SOAR - South Florida Chapter
South Florida joined the SOAR family in August 2011. SOAR-South Florida boasts an enthusiastic and diverse Board of Directors with a vast array of humanitarian experience. The establishment of the Armenian community in South Florida dates to the early 20th century. Its progressively rapid growth culminated in the establishment of a new church parish in the 1940’s under the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. Now with two Armenian churches – St. David Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and St. Mary Armenian Church – South Florida’s Armenian population is strong and growing.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Gayane Sarkisyan
President
Gayane was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where she attended Physics-Mathematics High School at Yerevan State University. Gayane holds an MBA from Mays Graduate School of Business, Texas A&M University; Master of Science in Finance/Banking from Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics, Moscow, Russia; and Bachelor of Science in Economics from Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics. As a graduate exchange student, Gayane also spent six months at HEBO, the Institute of Higher European Studies at The Hague, Holland.
Gayane’s work experience includes positions of a lead analyst at Hewlett-Packard Americas’ Headquarters, Department of Strategy and Planning, and Tyco Flow Control, Worldwide Headquarters. She previously volunteered for Meals on Wheels, delivering food to disabled seniors in Greater Houston Area, and also volunteered as a 3rd Grade teacher at the Armenian Sunday School of St. Kevork Armenian Church, Houston, TX.
On a personal level, Gayane is a vivid lover of impressionism and fine arts, classical music, reading and international as well as domestic travel.
Michael Bezjian
Michael is a highly driven team player who is passionate about hard and impactful work and has a firm foundation for problem solving, delivering value, and leadership. His passion also extends to humanitarian work and charity.
He received his Undergraduate business degree in Finance and Masters of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Miami.
Michael is currently a Lead IT Business Analyst at World Fuel Services. He has worked with companies like NextEra Energy, Grant Thornton International, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Michael’s hobbies include value investing, exercise, travel, backgammon, reading, and writing.
Levon Kezirian
Born in Aleppo, Syria, Levon Kezirian moved to Northern New Jersey at the age of five. Growing up in New Jersey, he was very active in Armenian organizations such as AYF and Homenetmen as well as being an active member of St. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield NJ.
After attending Rutgers University and working for various media companies in New York City, Levon moved to Miami in 2008. With over 20 years of advertising/marketing experience, he is currently an Account Manager at NBC Universal, responsible for selling advertising and sponsorship opportunities for NBC/Telemundo television stations in Miami as well as across the country.
Having a paternal grandfather as a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, he has always had a strong passion and sense of pride of his heritage.
Since moving to Miami, Levon has been looking for ways to reconnect with the Armenian community so he is very excited and humbled to be joining the SOAR organization.
Mark Khachaturian
Dr. Khachaturian is the CTO of ARC Devices, Ltd since Oct of 2016 where he leads the research and development of multiple connected non-contact and light-touch vital sign measurement technologies. These technologies aimed at improving the safety, reducing the cost, and increasing the accessibility of health monitoring in the hospital and at home. Dr. Khachaturian was previously the VP of R&D at ABT Molecular Imaging where he lead the development of a small compact automated radiopharmaceutical production system for F-18 and C-11 based radio-pharmaceuticals. He holds the position of Science and Technology Advisor the CEO at ABT to support R&D projects and field issues. Prior to ABT, Dr. Khachaturian was the PET/MR Lead System Designer II at GE Healthcare, where he lead of the design and manufacture of the Signa® PET/MRI system and lead the design of the Discovery MR750w Resonance Module. Dr. Khachaturian received his PhD in Nuclear Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a focus on medical imaging. He received his Bachelors of Science in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics with a focus on radiation detection and measurement from the University of Michigan.
Tanya Racoobian
Tanya Racoobian is a Miami, Fla. native whose paternal grandparents Harry Racoobian and Satenig Chouljian Racoobian were Armenian Genocide Survivors. Tanya’s great uncle Haroutun Chouljian established an endowment with the Armenian General Benevolent Union in honor of the assistance he and his sisters received upon immigration to the U.S. Baptized at St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, Mass., Tanya has had a lifelong interest in her Armenian roots.
Professionally, Tanya’s 25-year career in public relations and integrated marketing communications has spanned the real estate, healthcare, technology and legal industries. For the last 14 years, she has worked for Baptist Health South Florida managing marketing and communications for Homestead and South Miami Hospitals and currently serves as senior content writer and editor. Her work has earned awards from the Florida Society of Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations, for whom she is a past president.
Tanya holds a Bachelor’s Degree in communications from Florida State University, from where she graduated Cum Laude and played on the women’s tennis team. Her past volunteer work includes Big Brothers Big Sisters and Save the Manatee Club. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher and the mother of two young boys.