BOSTON — City of Smile USA announced this week a leadership transition as Katrina Menzigian and Leon Ariyan, both longstanding members of the Board of Directors, assume the roles of co-chairs. Their appointment marks the next chapter in City of Smile USA’s commitment to supporting life-saving pediatric cancer care in Armenia through fundraising, advocacy and strategic partnerships in the United States.
The transition follows five years of leadership by Yelena Bisharyan, whose vision and service helped transform City of Smile USA into a stronger and more sustainable organization.
During her tenure as chair, Bisharyan played a pivotal role in strengthening the organization’s governance, expanding its fundraising capacity, building strategic partnerships, and establishing the organizational structure that positions City of Smile USA for continued growth and long-term impact.
“Yelena’s leadership has laid a remarkable foundation for the future of our organization,” said Menzigian. “We are grateful for her dedication and are committed to building on that foundation as we continue supporting children and families affected by cancer.
As existing members of the Board, Menzigian and Ariyan bring continuity, institutional knowledge and complementary professional experience to their new leadership roles. Menzigian, based in the Boston area, has spent her career in leadership roles in the global market research and consulting business, currently serving as Vice President, Everest Group. Ariyan’s career, based in the New York metro area, includes a number of entrepreneurial leadership roles in the logistics and fulfillment industry, and he currently owns and operates MoxiePrint. Both have actively served the Armenian community at various organizations throughout their lives.
“It is exciting to serve as Co-Chair alongside Levon,” said Katrina Menzigian.“We each bring a different but complimentary set of experiences and skills to the organization. Our priority is to further the goal of ensuring that every child in Armenia has access to life-saving cancer treatment, and we remain deeply committed to helping make that a reality.”
