ALTADENA, Calif. — Representatives of the Central Board of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada (TCA) introduced their new executive secretary for the West Coast, Mayda Kuredjian, to local Tekeyan executive members and leaders of various Los Angeles Armenian organizations on January 16 at the TCA Beshgeturian Center in Altadena. Leaders of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL), the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party were present along with cultural figures and media representatives such as editors from the California Courier, Massis, Baikar and Armenian Mirror-Spectator.
TCA Executive Director Aram Arkun served as master of ceremonies. He and TCA Central Board President Edmond Y. Azadian spoke highly of Kuredjian’s background and experience. She grew up in Beirut with her life intertwined with TCA’s activities. She attained leadership positions in ADL and TCA at a young age due to her energy and passion, two characteristics which remain inextricably associated with her to this day.
Kuredjian graduated Haigazian University in Beirut in 1982 with dual degrees in business administration and political science. With her command of English, Armenian and Arabic (and some additional knowledge of French and Turkish), she became involved in the activities of many Armenian organizations and served as editor of the Women’s Page of the Zartonk newspaper in Beirut in the 1980s.
She moved to Boston in 1988, where she strengthened her association with TCA and worked as executive secretary for the entire organization from its headquarters in Watertown for over a year. She then worked as executive secretary for the AGBU’s New England District, again for more than a year, until August 1990.
Kuredjian worked as a travel agent in Boston for five years, establishing and running her own agency from 1991 to 1995. Although by then a US citizen, she moved back to Beirut to form a family and raise her children. She established an event-planning organization, Mayda Events, which she founded in 1998. Reestablishing her ties with Haigazian University, she served as the latter’s 60th anniversary event coordinator in 2014-15 and then as its job placement officer from 2015 until she returned to the US at the end of last year.
While in Lebanon, she continued to volunteer for TCA, and held positions such as secretary of the District Committee of Lebanon, Youth Director, Women’s Committee member, and Vahan Tekeyan School Educational Committee member. She also volunteered as a board member and activities director for the American Women’s Club of Lebanon, secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of Haigazian University, chair of the AGBU Veteran Scouts Movement, chair of the AGBU Lebanon Schools Alumni, chair of the AGBU/AYA Mothers’ Committee, co-chair of the AGBU/AYA Antelias Executive Committee, and treasurer of the Armenian Catholicosate Naregatsi Children’s Choir.
