Armenian-American Forum 2025

This event aims to;

  • Foster connections and collaborations across established Armenian-American organizations and individuals.
  • Enhance the visibility and impact of the forum participants’ programs and activities.
  • Identify and discuss community issues and capability gaps.
  • Support nascent projects and organizations.

Sona Movsesian is an accomplished entertainer best known as the long-time assistant and sidekick to comedian and television host Conan O’Brien. After starting her career as an NBC page, she joined O’Brien’s team in 2009, quickly becoming a beloved presence on Conan, his podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and other projects. Sona authored The World’s Worst Assistant, a humorous memoir that shares stories from her career in the entertainment industry.

Sona has participated in initiatives that support Armenia and Armenians globally, emphasizing cultural preservation and humanitarian efforts. Alongside her professional achievements, Sona is a dedicated wife and mother, balancing her career with raising her twin sons.

Garo Armen speaker at Armenian American Forum 2025

Garo Armen is the Chairman and CEO of Agenus, a pioneering biotech company advancing cancer treatment. He also founded the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), an organization dedicated to revitalizing rural Armenia by building modern schools, healthcare facilities, and community programs, significantly enhancing the quality of life and opportunities for local children and families.

X(Twitter) / Bio

CEO of reArmenia.com. Gevorg is the Founder of the very first and the biggest Armenian e-payment system – Idram and has started and serial entrepreneur.

Historian of Armenian history, focusing on Armenian-American experiences and figures like Christopher Oscanyan.

Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), leading advocacy efforts for Armenian-American issues.

Founder and board chairman of the NetworkState.io initiative, focusing on social innovation and decentralized governance.

Education Coordinator at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR).

Publisher of The California Courier and founder of HyeID, a global Armenian digital identity initiative.

Executive Director of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund managing endowments to support the Armenian Church and related programs.

Leader in the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and Board Chairman of the Armenian Youth Foundation.

Associate Professor at Michigan State University, a medievalist, and a poet specializing in Western Armenian literature.

Congressional Relations Director at the Armenian Assembly of America, where she advocates for Armenian-American interests on Capitol Hill.

Data scientist and educator with over 25 years of experience, currently leading Data & AI Strategy at LBMC and serving as a professor at Belmont University in Nashville.

Former radio host of the Heritage of Armenian Culture (HARC) program and co-author of the “Remarkable Armenians” blog, highlighting notable Armenians.

Soulful Entrepreneur Podcast Host, Climate change Consultant for CGAP/World Bank Group.

Telecom Industry expert. Co-founder of ArmTech, Board Advisor for EQWEFY, and member of Angel Investor Club of Armenia.

Co-founder of the Hyeland Project and a real estate developer, she shares her work on her YouTube channel, Nairaville.

Managing editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, executive director of the Tekeyan Cultural Association, and modern Armenian historian.

Former national chairwoman of the Daughters of Vartan. Retired Project Manager at AGBU, AT&T and Hughes Network Systems.

Director of Zohrab Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Classical Armenian scholar, teacher, and translator.

Co-founder of the Hyeland Project and Haykakan Crypto Dprots. Network-state researcher.

More speakers to be announced

The topics of the forum will be dictated by the participants that sign up for the event and designed to grow connections between the participants. The participants in each session will be asked to provide awareness of their existing efforts, learnings as a result of these efforts, and new opportunities they see. Tentative topics include;

  • Best practices and showcases from various Armenian-American organizations
  • Areas of unmet need in the Armenian-American community
  • Lessons learned from past and present initiatives
  • Potential areas of collaboration and partnership
  • The innovative concept of the Network State

The Forum is not about building consensus. Everyone will not agree with each other. We will not attempt to produce over-arching policy, this is not a congress. We are not interested in creating unity, we are interested in creating legibility and building meaningful connections.

The Armenian-American Forum is also not designed to convince anyone to move to Tennessee. The Hyeland Project is hosting the forum as a way for our small community in Tennessee to feel plugged in to the larger Armenian-American society. Awareness of the Hyeland Project and our new community in Tennessee is a benefit to our organization for volunteering to organize the event, but it is neither the focus nor a consequential component of the forum’s programming.

Armenian community in Tennessee

March 7-9, 2025.

Gruhn Guitars at 2120 8th Av S, Nashville, TN 37204.

Main Public Library of Nashville located at 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219.

Participants can look forward to a dynamic agenda featuring panel discussions, keynote speeches, lectures, and break-out/round-table discussions. The forum will include interactive Q&A sessions, a vibrant tabling/marketplace and jobs fair.

Friday Evening

  • Storica wine tasting at Gruhn Guitars
  • History of the first Armenian-American as told by Professor Nora Lessersohn

Saturday

  • Key note speeches
  • Short introductory speeches
  • Networking
  • Lunch and Dinner breaks to explore Nashville

Sunday Morning

  • Short introductory speeches
  • Networking

As we approach the date of the event, a more detailed agenda will be published.

Socializing and creating “collisions” is critical to unlocking value at the forum. Time will be set aside throughout the event for Networking. The day will culminate in a musical performance and a party. A post-event picnic at a state park in the Upper Cumberland will complete the weekend, hopefully cementing bonds that will last until the next forum.

Please reach out to participate in this forum if you are an Armenian-American (or allied);

  • Intellectual/Academic/Artist
  • Entrepreneur
  • Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
  • Church Organization
  • Community/Professional Organization
  • Publication/Writer