of the Glendale Civil Service Commission, Garo Ghazarian, will preside as master of ceremonies.
“Both Congressman Schiff and Councilman Manoukian have had long and distinguished careers in public service,” said Edvin Minassian, Chairman of ArmenBar. “We look forward to celebrating their exemplary careers in service to nation and community at the upcoming dinner and reception.”
Representative Adam Schiff has served in Congress since 2001, representing Glendale and surrounding communities. Schiff is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee. During his years in the House, Congressman Schiff has been an unflagging voice in support of the interests of the Armenian people. He was a prime mover of House Resolution 106 in 2007, an act recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and remained so in the face of intense Turkish government pressure to have that legislative effort quashed.
Before his election to national office, Schiff served a four-year term in the California State Senate, chairing that body’s Judiciary Committee and Select Committee on Juvenile Justice. Prior to assuming his elective duties in Sacramento, Schiff served as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Adam and his wife, Eve, have two children, Alexa and Elijah.
Glendale Councilman Rafi Manoukian, a certified public accountant, has directed the Manoukian Accountancy Corporation since 1993. He has served continuously as an elected officer in Glendale city government for the past decade, with duties as mayor in 2002-2003 and 2005-2006. During his tenure as councilman, Manoukian also served as Chairman of the Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency.
Manoukian embodies much of the American dream. As a youngster he and his family emigrated from war-torn Beirut to the United States. At age 17 he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for four years before honorable discharge as a sergeant in 1982. One of his major early goals was education. He completed an associate degree while still in uniform and, two years after discharge, was awarded the BA (economics) from California State University at Northridge. He completed the MBA at Cal State, Dominguez Hills, in 2004. He and his wife Zovig have three children.
The venue for this festive event, scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. is the Phoenicia Restaurant (343 North Central Avenue [at the corner of Lexington], Glendale), the city’s premier dining spot for Mediterranean cuisine. ArmenBar Executive Director, Jacklin Boyadjian, emphasizes that “these gatherings are often oversubscribed, so those desiring assured participation are encouraged to register early.” Admission is $45 for ArmenBar members, $50 for non-members, and $40 for students. For further information, visit the ArmenBar website at www.armenianbar.org.
