SOAR - Philadelphia Metro Chapter
In November 2011, SOAR’s Executive Board voted unanimously to create a Chapter in Philadelphia. Although our Executive Board is based in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the consensus was that a Philadelphia Chapter would help streamline localized communication and fundraising efforts while simultaneously making our national and international efforts more efficient. The Philadelphia Metro Chapter encompasses the geographical areas of Philadelphia, Delaware, and South New Jersey.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Meline Gasparyan
Co-President
Meline Gasparyan is a Villanova University alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. With over 20 years of experience in the finance industry, she currently serves as the Head of Treasury Solutions for Business Banking at Citizens Bank. In this role, Meline leads a team of specialists dedicated to helping business owners optimize cash flow, improve time efficiency and cost savings, secure their accounts from fraud, manage foreign exchange risk, and streamline commercial card spending.
Meline was born in Kirovakan (current day Vanadzor), Armenia and moved to Southern California with her family in 1991. She had the pleasure of visiting her relatives in Armenia in 2009.
In 2011, Meline relocated to Philadelphia, where she met her husband, Sean.
Outside of her professional life, Meline embraces being a mom of spirited little one. She finds joy in volunteering, attending barre classes, hiking with her husband, and baking. Meline also enjoys visiting her family on the West Coast, including her parents, siblings, and nephews. Her dream is to one day visit Armenia with her husband and child, to share with them the beauty, history, and resilience of her homeland. Additionally, Meline has a special fondness for the holiday season, embracing the ‘more is merrier’ philosophy when it comes to Christmas decorations.
Kim Jehanian
Co-President
Personally and professionally, Kim is a proven relationship builder. Currently a Business Development Center Manager at Roberts Reedman-Toll Honda in Downingtown, PA, she is responsible for enhancing customer relations and generating new business opportunities for its service department. For 15 years prior Kim coordinated the household placement of nannies and domestic caregivers, often on behalf of high profile clients. Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Kim is a lifelong and active member of the Armenian community. The years spent at Camp Hayastan as a young camper and counselor, reinforced Kim’s love for the Armenian heritage that had been instilled at an early age by her parents. It also compelled her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree from Cabrini University in Early and Elementary Education. Throughout the years Kim has assumed numerous leadership roles on fundraising and event planning committees for various organizations, all of which helped groom her as a Board member of St. Gregory’s Armenian Church. Kim counts among her greatest experiences her recent travels to Armenia during which she visited several orphanages. She loved interacting with the children, one of whom she considers herself blessed to now call niece. Kim is eager to bring her professionalism, enthusiasm, creativity, and sincere commitment to the SOAR Board in support of accomplishing its mission.
Danielle Jehanian
Treasurer
Born in Brooklyn NY and raised in California, Danielle has been involved in the Armenian community. She has been a member of the Montebello Homenetmen scouts, as well as the Montebello Vahan Kardashian AYF chapter. She attended Armenian Mesrobian school for 13 years and graduated in 1983. Danielle graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education. She gave back to the Armenian community by teaching at Ari Giragos Armenian School in Santa Ana, Ca where she taught Kindergarten for three years. The following year she returned to her alma mater where she became the preschool director, as well as the pre-kindergarten teacher.
In 2001, she married Raffi Jehanian and moved to Pennsylvania. She continued to help the Armenian community by teaching Sunday School classes and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church. Danielle joined the SOAR Philadelphia chapter in 2015 and is now the treasurer. Since moving to Pennsylvania, Danielle has been working with young children. She teaches at Chesterbrook Academy at Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square where she runs the infant program. Danielle has been teaching for over 35 years and has been with infants for over 20 years.
Danielle and her husband Raffi have two children, Teni and Anna. They reside in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
Jessica Injaian
Jessica Injaian graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Management. Jessica thereafter lived in Yerevan, Armenia for approximately six months volunteering with Birthright Armenia. During her time in Yerevan, Jessica worked with the Caucasus Research Resource Center where she contributed to projects related to Armenian-Turkish relations and Armenian rural infrastructure. Jessica thereafter obtained her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University and is a lawyer in the State of New Jersey.
Sareen Minasian
Sareen Minasian attended the Armenian Sisters Academy from kindergarten through 8th grade. She attended the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur and graduated with honors. She was president of the first ever Armenian Club for four years. She has served as vice-president and president for both Soar Jrs. and the ACYOA of Philadelphia. She is an active member of St. Marks Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, PA.
She is a sophomore at Bucknell University, an executive member of her sorority, Chi Omega, and on the dean’s list majoring in Political Science.
Maggie Odabashian
Maggie Odabashian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Villanova University with a major in Management Information Systems. She has over fifteen years of experience in the areas of consulting, project management, software implementations, business process improvement, software enhancements, and ongoing support. After a break from her career to start a family, Maggie recently returned to work as a technology teacher at Armenian Sisters Academy. Maggie and her husband Steve live in Paoli, PA with their 4 children.
Liliana Yacoubian
Liliana Yacoubian was adopted from Armenia in 2006. She attended the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA from kindergarten through 8th grade and is a parishioner of St. Marks Armenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood, PA. She attends Penn State University (main campus), majoring in Health Sciences. She was a founding member and former President of SOAR Philadelphia Juniors.