Danny Mantis, Chair
St. Mesrob, Racine, WI

Danny Mantis recently graduated from Carthage College in 2009 with a B.A. in both Business Administration and Accounting. He took an active role in the ACYOA when he became a member of the St. Mesrob parish in Racine, WI. Danny became more involved in the ACYOA upon turning 18, at which point he became the Chairman of his local ACYOA for two years, which continues to focus its efforts on serving both the Armenian and non-Armenian communities in Racine through Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, and other service activities.

He has attended numerous Leadership Conferences, Regional Conferences and represented his parish as a delegate to General Assembly for the past 4 years. At the 2007 General Assembly, he was elected to the Nominating Committee, and in 2009 had the honor of serving as Chairman of General Assembly.

On a broader scale, Danny traveled to Armenia in both 2006 and 2007 to participate in Habitat for Humanity. During the summer of 2008, he participated in the AGBU New York Summer Internship Program by working at the Diocese as an intern in the Finance department.

Jonathan Pelaez, Treasurer
St. Mary, Livingston, NJ

Jonathan Pelaez is currently an Accountant. He has been active in the Armenian Church since a very young age and serves as a Sub Deacon at St. Mary in Livingston, NJ. After reactivating his parish's ACYOA Seniors chapter after nearly 30 years of inactivity, Jonathan served as Chairman for 4 years, and currently holds the position of Vice-Chairman. Jonathan traveled to Armenia in 2009 on the Armenia Service Program (ASP) and has taken part in several Diocese Leadership Conferences, Regional Conferences, St. Nersess Mission Trips, as well as participating and counseling at St. Nersess conferences as well as St. Vartan Camp. In 2009, Jonathan served on the General Assembly and Sports Weekend Committee. He was also elected in 2008 to the Nominating Committee for the 2009 General Assembly. Jonathan graduated from William Patterson University in Wayne, NJ in 2011 with a Bachelor's in Accounting.

Karen Dardarian, Vice Chair
St. John's Armenian Church, Detroit, MI

Karen is a dedicated member of St. John's Armenian Church in Detroit. This is Karen's second year on Central Council. She previously served as secretary. Prior to her election to Central Council, she served as Chairman of the Detroit ACYOA Seniors chapter.

In 2010, Karen received the Sam Nersesian award, given to an individual who has displayed the Christian values of love, patience, humility, and understanding.

Karen played a significant role in helping her ACYOA Chapter obtain the "Chapter A" award at the 2009 General Assembly. She also chaired the 2009 Nominating Committee, participated in the 2007 Armenian Service Program and her most memorable experience, volunteering in Armenia for Habitat for Humanity. Karen was a camper and counselor at Hye Camp for 10 years and at AGBU Camp Nubar staff member/Girls Head Counselor for 3 years. Karen has also participated at the St. Nersess Summer Studies Program, Annual ACYOA Leadership Conference, Chapter Workshop, and much more. Karen hopes to bring her leadership skills, enthusiasm and wide variety of experiences to help build and promote the five circles of the cross as a Central Council member of the ACYOA.

Karen graduated from Oakland University with a B.A. of Arts in Communication and minor in Advertising. She also has a certificate in Merchandising Management from Madonna University. Karen is currently a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University studying Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising.

Ani Grigorian, Secretary

Beginning at age eight, Ani attended Hye Camp and St. Vartan Camp as a camper and later served as a staff member at both camps as well. Over the years Ani has also interned with the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington D.C. as well as worked as Intern Coordinator. She has attended numerous St. Nersess Summer Conferences, and has travelled extensively in the United States representing her church and ACYOA at various retreats, workshops and leadership conferences.

Ani has traveled to Armenia three times over the past eight years; the first, visiting hospitals and orphanages, the second, with the Armenia Service Program in 2008 and most recently, volunteering for 6 months in 2011 with Birthright Armenia and the Armenian Volunteer Corps.

Ani graduated in 2010 from Carthage College with a B.A. and double major in Communication and Public Relations and minored in Business Administration. She currently is living in Chicago, IL, working in Online Marketing. While living there, she has continued to stay closely involved with her home chapter and parish, as well as with the Chicagoland area churches.

She is passionate about her church, her heritage and her people. She hopes to carry out that same passion as she serves the ACYOA on Central Council.

Armen Terjimanian, Public Relations
St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC

Armen Terjimanian has been an active member of St. Mary Armenian Church since he moved to the Washington, DC six years ago. He has served on the parish's ACYOA executive board the past four years in various roles, including Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Corresponding Secretary. Armen is also an ordained Sub-Deacon and usually spends his Sunday mornings serving on the altar during Badarak. He has also occasionally substituted as a Sunday School teacher. Armen's involvement with ACYOA also includes participating as a delegate at General Assembly, attending the Annual Leadership Conference and chapter/regional workshops, and traveling to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage in 2007. He also served as a St. Nersess Summer Conference counselor in 2009 and 2010.

Armen's involvement with the Armenian Church developed during his childhood while attending St. John's Armenian Church in Detroit, where he graduated from the parish's Sunday School. He served on the altar as an acolyte at St. John's. Armen also was involved with the University of Michigan's Armenian Students Cultural Association during his undergraduate years and completed internship programs with the Armenian Assembly of America and the AGBU.

Armen graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Film & Video Studies and Political Science. He also received a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He currently works at Georgetown University as a Web Content Producer.

Adrienne Ashbahian, Special Projects Coordinator
St. Leon Armenian Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Adrienne is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy with her Doctorate in Pharmacy. She is currently a resident of Philadelphia and a member of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob ACYOA Seniors chapter. Adrienne grew up at St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, NJ and is a graduate of St. Leon's Sunday School.

Adrienne is a very dedicated member of the Armenian community. She spent thirteen summers at St. Vartan Camp, working her way from camper to Girls Head Counselor. Adrienne loves to give back to the home of St. Vartan Camp, the Ararat Center, by participating in Ararat Center Work Weekends. The St. Nersess Summer and Winter Conferences have had a profound impact on her faith, and she has been a proud supporter as a participant and counselor since 2001. Adrienne also helps to organize volunteers for and run both the St. Nersess Evening Under the Stars and the St. Nersess Annual Father's Day Picnic. Adrienne spent many of her spring breaks with the College Ministry's Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge program. She has attended many past ACYOA Leadership Conferences and served as a facilitator for the most recent conference in New York City. Adrienne considers herself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem not once but twice, as well as travel to her homeland with the Armenia Service Program in 2005.

Inspired by her parent's leadership and commitment to the church, Adrienne is very much looking forward to bringing her devoted, faithful spirit to serving the ACYOA.

Olivia Derderian, Programming
St Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church, White Plains, NY

Olivia Derderian is a very active member of her church. She has been part of the ACYOA since she was 13 years old. For the past two years, she has been the chairperson of the ACYOA seniors. This year she helped plan the 2nd annual ACYOA alumni ball with members of her ACYOA and Central Council and is on the Nominating Committee.

Olivia has attended many national events such as leadership conferences and chapter workshops, attended St Nersess Seminary Summer Conferences from the years 2001-2007, attended and worked as a counselor at St Vartan Camp from the years 2000-2007, and participated in the Armenia Service Project (ASP) trip in the summer of 2007.

Olivia graduated Manhattan College in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. She is currently at Manhattan College doing research and is finishing her first of a two year masters program in Environmental Engineering.

Nancy Basmajian, Executive Secretary
Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cheltenham, PA

An active member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cheltenham, PA, Nancy Basmajian holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and psychology. Nancy attended St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY, and Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia where she received a Master of Divinity. She has served the Diocese for over 20 years as Co-Director of the Diocesan Department of Religious Education, Director of the ACYOA Juniors and Program Director at St. Vartan Camp. Nancy was appointed ACYOA Executive Secretary in March of 2003 and since then has effectively established an ACYOA presence at the Diocese. She works under the guidance of the Primate through the Department of Youth and Education and is responsible for the day-to-day administrative operation of the ACYOA as well as supporting and implementing the goals and programs of the Central Council.