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Foundation for Economic Development
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 323.888.0049
Fax: 323.888.0043
PRESS RELEASE
July 24, 2007
Contact: Tina Avanessian
Tel: 818.522.2482
Successful Evening of Networking among California Businesses at Marani Vodka
and Cigar Night EAST Hosted by FED
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Foundation for Economic Development of California
(FED), a contractor for the California Trade Office (CATO), hosted its
second social event, the Marani Vodka and Cigar Night East, on Tuesday, June
12 at Pasadena's famous Esquire Bar & Lounge. In attendance of the
social-business mixer were representatives from various industries in
addition to members of the Armenian Assembly, Armenian National Committee
(ANC) and representatives from The Republic of Armenia Consulate Generals
Office.
This mixer was organized by the FED in order to enhance networking among
various industries in Southern California. "This is a great chance for
business people to socialize and get to know each other. Social business
mixers such as this one allow people to get to know what CATO and the FED
are all about and what we're trying to accomplish on a social basis, which
is to strengthen economic ties between the great state of California and the
Caucus region of the world," said FED Executive Director and CATO
International Trade Specialist Johnny Nalbandian.
Those who attended the event enjoyed a gourmet California style buffet with
several original dishes including fresh salmon wrapped in grape leaves. The
night was also enhanced by a strolling guitarist who played flamenco music
throughout the evening.
Guests also enjoyed a martini bar stocked with Marani vodka, one of the FED's
corporate sponsors. Marani is a spirits producer whose vodka is made in
Armenia and is enriched with organic Armenian honey. Their products can be
purchased in over 1,000 stores nation-wide such as Safeway's Vons/Pavilions
supermarket chain and will soon be available at establishments such as Ralph's
Markets and California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants.
Similar to the Marani Vodka and Cigar Night West, another co-sponsor of the
event was Forbidden Johnny, a new XX-Calvados apple brandy with a uniquely
designed bottle that holds a cigar inside. A glassful of this brandy and
fresh rolled handmade cigars were made available to the guests throughout
the evening by Old Oaks Cigar & Liquor of Thousand Oaks, who carries this
famous brandy among others on its shelves.
Nic Nak Clothing, another California based company, sponsored the remaining
portion of the FED's budget for the event in honor of their first shipment
of their new children's line of high end trendy knitwear, produced and
hand-knitted in Armenia. The company was, in fact, so pleased with its
relationship with CATO, that Jamie Nakkashian, the designer of this new
apparel said, "The California Trade Office has done an awesome job helping
our company with this transaction and production."
FED board members also held a raffle at the event that included sponsored
prizes and gifts from various members of the California business community.
Raffle gift sponsors included Marani Spirits, Forbidden Johnny, Sun
Plastics, Esquire Bar & Lounge, Nic Nak Clothing, Alunna Optical, Old Oaks
Cigar & Liquor and J III & Company Personal Training.
A great success as over eighty different businesspeople of both Armenian
descent and other ethnic backgrounds attended. Several business owners,
corporate executives, professionals and investors were able to socialize
with one another and exchanged business cards. "We will be organizing more
events from time to time to try to bring business people together, both from
the Armenian-American community and others as well," said Nalbandian. "It
is one of our goals to get other ethnic communities beyond
Armenian-Americans interested in the FED's work with CATO."
Although the FED does not have any future social-business mixers planned at
this time, they are eager to host a business town hall meeting in the fall
with the Armenian Consulate Generals Office, Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce and California Trade Office. The focal point of this town hall
meeting will be trade and the importing and exporting of several different
products. This same group of agencies is also planning a three-day trade
expo and conference that will take place in the spring. The dates for these
events will be announced at a further date.
For further information on the work of CATO, please visit their web site at
www.armenia.ca.gov.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 323.888.0049
Fax: 323.888.0043
PRESS RELEASE
July 24, 2007
Contact: Tina Avanessian
Tel: 818.522.2482
Successful Evening of Networking among California Businesses at Marani Vodka
and Cigar Night EAST Hosted by FED
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Foundation for Economic Development of California
(FED), a contractor for the California Trade Office (CATO), hosted its
second social event, the Marani Vodka and Cigar Night East, on Tuesday, June
12 at Pasadena's famous Esquire Bar & Lounge. In attendance of the
social-business mixer were representatives from various industries in
addition to members of the Armenian Assembly, Armenian National Committee
(ANC) and representatives from The Republic of Armenia Consulate Generals
Office.
This mixer was organized by the FED in order to enhance networking among
various industries in Southern California. "This is a great chance for
business people to socialize and get to know each other. Social business
mixers such as this one allow people to get to know what CATO and the FED
are all about and what we're trying to accomplish on a social basis, which
is to strengthen economic ties between the great state of California and the
Caucus region of the world," said FED Executive Director and CATO
International Trade Specialist Johnny Nalbandian.
Those who attended the event enjoyed a gourmet California style buffet with
several original dishes including fresh salmon wrapped in grape leaves. The
night was also enhanced by a strolling guitarist who played flamenco music
throughout the evening.
Guests also enjoyed a martini bar stocked with Marani vodka, one of the FED's
corporate sponsors. Marani is a spirits producer whose vodka is made in
Armenia and is enriched with organic Armenian honey. Their products can be
purchased in over 1,000 stores nation-wide such as Safeway's Vons/Pavilions
supermarket chain and will soon be available at establishments such as Ralph's
Markets and California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants.
Similar to the Marani Vodka and Cigar Night West, another co-sponsor of the
event was Forbidden Johnny, a new XX-Calvados apple brandy with a uniquely
designed bottle that holds a cigar inside. A glassful of this brandy and
fresh rolled handmade cigars were made available to the guests throughout
the evening by Old Oaks Cigar & Liquor of Thousand Oaks, who carries this
famous brandy among others on its shelves.
Nic Nak Clothing, another California based company, sponsored the remaining
portion of the FED's budget for the event in honor of their first shipment
of their new children's line of high end trendy knitwear, produced and
hand-knitted in Armenia. The company was, in fact, so pleased with its
relationship with CATO, that Jamie Nakkashian, the designer of this new
apparel said, "The California Trade Office has done an awesome job helping
our company with this transaction and production."
FED board members also held a raffle at the event that included sponsored
prizes and gifts from various members of the California business community.
Raffle gift sponsors included Marani Spirits, Forbidden Johnny, Sun
Plastics, Esquire Bar & Lounge, Nic Nak Clothing, Alunna Optical, Old Oaks
Cigar & Liquor and J III & Company Personal Training.
A great success as over eighty different businesspeople of both Armenian
descent and other ethnic backgrounds attended. Several business owners,
corporate executives, professionals and investors were able to socialize
with one another and exchanged business cards. "We will be organizing more
events from time to time to try to bring business people together, both from
the Armenian-American community and others as well," said Nalbandian. "It
is one of our goals to get other ethnic communities beyond
Armenian-Americans interested in the FED's work with CATO."
Although the FED does not have any future social-business mixers planned at
this time, they are eager to host a business town hall meeting in the fall
with the Armenian Consulate Generals Office, Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce and California Trade Office. The focal point of this town hall
meeting will be trade and the importing and exporting of several different
products. This same group of agencies is also planning a three-day trade
expo and conference that will take place in the spring. The dates for these
events will be announced at a further date.
For further information on the work of CATO, please visit their web site at
www.armenia.ca.gov.