The Founder
Nishan Nahikian
Nordoun Housing nonprofit was conceived and founded by engineer Nishan Nahikian.
It has been his personal goal to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors.
Der Vahram Nahikian
Nishan’s great-grandfather: Der Vahram was martyred in 1895 for his faith and Armenian allegiance.
Dr. Nishan Nahikian
Nishan’s grandfather: Dr. Nishan was an Armenian hero and martyred in Kharpert in 1915.
Eng./Diplomat Vahram Nahikian
Nishan’s father: Engineer/Architect Vahram, a survivor of the 1915 Genocide, dedicated his early professional years to building housing for the Armenian refugees in Tyre/Sour and Musa Dagh survivors in Anjar between 1939 and 1941.
The Board
Nishan Nahikian, Founder and Chair
Mr. Nahikian graduated with dual degrees in Structural Engineering and Economics before going on to establish two Prestressed Concrete production and installation facilities: Newstress S.A.R.L. overseas in the 1970s and Newstress Inc. in the US, which he has been operating since 1983 to service projects throughout the United States. Mr. Nahikian is certified by ACI, PCI (for life), and IBC and has been on the cutting edge of his field as an inventor and entrepreneur. He is generously offering to transfer all his accumulated knowledge, education, professional and business experience to support Nordoun’s mission.
Dr. Siobhan Nash-Marshall
Dr. Nash-Marshall is a professor of philosophy, the Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy at Manhattanville College., a public speaker and an author of many titles, including ones examining the Armenian Genocide. In 2014, she co-founded the Christians In Need Foundation which performs charitable works around the world and is currently very active in Artsakh.
Tina Hovsepian, AIA, NCARB
Ms. Hovsepian is an architect, inventor and humanitarian. She founded Cardborigami and co-founded Angels 4 Armenia, which is presently supporting the people of Artsakh in their time of need.
Vartkes Tamzarian
Mr. Tamzarian is a real estate business owner, community philanthropist, and generous supporter for many Armenians escaping persecution and settling in the United States over the last few decades.
Taline Festekjian, Esq.
Ms. Festekjian is a highly regarded attorney, currently serving as General Counsel for a Capital Management firm in New York City. She was a former board member of Armenian Bar Association and is an avid supporter of many Armenian charitable organizations and efforts.
Arsineh Aghakhani, Esq.
Ms. Aghakhani is a trial attorney and business owner in the State of California. She recently founded Angels 4 Armenia, a non-profit organization to deliver aid/necessities to those who have been displaced from Artsakh in Armenia.
Officers
Nishan Nahikian,
President
Mr. Nahikian graduated with dual degrees in Structural Engineering and Economics before going on to establish two Prestressed Concrete production and installation facilities: Newstress S.A.R.L. overseas in the 1970s and Newstress Inc. in the US, which he has been operating since 1983 to service projects throughout the United States. Mr. Nahikian is certified by ACI, PCI (for life), and IBC and has been on the cutting edge of his field as an inventor and entrepreneur. He is generously offering to transfer all his accumulated knowledge, education, professional and business experience to support Nordoun’s mission.
Knar A. Nahikian, Esq.,
Vice President
Ms. Nahikian is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator based in New York City with large firm and in-house experience who founded Knar Law & ADR, a law practice specializing in dispute resolution. In addition to working with private clients, Ms. Nahikian serves as a court-appointed Mediator and Arbitrator. She is a New York State Certified Mediator, a AAA-ICDR Higginbotham Fellow, and a coach and mentor for new mediators. She is active with several bar associations and is passionate about Armenian causes.
Piruz Pirumyan,
Treasurer
Ms. Pirumyan is a Financial Professional and Small Business Advisor with over fifteen years of experience in corporate business banking and Financial Services. As a humanitarian and the founder of AramAlexandra Help Foundation, she has been working with and financially supporting families of Wounded and Fallen Soldiers of Artsakh War. She also owns her own financial consulting firm that specializes in personal and business consulting.
Arsineh Aghakhani, Esq.,
Secretary
Ms. Aghakhani is a trial attorney and business owner in the State of California. She recently founded Angels 4 Armenia, a non-profit organization to deliver aid/necessities to those who have been displaced from Artsakh in Armenia.
The Nordoun Team
Arsineh Aghakhani, Esq.
Ms. Aghakhani is a trial attorney and business owner in the State of California. She recently founded Angels 4 Armenia, a non-profit organization to deliver aid/necessities to those who have been displaced from Artsakh in Armenia.
Harry Arzoumanian, PE
Mr. Arzoumanian is a Professional Engineer with experience in the engineering design, construction management, and plan checks of public and private development projects, including several Public Works projects for the City of Los Angeles.
Narineh Azalbar
Ms. Azalbar is an international businesswoman with an MBA in Industrial Management Organization who currently serves as the CEO of Global Fairs Ltd in Armenia, the official representative of Deutsche Messe AG and Koelnmesse GmbH in Armenia & Iran. She speaks four languages: Armenian, Persian, English & German, and is passionate about helping those who have been through traumatic and stressful experiences.
Alan Bagatourian, PE
Mr. Bagatourian is a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of California, with a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering. Working with his father, he serves as VP of their structural steel fabricating business where he enjoys hands-on challenges with fabricating and installing steel.
Arsham Hayrikian, PE
Mr. Hayrikian is a Professional Engineer with experience in the field of geotechnical engineering, currently working in the private sector as a staff engineer. He also serves as a Deputy Grading Inspector for the City of Los Angeles.
Tina Hovsepian, AIA, NCARB
Ms. Hovsepian is an award winning Architect licensed in seven states with her own business operating in California, as well as the founder and Board Chair of Cardborigami, a non profit with whose centerpiece product is her patented shelter design, and co-founder of Angels 4 Armenia nonprofit.
Leah Kahwadjian
Ms. Kahwadjian is a web developer working at a US digital agency. She visited Armenia for the first time in 2013 through Birthright Armenia, an organization aimed at giving the Diasporan youth a chance of living, working, and traveling Armenia. Her primary goal is to use her front end and marketing skills to maximize Nordoun Housing’s online presence.
Lara Kaiserian
Ms. Kaiserian is an architectural engineer, specializing in lighting and electrical design. She enjoys using her professional training to support meaningful work and has served with numerous international NGOs. Her experience includes a year volunteering with various education and development organizations in Armenia, and most recently, she spent a year in Peru designing the lighting and electrical systems for a new primary school in an underserved community.
Knar A. Nahikian, Esq.
Ms. Nahikian is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator based in New York City with large firm and in-house experience who founded Knar Law & ADR, a law practice specializing in dispute resolution. In addition to working with private clients, Ms. Nahikian serves as a court-appointed Mediator and Arbitrator. She is a New York State Certified Mediator, a AAA-ICDR Higginbotham Fellow, and a coach and mentor for new mediators. She is active with several bar associations and is passionate about Armenian causes.
Marianna Smbatian
Ms. Smbatian works as an Executive Assistant at Discovery Inc supporting two Senior Vice Presidents. She also has over 10 years of experience managing government healthcare contracts for the Military.
Paul Sookiasian
Mr. Sookiasian is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has worked in Armenia for media and development organizations and most recently served as one of the organizers of the World Congress on Information Technology 2019 Yerevan. He is the president of the board of HDIF-USA, a NGO which creates jobs and promotes regional economic development in Armenia through handmade crafts.
Piruz Pirumyan
Ms. Pirumyan is a Financial Professional and Small Business Advisor with over fifteen years of experience in corporate business banking and Financial Services. As a humanitarian and the founder of AramAlexandra Help Foundation, she has been working with and financially supporting families of Wounded and Fallen Soldiers of Artsakh War. She also owns her own financial consulting firm that specializes in personal and business consulting.
Garabed Sarkessian
Mr. Sarkessian is a proud graduate of the School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania. His specialization is BSME Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. After 37 years of working at Lockheed Martin, Garabed has moved into a new role where he focuses on Energy Management and Co-generation. Living in the Philadelphia suburbs with his family gives Garabed a chance to enjoy playing golf and tennis.
Vagram Shalvardzhyan
Mr. Shalvardzhyan is a CPA and partner at MASH Accounting & Consulting LLP with over 10 years of experience in public accounting. He also serves on the board of Armenian Eagles Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small businesses in the Tavush region.