APS Honors Gassia Apkarian and Armen Vartanian

• By Tristan Longwell

• Glendale NewsPress

The Armenian Professional Society’s (APS) Annual Gala, which was held on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Metropol Event Venue in Glendale, is a culmination of the various events the nonprofit volunteer organization hosts.

“These events focus on building and improving the community by creating opportunities for Armenians to network for personal and business growth,” co-director Haik Gregoryan told the News-Press.

APS, established in 1958 and headquartered in Glendale, seeks to promote and recognize Armenian businesses and individuals, said Gregoryan. He said the organization’s goal is to help Armenians grow together and help each other find opportunities in and beyond the community.

“The goal and the mission has truly been to connect Armenians in the community, offer them a space to network and meet individuals of different industries…different mindsets,” he said.

The nonprofit holds fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for the higher education scholarships it delves out, he added.

For its events, APS tries to find locally, Armenian-owned venues and caterers to promote those businesses, Gregoryan said. The organization also primarily hosts its functions in Glendale, he added.

For its annual gala, APS invites members to nominate accomplished Armenian individuals who have made contributions to the community. During the gala, APS also awarded 10 Armenian students who are enrolled in U.S. graduate programs with $5,000 scholarships, co-director Ani Petrosyan said.

“It’s about fellowship, community, education and really just uplifting the next generation,” she told the News-Press.

She said the organization also has a partnership with the American University of Armenia and gives scholarships to students based in Armenia.

This year, Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County Gassia Apkarian and Armen Vartanian, founder of Oceanview Capital Partners Inc., were award recipients.

As “Professional of the Year” awardee, Vartanian said he is a firm believer in what APS stands for. He partners with many local nonprofit organizations, including the Glendale Youth Alliance and Verdugo Job Center. He has also served as a judge for the startup competition during Glendale Tech Week for the past eight years and advises Armenian tech startups through SmartgateVC.

“The Armenian community has been a cornerstone in shaping who I am. As an immigrant from modest beginnings, I’ve faced my share of challenges,” he said in a recent speech. “These experiences taught me the value of perseverance and finding strength in adversity.”

Meanwhile, “Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient Apkarian has been involved in law, politics and public service for close to three decades. Her resume includes positions such as criminal defense attorney, country director of the Armenian Assembly of America, special assistant to the ambassador at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

“Apkarian’s legal career, combined with her political and advocacy work, reflects her deep commitment to justice, both in her judicial capacity and in her leadership within the Armenian community,” APS said in a statement. “She is a passionate volunteer and activist, especially in Armenia, where she contributed to relief efforts following the 1988 earthquake and continues to support various causes.”

APS’ most recent gala event was called “Beyond Limits: Shaping Vision into Reality,” which highlighted five successful Armenian professionals who shared their career journeys with more than 100 attendees.