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The Washington, DC Metro chapter became part of the SOAR family in April 2008. In addition to the District of Columbia, this chapter will concentrate its effort in Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland. The Washington, DC Metro Board of Directors is represented in the medical, legal, business, and educational fields, and we are excited to have a presence in and around our nation's capital! If you would like to reach the Washington, DC Metro board, please contact Mike Aurimian via email.
 Aideen Mannion, M.A.
President
Aideen Mannion holds masters degrees in International Economics and International Relations from SAIS – Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A. in Russian Studies from the University of the South. She has held leadership positions on economic development reform initiatives throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union for well over a decade, serving as Country Director and Regional Director of USAID-funded programs throughout the region. Her portfolio of assignments include: Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. She has traveled extensively in Armenia and has visited the Our Lady of Armenia Center in Gyumri, run by Sr. Arousiag Sajonian; former principal of her grade school, Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA. Currently, she resides in the Washington, DC, metro area.
 Tania Odabashian
Vice President
Tania Odabashian received a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1989 and currently is the co-owner and Vice-President of Corporate Apartment Specialists, Inc. in Arlington, VA. She is also a Partner in seven (7) Value Place Hotel Franchises in South Carolina and Georgia. Tania is al alumnus of the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA, and currently lives in Arlington, VA with her husband, Ned, and two children.
 Haik Gugarats
Treasurer
Haik Gugarats holds a Master's degree in International Relations and International Finance from the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University. His professional experience includes stints at the American Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia and the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C. During his career at both embassies, Haik worked on Armenia's economic and democratic development and public advocacy. His work at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia earned him three State Department Meritorious Honor Awards (1996, 1998, and 1999). Over the last decade, he has helped nearly 40 Armenian-American couples adopting orphans from Armenia. A native of Yerevan, Armenia, Haik currently lives in Washington, D.C. and works in structured finance.
Paulette Hogroian Kelley
Secretary
Paulette Kelley was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the Washington area, and Paris, France. She graduated from Marymount University in 1987. As Coordinator at Freddie Mac, Paulette has worked for both Corporate Planning and Budgeting and Corporate Affairs departments. She is a mother of two great boys, John (Kirby) - age 9, and Mark ('Marky'), age 7. They live in Falls Church, Virginia and the boys attend Haycock Elementary. Paulette is active in the school's after school program this fall, and beginning the process of adopting from Armenia and also dedicating this journey in memory of my aunt, Arax Hogroian, who died this past winter. Her two sons were baptized in the Armenian Church (St. Mary's) in Washington, DC, in 2002.
 Mike Airumian, M.D., PhD
Mike Airumian earned a medical degree in Pediatrics from St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical Academy in 1993 and a PhD in Social Medicine from Pavlov State Medical University in 1996, both in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has volunteered and worked for several non-profit organizations including Physicians for Human Rights, the Russian Orphanage Association, Firefly Children's Network and Mobility International USA. He currently works for the Department of Health and Human Services and serves as President of the DC Chapter of the Russian American Medical Association. In 1999, he and his wife Susie adopted their oldest daughter. Now a family of five, they live in Maryland and have traveled to Armenia to visit the orphanage in Gavar.
Len Rann, MBA, JD
Len is a banker by trade; with over 12 years in banking, Len presently is a commercial banker for Branch Banking & Trust company in Washington DC. His primary functions are commercial lending and underwriting for an active portfolio of middle market commercial and industrial clients, as well as government service providers. He has been doing this since he moved to DC area with his wife from Cleveland, OH three years ago. Prior to that Len worked as a business banker for Key Bank. In addition, Len spent about six years working as a VP of International Affairs for ZPR Inc., a Cleveland company with holdings mainly in Eastern Block and Russia. His managerial functions included business development, procurement and logistics.
Len enjoys reading historical novels and traveling.
Natalie Rann, BA - Accounting
Natalie spent her entire professional career in the area of bookkeeping and accounting. As she progressed, she had an opportunity to work for manufacturing, health care and real estate companies as a staff accountant, and presently operates a small home-based business, LNR Services, where she supports small businesses with their day-to-day accounting, payroll and bookkeeping services.
Natalie is active in the Armenian Church and since Len and Natalie travel often to Cleveland, she finds opportunities to help both congregations. A product of a loving family that is very much into arts, Natalie is well versed in music, literature and visual arts, which comprises her hobbies.
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