Bric, Jordan, Majnoonian & Cartozian will be honored for service to community
BURBANK, Calif.—The Armenian National Committee of America, Burbank (Burbank ANCA) is excited to announce the honorees for its 8th annual banquet that would be held at Arbat Banquet Hall on May 8th, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Kirk Cartozian will be receiving the George Mardikian award for Civic Business Leadership. He served as both Mayor and Councilmember for the City of Downey from 2000-2008. Cartozian is a California State licensed real estate broker, and the Principal/CEO of Cartozian Associates Real Estate (CARE). He has a lengthy work resume in the real estate, government, and consulting sectors, having previously handled transactions, land use entitlement, and government affairs for Curt Pringle & Assoc. in Anaheim. Today, Cartozian Associates has grown into one of the leading real estate brokerage, transaction and consultancy firms in the region, benefiting both private sector companies and public agencies especially as it relates to land use matters. In addition to commercial brokerage, CARE offices services include project support, government negotiations, permitting/entitlement work, and strategic planning. Cartozian received his Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA/MRED (Master of Business Administration/Master of Real Estate Development) degree from the University of Southern California. He served on the USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy Board, as well as on its Board of Councilors. He also serves at a board member at the Lusk Center for Real Estate. Cartozian previously served as the Chairman of the Eco-Rapid Transit, a 15 member city joint powers authority aimed at delivering a high-speed, above-grade, environmentally-friendly transportation project connecting LA to OC.
Dr. Frieda Jordan will be receiving the Levon Shant award for Civic Engagement. Dr. Jordan’s dedication to the field of immune genetics goes far beyond her workday life. As co-founder and president of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, she educates communities throughout the world about the importance of bone marrow donor registries, identifies patients in need, and recruits donors for transplants that will save the lives of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases. In 2009 ABMDR also established Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Armenia. Stem Cell harvesting center has brought new technology in the field of medicine and science to Armenia. With ABMDR highly specialized tissue typing center the stem cell harvesting center can bring new revenues from other countries in the region, and has made Armenia a vital and active player among international transplantation centers worldwide. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from King’s College/London University, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the St. Nerses the Graceful (St. Nerses Shnorhali) Medal, which was conferred on Dr. Jordan by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians in 2012.
Gary Bric will be receiving the William Saroyan award for community activism. He is a lifelong resident of Burbank with a contagious dedication to this community and Public Service. Bric was first elected to the Burbank City Council in 2007, named Vice-Mayor in 2008, Mayor in 2009 and re-elected to City Council in 2011. Bric finished his eighth year on City Council on May 1, 2015. He has lived in Burbank since 1953 and has an extraordinary record of civic participation including memberships in the Elk and Moose Clubs, Burbank Men’s Golf Club, California Restaurant Association and Chamber of Commerce. Prior to being elected to City Council, Bric served four years on the City’s Traffic and Transportation Committee. As a Council Member he served on the Affordable Housing Advisory Subcommittee, Audit Subcommittee and Fiscal & Treasurer’s Review Group and as a liaison to the Sister City Committee. He was incredibly involved at the regional level on transportation issues where he served as a member of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Arroyo Verdugo Sub region of Southern California Association of Governments and as a member of the San Fernando Valley Service Sector Governance Council for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Additionally, he represented the City at the Valley Economic Alliance and the League of California Cities. Since 1993, Bric has owned and operated The Ramp restaurant where he has the privilege of interacting with so many citizens. He is a 1970 graduate of Burbank High School and attended the University of Portland and Los Angeles Valley College.
Araz Majnoonian of the Burbank AYF Varak Chapter will be receiving the Karekin Njdeh Award for youth activist of the year.
This year’s banquet will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ANCA in Burbank. Over the last quarter century, the ANCA has played a vital role in educating and engaging the growing Armenian American community in Burbank civic life.
Tickets can be purchased at itsmyseat.com or by contacting Liliane Arejian (818) 469-7671 or email rsvp@ancaburbank.org.