EXECUTIVE BOARD
In the fall of 2005, George S. Yacoubian, Jr., SOAR Founder, assembled a talented Board of Directors representing the Armenian community in the greater Philadelphia area. This experienced group has more than 150 combined years of service to the Armenian community and today oversees more than 135 Chapters around the world.
George S. Yacoubian, Jr., Ph.D., LL.M., S.J.D., M.S.
Chairman
gyacoubian@soar-us.org
Raffi K. Jehanian
Vice-Chairman
raffi@soar-us.org
Raffi K. Jehanian is a Senior Technical Consultant at SAP America Inc. in Newtown Square, PA. He has worked in the technology field since 1994 and is an active member of several user groups at SAP.
Outside of work he is active in the Armenian community, including St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, AYF-YOARF, Armenian Sisters Academy, and Camp Haiastan.
He presently resides in Newtown Square, PA with his wife Danielle, daughter Teni and adopted daughter from Armenia, Anna.
Hagop Keshishian, PE
Treasurer
Hagop Keshishian, PE has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds a Professional Engineer License in the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a New Jersey Certified Municipal Engineer. Currently Hagop serves as the Vice President of Maintenance for the nation’s fourth largest housing authority serving more than 80,000 people in 14,000 units. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Hagop presently resides in Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and 2 children.
Denise Sisian
Secretary
Denise Sisian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Delaware. She was the Director of Human Resources at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, working in HR for 20 years, prior to the NASDAQ OMX acquisition, then moved on to Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia for several years. Currently, she enjoys working for Mel Zimmerman of Business Entitlement Services. In August of 2005, she traveled to Armenia with her cousin, Susan Harootunian, and godson, Paul, to pick up her goddaughter, Anna. Her most memorable moment was having the honor of carrying baby Anna out of the orphanage. Since then, Denise has been committed to helping other orphans and believes SOAR will make a significant difference in these children’s lives. In fact, Denise returns to Armenia regularly to visit the children, particularly of Nork & Kharberd, where she’s witnessed enhancements to these facilities. The loving children remain in her thoughts and continued efforts to provide assistance.
Tanya M. Bardakjian, M.S.
Chapter Oversight and Director of Programs
tanyabardakjian@gmail.com
Tanya M. Bardakjian has a Master of Science degree in genetic counseling. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors. She practices at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and is the coordinator of the anophthalmia genetic research program. She has authored many scientific publications in the field of Genetics. She is a clinical supervisor for genetic counseling students from Arcadia University and lectures to medical students and medical residents regularly. She, her husband and three daughters live in Media, PA.
Rev. Fr. Asadur Minasian, MTh.
Director of Communications
Rev. Fr. Asadur Minasian has been a dedicated member of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) Executive Board since its inception. For over two decades, he has been actively involved in advancing SOAR’s mission and supporting its humanitarian programs benefiting Armenian children, families, and communities in Armenia and throughout the world.
Fr. Asadur earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, with a minor in Law, from Widener University. He later pursued theological studies, earning a Master of Theology degree as he followed his vocation to ordained ministry.
After many years of service as a deacon in the Armenian Catholic Church, Fr. Asadur was ordained to the priesthood in 2021. He currently serves as Pastor of St. Marks Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. His ministry is centered on faith, service, preservation of Armenian Christian heritage, and strengthening the connection between Armenians in the diaspora and their ancestral homeland.
In addition to his pastoral ministry and service to SOAR, Fr. Asadur is an entrepreneur and longtime member of the greater Philadelphia business community. In 2002, he founded Masterpieces Fine Art & Custom Framing, Inc., where he serves as President.
Fr. Asadur has traveled to Armenia multiple times and has personally witnessed the impact of SOAR’s programs and facilities. His visits to SOAR beneficiaries, Transitional Centers, and the Families of Fallen Soldiers Center have strengthened his commitment to the organization’s mission and to ensuring that Armenia’s most vulnerable children and families receive not only material assistance, but also dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Fr. Asadur and his wife, Arpy, have three adult children, Vahe, Sareen, and Nare. Together, they have remained deeply involved in Armenian community, church, and humanitarian life, with service to Armenia and the Armenian people remaining an important part of their family’s commitment.
Tamar Arminak, Esq.
Tamar Arminak is a civil litigator and principal of Arminak Law, APC, who joined SOAR-LA in 2010. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies with a minor in Russian Art History. She earned her law degree from Loyola Law School. During her college years, Tamar also attended the University of London, studying European History, living in London, England. She has been voted a Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for seven years in a row, as well as authored a chapter in the Book Reaching the Bar: Stories of All Women at All Stages of Their Law Careers. In 2014 she was honored as a guest speaker at Harvard Law School’s Symposium on Sports and Entertainment Law in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she spoke to law students about her many high profile cases. Because of her love of children, Tamar is pleased to be working with SOAR to help the Orphans of Armenia. SOAR –LA has a special place in her heart, as she met her husband Vicken Touzjian while they both served on the Los Angeles board.
Dr. Chuck Hajinian, D.D.S.
Chuck Hajinian, a dentist in Milwaukee for more than 41 years, is married with three daughters, one son, and ten grandchildren. He collects Armenian antiquities, from manuscripts to ancient coins, is co-founder of the Armenian Numismatic and Antiquities Society http://www.anasociety.org, and does stand-up comedy (check out his performance at the SOAR Boston fundraiser, 2019 HERE), writes books, and does impressionist painting . He is also on the board of the Armenian Museum of America. Chuck has been involved with raising money for a hospital in Haiti and has done mission dental work on prisoners in the prisons of Ghana and tribal Indians in the Amazon jungles of Venezuela. Over the years, he has been active in the Armenian Apostolic Church and Non-Denominational Evangelical churches. For the past several years Chuck has worked with SOAR to host a variety of charitable events for orphaned Armenian children; An now annual Golf Outing, their “A Day on the Blue” featured boat rides, Armenian dancing and food, and displays of Armenian antiquities. Chuck is honored to be a part of the SOAR family and looks forward to implementing a variety of ideas and projects in the years to come.
Lucie Kzelian
Lucie was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. She graduated high school with a gold medal, and went on to graduate from college in Yerevan. In 1995, she moved to the US and married Albert Kzelian. They have 3 beautiful children Kristine 22, Serbuhi 18 and Vahé 13.
For the past 14 years Lucie has been working with her husband in their successful business, Imperial Marble and Granite. She is the VP of the company.
Sarah A. Selverian, M.B.A
Sarah A. Selverian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Drexel University and a Master of Business Administration in Management from West Chester University. In 2004, she graduated from the Chester County Leadership Connection which focused primarily on Board of Director Leadership and responsibility. She has over fifteen years of experience in all areas of business development, client relations, human resources and financial management, analysis, and auditing. She excels as a manager, leading and developing employees and overseeing the overall operations of organizations. Sarah and her husband Adam live in Phoenixville, PA with their two children, Simon and Tiffany.
Andrew Simonian
Andrew Simonian is the Founder and CEO of Standard Media. He earned a degree in Finance from the Wharton School of Business and has over two decades of experience in operations and strategy.
He spent over twenty-five years in Media and Technology, creating and producing television shows for networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, and top-selling mobile applications for both iOS and Android. He’s the writer and director of “The Take Out Move”, an award-winning comedy feature film, and the author of “Bi-Curious George”, a parody book distributed by Simon & Schuster.
Andrew has guest lectured at Stanford, NYU Tisch Asia, Loyola Marymount, and the Los Angeles Film School. He is co-leader of the Wharton SoCal Media & Entertainment Affinity Group and holds certificate in film production from NYU and a television writing from UCLA. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.