SOAR - Portland (OR) Chapter
Portland became part of the SOAR family in August 2013, joining SOAR-Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. Meeting an Armenian in Portland is not a common occurrence, with approximately 300 Armenians families residing in and around the city. Most Armenians in Portland are second, third and fourth generation Armenian-Americans, while others come from Armenia and various other countries of the Armenian Diaspora.
SOAR Promotional Video
Special thanks and credits for this video to:
Armen Tshagharyan at ROMB Studios – Visit his YouTube Channel HERE
SOAR Portland (OR) Chapter
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Gregory Petrossian
President
Gregory (Greg) Petrossian is a Portland, OR native. In his youth he was a student of the Armenian Community of Oregon and a member of St. Kevork’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Oregon. After he visited Armenia for the first time in 2006, he vowed to find an opportunity in the states to help orphaned kids like the ones he met in Karabakh and Yerevan. After all these years searching for such an opportunity, he was ecstatic to serve as a member of SOAR’s Baltimore Chapter in 2015 while living there for grad school. He boomeranged back to Portland in 2017 and was offered the opportunity to revive the SOAR Portland Chapter in 2019 as President. Greg strives to organize fun, family-friendly fundraising events to bring the Armenian community closer together for a great cause.
Greg earned his B.S. degrees in Microbiology and Bioresource Research, as well as a B.A. in International Studies from Oregon State University. He then moved to Baltimore, MD to earn his M.S. in Healthcare Management from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He now works as the Microsoft Partnership, Global Lead at DataStax.
Garineh Baghdasarian
Event Coordinator
Garineh is a born and raised Los Angeles Armenian. She completed her bachelor’s degree of Interior Design and minor in Art at California State University of Northridge. After graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon with the purpose of exploring life outside of LA.
When she experienced major culture shock and missed her Armenian connection, she realized how important it is to a person’s identity to maintain their connection to their roots.
St. Kevork’s Church was the first place she met Oregon Armenians and soon after would surprisingly bump into more in the area. She then participated in the Birthright Armenia Program in 2019 as her first visit to Armenia.
After returning to Portland, her involvement in the community continued. In 2023 she instructed the “paint and sip” for SOAR’s fundraising event, and officially accepted her position as Event Coordinator in 2024.
Her goal is to continue sharing her skills in art and event planning to bring community, growth, and connection into the lives of Armenians in Portland, while helping support Armenians in Armenia.
Ashley Chiampi
Social Media Director
Ashley Chiampi is a dynamic marketing professional with a deep passion for her work and heritage. Born of Armenian and Italian descent, Ashley’s roots trace back to Adana Cilicia, Armenia. Her family emigrated to America in 1921 following the Armenian Genocide. Growing up in Southern Oregon, Ashley and her father were the only Armenians in their town, fostering a profound appreciation for her cultural heritage.
Ashley’s passion for connecting with people and telling compelling stories led her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration Marketing from Southern Oregon University. Her career seamlessly blends creative flair with strategic thinking.
Beyond her professional life, Ashley is dedicated to community service and global humanitarian efforts. As the former President of Interact Disaster and Humanitarian Relief, she led initiatives to fund local school improvements and supported international projects like Polio Plus and Doctors Without Borders. Her volunteer work with Rotary International included trips to the Philippines, where she helped build homes in impoverished areas and provided veterinary care.
Currently, as the Social Media Director at SOAR Portland, Ashley leverages her diverse skills and dedication to make a difference. Her journey from a small town in Oregon to reconnecting with her Armenian roots showcases her resilience and determination. Ashley’s mission transcends marketing; she aims to use her platform to amplify voices, share stories, and create meaningful change for orphaned Armenian children worldwide.
Brian Dikran Moreland
Brian Dikran Moreland was born and raised in Southern California. He is no stranger to the story of Armenian orphans as he grew up attending fundraising events for his Grandmother’s and Great Aunt’s organization in Los Angeles, the Greek-Armenian Association.
Brian served in the United States Marine Corps from 2009-2014. After his tour in Afghanistan, he became committed to finding ways to do good in the world. When his enlistment ended, he went on to earn an A.A. degree in Philosophy from Fresno City College, a B.A. in International Policy, and a M.A. in International Policy and Development from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
During his studies, Brian spent the summer of 2018 discovering his roots and volunteering in Vanadzor, Armenia through Birthright Armenia. He returned to Armenia in 2019 to study Armenian language through Arizona State University’s Critical Languages Institute programming.
Brian moved to Oregon in late 2019, and works in the crypto industry. He resides in Salem with his wife, daughter, and dog.