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SOAR-Greater New York/New Jersey
P.O. Box 49
Mount Freedom, NJ 07970
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The Greater New York/New Jersey chapter, our 5th chapter, became part of the SOAR family in July 2009 and encompasses New York and New Jersey. The Greater New York/New Jersey is an exciting addition because of the large Armenian population that lives in northern New Jersey and New York. The Board of Directors for the Greater New York/New Jersey is also our youngest, bringing a significant amount of energy and enthusiasm to our humanitarian efforts. If you have any questions about how you can assist our efforts in New York/New Jersey, please contact the chapter Officers by email.
Board of Directors
 Karinne' Hovnanian
President
Karinne' received her bachelors degree in psychology and music from George Washington University and in 2010 she will be receiving her masters in music therapy from Drexel University. She has visited Armenia several times, each time serving another group of Armenians. Using music, she was able to engage in the lives of mentally ill adults, abused children, refugee children, and orphaned children in Armenia. During her most recent stay, she was able to create a curriculum for the young girls of a northern Armenian orphanage, which is still in use today. Karinne' lives passionately for children and has dedicated much of her young life to serving them and advocating for the betterment of their lives; and she has done so through many work and volunteer opportunities throughout the East coast. Karinne' is most enthused to be a part of the mission of SOAR and prays that together, the community will be able to impact the lives of orphaned children in Armenia in the most positive and blessed way.
 Gregory Garbis Andonian
Vice President
Gregory Garbis Andonian was born in Evanston, IL. and raised in Cleveland, OH to wonderful parents from the heart of Constantinople (Bolis). He received a BA of Business Administration and Masters of Accountancy from the U. of Akron. In 2002 He started a non-profit Art Center called Summit ArtSpace in Akron, OH which continues to serve the artistic community of Northeast Ohio. He later worked for Ernst & Young as an auditor and currently works for CBS Broadcasting Company as an accountant and financial reporting analyst in their Simon & Schuster Publishing Division. He also studied at various Armenian seminaries from 2006-09 including Holy Etchmaidzin in Armenia. He has always had a passion for serving the Armenian Church and community through a variety of volunteer and service activities. He hopes to be an instrumental part of what is already a very healthy initiative to assist Armenian orphans in having a better quality of life.
Memberships and Committees: 2008 Holy Oil Ceremony and Distribution Committee, 2007 US Pontifical Visit Executive Committee for His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, 2008 & 09 Times Square Armenian Genocide Commemoration Executive Committee, 2008 4oth Anniversary of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in Manhattan executive committee, 2007 Armenian Student Summit at Columbia University (Panelist), ACYOA- Armenian Church Youth Organization of America Constitutional Bylaws Committee (present), ACYOA Chapter Development and Grassroots Committee Chair (Present), ACYOA Central Council '05-07 (Chairman '06-07), 2005 ACYOA Sports Weekend and General Assembly, Chairman. International Children's Olympics Armenia Task Force Cleveland '04-05, Alpha Phi Omega-service fraternity.
 Maral Kazanjian
Treasurer
Maral Natalia Kazanjian, Esq. earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Psychology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and her Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. Currently, Maral is Assistant General Counsel for Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. in New York, specializing in counseling Moody’s management on employment matters. Among other organizations, Maral is a member of the Armenian Bar Association, and the New York State Bar Association. She is admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. She has also taught law classes at Hunter College in New York, predominantly for newly arriving immigrants. Maral’s first cousin was adopted from Armenia and she believes strongly in the power of our collective strength to create a stronger foundation for the youth of Armenia.
 Alice A. Hallajian
Secretary
Alice A. Hallajian has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University in Communication Studies with a minor in English and Pre-Law Studies. She has worked with KPMG LLP (an accounting firm) for 17 years and currently is the Associate Director of Global Mobility, supporting members within the Tax and Advisory practices who take on international assignments with global member firms. Alice previously contributed her time on the Board of Directors for the REED Academy, a school for children with Autism. She is active member of the St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Livingston, NJ and has traveled to Armenia with her husband twice to adopt their two children; once in June 2007 to bring home her daughter, Anna and again in October 2008 to bring home her son, Armen. She is eager to work with SOAR to meet their goals while making a positive impact on the lives of Armenian orphans. Alice currently resides in Randolph, NJ with her husband and two children.
 Lindsey Hagopian
Lindsey graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish. Originally from the Boston area, she relocated back and began a career in the advertising industry working at Media Planning Group/Arnold Worldwide and then in house at Fidelity Investments. In early 2009 she relocated to the New York City and currently works as a Global Media Planner at Sharp Communications, a small advertising and PR firm. She is eager to get involved in the Armenian community in a way that will directly affect the well being of the children. As a child she watched her great aunt sit in her chair and knit hats to send to the orphans in Armenia. Despite having arthritis in her hands she knitted hundreds of hats and seeing the pictures of the smiling children wearing them created a lasting impression. Lindsey would like to continue those efforts with her own contributions. Having done research on the role of human capital accumulation on economic growth, she believes that education is essential for a nation's success and, therefore, we must provide opportunities to strengthen the younger generations.
 Katie Kashmanian
Katie Kashmanian earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the State University of New York in Cortland, New York; her Masters Degree in Psychology from Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey; her Masters Degree in Education Administration from Caldwell College in Caldwell, New Jersey; and her Doctorate in Education Leadership from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. After ten years teaching, Katie spent five years working at an educational consulting firm. Eventually becoming Executive Vice President and COO of the firm, Katie worked with schools across the United States as well as internationally to improve instruction and to infuse technology into the curriculum. Realizing her true passion involved grass roots public education, Katie resigned from the consulting firm and became a school administrator. She is now the principal at George Washington Middle School in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She is currently in the process of adopting a child from Armenia, and is passionate about working to assist children in need in order to create a stronger future.
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