ARMENIAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP, Inc.
550 E Shaw Ave, Suit 240 - P.O. Box 5969 Fresno, CA 93755
Tel: (559) 224-1000 | Fax: (559) 224-1002 | Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 12th, 2013
Contact Person: Alexander McKinsey
Tel: (559) 224-1000
ATG's Bookkeeper and Comptroller Gary Pigg Receives a Distinguished
Achievement Award
Fresno, CA: On National Philanthropy Day, Thursday, November 7, 2013,
Gary L. Pigg, MBA, management-accounting consultant, bookkeeper and
comptroller for ATG during the past 18 years, received the
Distinguished Achievement Special Award for Excellence in Fundraising.
He was nominated by Jane Fortune, California Valley Chapter President
of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and by Varoujan
Der Simonian, Executive Director of the Armenian Technology Group
(ATG). Approximately 240 guests attended the beautifully catered
awards luncheon at Pardini's Restaurant.
Warren Armstrong, of KFSN ABC Channel 30 Action News -- `Number 1 in
Central California' --was Master of Ceremonies. AFP's Chapter
President, Jane Fortune, made welcoming remarks. An invocation was
given by Fresno City Councilmember, Blong Xiong. The keynote speaker
was Claudia Looney, a member of the Fundraising Association for
Healthcare Philanthropy and, herself, a Certified Fund Raising
Executive.
In introductory remarks about Gary, Mr. Armstrong quoted ATG Executive
Director Varoujan Der Simonian. `Gary established a transparent
accounting and internal control structure that satisfied even the most
difficult federal audit requirements.'
Mr. Der Simonian had observed, moreover, `Gary's streamlined
administrative and bookkeeping structure helped reduce our operating
cost, enabling us to remain effective even during times of limited
resources. His ability to manage human resources and federal grants
immensely improved our ability to transmit our mission-message to our
donors and to our funding agencies in the US Government.'
Gary's abilities excelled particularly in 2000 when, due to a drought,
Armenia was facing a major shortage of wheat seed for sowing. The
Armenian government looked for assistance from the international
community. In a humanitarian response, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia
provided an emergency fund of $500,000, which made possible a Winter
Wheat Seed Redistribution Program to farmers. Gary flew to Armenia in
August, and effectively coordinated and administered the purchasing of
wheat -- grain that growers affiliated with ATG had harvested
successfully. This seed was processed and then distributed to over
12,000 farm families within 45 days, in time for the Fall 2000
planting.
In a letter of appreciation addressed, at the time, to ATG's Founder
and Chairman, the late Arthur O. Hazarabedian, D.V.M. and to Varoujan
Der Simonian, the devoted Executive Director of ATG, the former
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Michael Lemmon, wrote: `You gave a new
meaning to the saying, =80=9CWhen there is a will, there is a way!'
(See ambassador's letter on ATG's website). Gary's efforts were no
small part of ATG's will to find a way. His resourcefulness enabled
the non-profit to carry out its modernizing aims in Armenia in a
timely way and, thereby, helped advance ATG's goal to turn over -- to
local personnel then being trained in various farming regions -- the
very projects they now are able to manage on their own.
The depth of understanding Gary had of ever more demanding federal
reporting and auditing requirements, allowed ATG to successfully pass
several routine financial and compliance audit reviews. As a result,
ATG was able to receive numerous multi-million dollar grants from the
USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the US Department of State (USIA), UN Food and
Agricultural Organization and UNDP.
Speaking on behalf of ATG's Members of the Board -- and remembering
the founding values of her late husband, Dr. Art, Margit
A. Hazarabedian, Ph.D., added her heartfelt congratulations to Gary on
the occasion of his special award: `To have a National Philanthropy
Day Honoree amongst us at ATG means more than having Gary's honest
efforts and lasting commitment recognized. After 18 years of mutual
friendship, trust and respect, it's also a validation, I believe, of
ATG's closely held organizational ethics and underlying philosophy of
quiet selflessness, here and abroad. Thank you, Gary, for being
you. Thank you, California Valley Chapter of the AFP.'
****
Attached photos:
>From left to right: Jane
Fortune, Valley Chapter President of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals (AFP); Honoree, Mr. Gary L. Pigg and Varoujan Der Simonian,
Executive Director of the Armenian
Technology Group.
>From left to right: Gary
L Pigg with ATG Members of the Board of Directors, Jack Tookoian, M.D., Sarkis
Sahatdjian, Margit Hazarabedian, Ph.D., ATG Executive Director Varoujan Der
Simonian and Vatche Soghomonian.
Armenian Technology Group, Inc.
550 East Shaw Ave., Suite 240
P.O.Box 5969
Fresno CA 93755-5969 US
1.559.224.1000 Fax 1.559.224.1002
[email protected]
550 E Shaw Ave, Suit 240 - P.O. Box 5969 Fresno, CA 93755
Tel: (559) 224-1000 | Fax: (559) 224-1002 | Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 12th, 2013
Contact Person: Alexander McKinsey
Tel: (559) 224-1000
ATG's Bookkeeper and Comptroller Gary Pigg Receives a Distinguished
Achievement Award
Fresno, CA: On National Philanthropy Day, Thursday, November 7, 2013,
Gary L. Pigg, MBA, management-accounting consultant, bookkeeper and
comptroller for ATG during the past 18 years, received the
Distinguished Achievement Special Award for Excellence in Fundraising.
He was nominated by Jane Fortune, California Valley Chapter President
of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and by Varoujan
Der Simonian, Executive Director of the Armenian Technology Group
(ATG). Approximately 240 guests attended the beautifully catered
awards luncheon at Pardini's Restaurant.
Warren Armstrong, of KFSN ABC Channel 30 Action News -- `Number 1 in
Central California' --was Master of Ceremonies. AFP's Chapter
President, Jane Fortune, made welcoming remarks. An invocation was
given by Fresno City Councilmember, Blong Xiong. The keynote speaker
was Claudia Looney, a member of the Fundraising Association for
Healthcare Philanthropy and, herself, a Certified Fund Raising
Executive.
In introductory remarks about Gary, Mr. Armstrong quoted ATG Executive
Director Varoujan Der Simonian. `Gary established a transparent
accounting and internal control structure that satisfied even the most
difficult federal audit requirements.'
Mr. Der Simonian had observed, moreover, `Gary's streamlined
administrative and bookkeeping structure helped reduce our operating
cost, enabling us to remain effective even during times of limited
resources. His ability to manage human resources and federal grants
immensely improved our ability to transmit our mission-message to our
donors and to our funding agencies in the US Government.'
Gary's abilities excelled particularly in 2000 when, due to a drought,
Armenia was facing a major shortage of wheat seed for sowing. The
Armenian government looked for assistance from the international
community. In a humanitarian response, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia
provided an emergency fund of $500,000, which made possible a Winter
Wheat Seed Redistribution Program to farmers. Gary flew to Armenia in
August, and effectively coordinated and administered the purchasing of
wheat -- grain that growers affiliated with ATG had harvested
successfully. This seed was processed and then distributed to over
12,000 farm families within 45 days, in time for the Fall 2000
planting.
In a letter of appreciation addressed, at the time, to ATG's Founder
and Chairman, the late Arthur O. Hazarabedian, D.V.M. and to Varoujan
Der Simonian, the devoted Executive Director of ATG, the former
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Michael Lemmon, wrote: `You gave a new
meaning to the saying, =80=9CWhen there is a will, there is a way!'
(See ambassador's letter on ATG's website). Gary's efforts were no
small part of ATG's will to find a way. His resourcefulness enabled
the non-profit to carry out its modernizing aims in Armenia in a
timely way and, thereby, helped advance ATG's goal to turn over -- to
local personnel then being trained in various farming regions -- the
very projects they now are able to manage on their own.
The depth of understanding Gary had of ever more demanding federal
reporting and auditing requirements, allowed ATG to successfully pass
several routine financial and compliance audit reviews. As a result,
ATG was able to receive numerous multi-million dollar grants from the
USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the US Department of State (USIA), UN Food and
Agricultural Organization and UNDP.
Speaking on behalf of ATG's Members of the Board -- and remembering
the founding values of her late husband, Dr. Art, Margit
A. Hazarabedian, Ph.D., added her heartfelt congratulations to Gary on
the occasion of his special award: `To have a National Philanthropy
Day Honoree amongst us at ATG means more than having Gary's honest
efforts and lasting commitment recognized. After 18 years of mutual
friendship, trust and respect, it's also a validation, I believe, of
ATG's closely held organizational ethics and underlying philosophy of
quiet selflessness, here and abroad. Thank you, Gary, for being
you. Thank you, California Valley Chapter of the AFP.'
****
Attached photos:
>From left to right: Jane
Fortune, Valley Chapter President of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals (AFP); Honoree, Mr. Gary L. Pigg and Varoujan Der Simonian,
Executive Director of the Armenian
Technology Group.
>From left to right: Gary
L Pigg with ATG Members of the Board of Directors, Jack Tookoian, M.D., Sarkis
Sahatdjian, Margit Hazarabedian, Ph.D., ATG Executive Director Varoujan Der
Simonian and Vatche Soghomonian.
Armenian Technology Group, Inc.
550 East Shaw Ave., Suite 240
P.O.Box 5969
Fresno CA 93755-5969 US
1.559.224.1000 Fax 1.559.224.1002
[email protected]