Director

Arthur Grigoryan Director, Project Manager FRUITENIA Project

Arthur Grigorian has more than 15 years of experience at managerial positions in non-profit organizations in Armenia and in Greece, of which 4 years serving as a director of the ICARE Foundation. Within the term of his directorship at ICARE, Mr. Grigorian was the main initiator and implementor of establishing an agribusiness campus (Zabel Yesayan Agribusiness Campus for ICARE at Proshyan community. Mr. Grigorian spent five years of his professional career working in Greece, in the American Farm School (AFS) of Thessaloniki. The AFS served him as a model to distill the Armenia-adapted concept of campus for ICARE, which he is currently implementing.

Being a graduate of ICARE/ATC, he worked in a number of roles at his alma mater: student internship coordinator, researcher, faculty members, project coordinator, and development director. His main teaching spheres include Agribusiness Management and Economic Development. Besides the directorship at ICARE, Arthur Grigorian is currently a Department Dean at the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU and an active supporter of infrastructure development projects at ANAU.

Susanna Mezhlumyan Deputy Director, Academic Project Coordinator FRUITENIA project

Susanna Mezhlumyan is the Deputy Director at the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) Foundation since 2005. She has extensive experience in management in the sphere of education, working at the Agribusiness Department of ANAU, which is a collaborative project with Texas A&M University, ANAU, and ICARE. As part of her professional role is coordinating the overall academic process at the Agribusiness Teaching Center (UAB and MAB), teaching and learning, student recruitment and admission, policy and curricula development, and revision.
Susanna Mezhlumyan currently manages the FRUITENIA project’s (funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation) educational component of modernizing the curricula of the Agronomy Department, developing a professional certificate program in fruit production and capacity development of TVET instructors in modern fruit production.
Mrs. Mezhlumyan received her MBA degree from the College of Business Administration of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and a BS degree in Computer Science from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute.

Maro Barseghyan PR & Communications Specialist FRUITENIA Project

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to study and work at ICARE. “I believe that my hard work and knowledge will be an impetus during the development of ICARE.”

Maro Barseghyan is one of the students at ICARE. After studying at the Armenian National Agrarian University for two years, she set herself the goal of continuing her studies at the ATC. Maro Barseghyan joined the ICARE Foundation as an employee in October 2022. She is currently the company’s PR and Communications Specialist.

Ani Asatryan GCPM Program Coordinator

Ani Asaturyan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in January 2020 as a project manager. Currently, she is a program coordinator of the Greenhouse Crop Production and Management  (GCPM) program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Marketing from the Armenian National Agrarian University. She received a graduate certificate from ICARE upon successful completion of a 10-month program of  Greenhouse Crop Production and Management.

Mary Mkrtchyan Academic Programs Coordinator

• MS pending in Economics, Armenian National Agrarian University
• Certificate pending in Agribusiness and Marketing from Texas A&M University, Agribusiness Teaching Center (MAB), Armenia
• BA in Agribusiness & Marketing, Armenian National Agrarian University
• Certificate in Agribusiness and Marketing from Texas A&M University, Agribusiness Teaching Center (UAB), Armenia

Mikayel Mikayelyan Wine Chemistry/ Head of EVN Wine Lab

 Mikayel Mikayelyan has more than 15 years of food and beverage production management experience working in the biggest beverage and candy production plants in Armenia: Beer of Yerevan CJSC and “Grand Candy” JSC LLC.

In 2012 he started working on the Ninkasi craft brewery (Beer Academy) to establish beer production from organic malt and hops, which was the new line in the Armenian craft beer market. All well-known types of beer in Beer Academy restaurants were been created by his supervision.
Working in Grand Candy factory in Ice-cream production under his management was working more than 200 people. In 2016 he joined the EVN Wine Academy’s teaching faculty as a wine chemistry lecturer.
Since 2016 November till now Mikayel has been the head of EVN Wine chemistry laboratory. It was a new challenge for him to establish the new laboratory serves in the Armenian wine sector. Since 2017 the EVN Wine laboratory has become a significant partner for more than 50 big and small wine producers. As a result of the quality of the laboratory services, the number of wine samples for testing is increasing yearly.

Mikayel Mkayelyan has a Ph.D. in the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage production field. He graduated from the Armenian Agricultural Academy in 1999 he has an Engineer- technologist diploma in “Technology of Fermentation Production and Wine-making”. He has published more than 15 scientific articles and one patent for invention.

Julietta Baghdasaryan Chemist EVN Wine Laboratory

“I want to help Armenian wineries produce wines of outstanding quality. With this in mind, I am passionate about my work at the wine laboratory of ICARE’s EVN Wine Academy ”

Julieta Baghdasaryan works as a chemist at ICARE/EVN Wine Academy’s wine laboratory.
She has 13 years of experience in the confectionery and dairy industries. She has worked as a shift leader in a confectionery company.
She also worked as an ice cream technologist at Armenia’s largest candy producer, Grand Candy since 2005.
Julieta holds a Master’s degree and a diploma from the Armenian National Agrarian University as an Engineer-technologist, specializing in milk and dairy products.

Email: julieta.baghdasaryan@icare.am

Vahe Harutyunyan Project Accountant

• Federal Finance Management, USDA Graduate School, Chicago, IL
• Federal Finance Budgeting, USDA Graduate School, New Orleans, LA
• Federal Accounting, USDA Graduate School
• Diploma in General Economics, Armenian State University of Economics

Lusine Tadevosyan Chief of Party AGRI CAMP Program

Lusine Tadevosyan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in October 2015. She was a Research Director at ICARE Foundation and currently is a Chief of Party of USAID-funded Innovative Agriculture Training and Learning Camp (AGRI CAMP) program.

She holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the Armenian National Agrarian University and received a graduate certificate in Agribusiness from Texas A&M University upon successful completion of the Master of Agribusiness (MAB) program of ICARE/ATC. She has more than 10 years of working experience in project management in the research and development, business advisory, and consulting sectors. She has extensive experience in the agri-food sector, including agricultural research and development projects financed by international and local organizations. Moreover, she is proficient in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, simulations and risk analysis, value chain analysis, and feasibility studies.

Sona Khojoyan Project Manager “GuideMASTER” program, Project Assistant “FRUITENIA” project

Sona Khojoyan, a Development Specialist, has joined the ICARE Foundation’s team at the beginning of 2018. She holds a Master’s Degree in Agribusiness and Marketing and a pending certificate in Enology and Wine Business. Sona has more than 15 years of working experience in the field of marketing and PR, 10 of which are directly connected to the Armenian wine industry. Her main responsibility at ICARE is the development and implementation of a strategic program aimed at targeting a donor base and prospects for potential donations and the promotion of ICARE’s academic programs and services. Apart from that, she is also engaged in a number of other professional activities. She has sound working experience in project management and at the moment she is the project manager of the GuideMASTER program and is also engaged in the Fruit Production Sector Development Project (FRUITENIA). In the frame of the commercialization of the food (wine) products of ICARE, Sona has led the design of the new packaging and managed the product development strategy of the EVN Wines (student wines of the ICARE Foundation). She is also managing the design, development, and implementation plan of construction of an experimental student winery on the territory of the ICARE’s EcoFarm.

Shahen Mirakyan Component Coordinator AGRI CAMP Program

Education and Achievements

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRIBUSINESS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
(ICARE/ATC)
Bachelor of Agribusiness Program (UAB)
Undergraduate Certificate in Agribusiness from Texas A&M University

ARMENIAN NATIONAL AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Economics
Diploma in Agribusiness & Marketing

Certificate for Project Management for Development Professionals (PMD Pro), qualification from
AMPG International

MEMBERSHIP
Agricultural Alliance of Armenia Yerevan, Armenia

YPARD Global
Young Professionals for Agricultural Development

PUBLICATIONS
1. Co-authorship: Mkitaryan, A., Musinyan, L., Mirakyan, Sh., Tadevosyan, L. (2018). Feasibility
assessment of installation of Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) in fish farm operating in Ararat
Valley, Armenia. Bulletin of Armenian National Agrarian University, 1(2018), pp.134-138.
2. Co-authorship: Mirzoyan, N., Tadevosyan, L., Avetisyan, N., Mirakyan, Sh., Urutyan, V. (2019).
Feasibility of upgrading small- and medium-scale raceway fish farms into semi-closed Recirculation
Aquaculture Systems in Armenia. Aquaculture Engineering. (Under Review)

Anahit Hayrapetyan Procurement & Grants Manager AGRI CAMP Program

Sargis Mkrtchyan Project Coordinator FRUITENIA Project

Sargis Mkrtchyan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in 2019. He is a Project Coordinator of the “Fruit Production Sector Development Project in Armenia” (FRUITENIA) funded by Austrian Development Cooperation.

Sargis has more than 10 years of working experience in agricultural development projects.

He is a graduate of Armenian National Agrarian University and Agribusiness Teaching Center.

Davit Iskandaryan Project Manager CARMAC2 Project

Davit Iskandaryan has more than 15 years of experience in project management and management advisory. Starting his career in the banking sector, Davit gained professional experience in finance, investments, and project management. Then for over 5 years, he led a regional development program, which was focused on city infrastructure development in Armenia.

In line with his professional background, Davit Iskandaryan has over 15 years of academic experience. The main teaching spheres include trainings in project management and startup engineering. With his expert support, many students initiated and implemented their start-up projects progressed their carrier in project management.

Davit Iskandaryan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in June 2021 as a project manager. He also delivers Project Management Classes at the Master of Agribusiness (MAB) program of ICARE/ATC to share his experience with the young generation starting their carrier in Project Management.

Prior to joining our firm, Davit Iskandaryan was involved in projects with the United Nations Development Program, UN Women, delivered project management advisory support to different private projects.

Davit Iskandaryan holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics. He is a qualified project manager (PMP®) certified by the Project Management Institute, and since 2017 holds the position of VP of Finance at PMI Armenia Chapter.

Aram Zakaryan Project Coordinator CARMAC 2 Project

Aram Zakaryan started his career in the field of construction as a Land surveyor and was engaged in different projects throughout Armenia. During his 3-year experience in the field, Aram empowered his skills and knowledge in management and development.

Aram has good skills in project coordination and arranges project-related works easily and with great passion.

Aram Zakaryan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in June 2021 as a project coordinator.

Aram Zakaryan holds MS in Land Management and Land Cadastre and Bachelor’s degree in Technique and technology, both from the Armenian National Agrarian University.

Lilith Avdalyan Project Coordinator AGREEN Project

Ms. Lilit Avdalyan is an experienced Sociologist with more than 10 years of professional activities in the field and with more than four years of experience in applying sociological approaches in agricultural research and development projects.

She has developed strong Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation direction driven by development ideas towards positive impact in peoples’ lives and planetary welfare. Over the years she has been working in various sectors like community and local self-government development, youth and education, agriculture and climate change.

Currently, Ms. Lilit Avdalyan is coordinating the GIZ-funded “Mapping of Grassland Extent, Condition, and Biomass in Armenia” project within the “EcoServe” program and the “Cross-Border Alliance for Climate-Smart and Green Agriculture in the Black Sea Basin (AGREEN, BSB-1135)” within the ENI CBC Black Sea Basin 2014-2021 program.

Anna Hovhannisyan COP of AGREEN project

Anna Hovhannisyan is working with local and international organisations.  Anna’s responsibilities in the projects are to focus on the horticultural sector in Armenia to include market activities beyond the production at farm level: post-harvest handling, processing, trading, retail and export.
Anna  has established a start-up agribusiness (Chir’s House). She founded a small dried fruit production in the village where she was born  (Byurakan).
Anna is AgriThon component leader in AGRI CAMP project. Agrithon is a platform bringing together diverse specialists, including but not limited to agriculture specialists, female rural entrepreneurs, software developers, engineers, and other relevant partners together to pursue productivity and other demand-driven solutions in agriculture. Agrithons will be organized in two rounds and will help participants to improve their understanding of innovative solutions, promote networking and collaboration, and generate ideas for new product and service solutions for women agripreneurs.

Lusine Hovhannisyan Junior Researcher

Lusine Hovhannisyan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) Foundation in February 2021. She is currently the AGRI CAMP Program Assistant.

Lusine is organized and motivated person, who has a master’s degree in history. She has  professional skills, communication and negotiation abilities.

Grisha Harutyunyan IT Specialist

Grigor Harutyunyan joined the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE) foundation in May 2007. Since then he is the IT Specialist at ICARE foundation.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organization and Management of Transportation, Organisation of Road Traffic from the Armenian National Agrarian University and received a Graduate Diploma. During his studies, he worked in the Armenian Agricultural Academy as a Laboratory Assistant, Chair of Automobiles and Tractors. After that, he worked as an IT Engineer in the IIAP, NAT for 16 years (2001-2017).
From 2018 till now he works at ANAU as the Head of the Supply Department. During all these years he’s gained many skills such as leadership, time-management, teamwork, organization, and decision-making.
He got a Certificate of Completion from the Computer Science Laboratory of the Institute of Informatics and Automation Problems.
In 2015 Dec 25 Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Grigor in Recognition of his Hard Work, Enthusiasm, and Extraordinary Dedication to ICARE Foundation.

Sona Hayrapetyan Janitor

Janitor

Samvel Yenokyan General Supplies Officer

General Supplies Officer and Driver

Eduard Hovhannisyan Driver