Join us for an unforgettable evening as we proudly honor these distinguished individuals whose leadership, generosity, and dedication have made lasting contributions to the Armenian-American story and to the cultural fabric of our nation for generations to come.
Armenian Heritage Walk Gala Host
Sona Movsesian
Sona Movsesian will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the Armenian Heritage Walk Gala on April 25, 2026 — and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
Sona is a former executive assistant turned author, podcaster and media personality who has worked in television for 20 years. Sona graduated from the USC Annenberg School of Communication in 2005 and started working in the storied NBC Page Program shortly after graduating. During her time as a Page, she gave tours of the former NBC lot in Burbank, CA and helped with seating on various shows that filmed there. During her tenure as a Page, she was hired on to be NBC's Events and Operations Coordinator and worked on countless press events, premiere parties, wrap parties and NBC's annual pre-Emmy party.
In 2009, Sona got the job that would change her life when she was hired on as Conan O'Brien's executive assistant. She worked with him throughout his tenure as host of The Tonight Show and subsequently when he hosted Conan on TBS. Sona was featured on the show on many occasions, most notably in a televised trip she took to Armenia with Conan for his Conan Without Borders travel series.
Since 2018, she has been a co-host on the hit podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and in 2022, she released her book The World’s Worst Assistant, which became an instant New York Times best seller. She's currently working on her second book, The World's Worst Mom, which will be out in the fall of 2026.
Sona currently lives in Pasadena with her twin boys, Charlie and Mikey, and her husband Tak.
Armenian Heritage Walk Honorees
Michael Aram
Founder and Designer, Michael Aram Inc.
Michael Aram is an internationally recognized Armenian-American designer who, for over 35 years, has created luxurious objects to enhance the everyday. The grandchild of Armenian Genocide survivors, Michael grew up immersed in the rich traditions of the Armenian church, surrounded by handmade carpets, pomegranate imagery, and sacramental objects that instilled in him a deep reverence for handcraft and the storytelling potential of objects. While the business of Michael Aram has grown exponentially over the decades, Michael Aram the artist and inveterate entrepreneur is still personally behind every design that bears his name. Each piece represents a celebration of the hand – from the original drawing Michael creates at its inception, to the masterful artisans who give it life. Each is made one at a time, so no two are exactly alike, but all are imbued with a vibrancy that engages the senses and sparks both contemplation and conversation.
His Armenian heritage runs deep in his work — from iconic pieces like the Pomegranate collection to major public artworks including Migrations, a sculpture commemorating the Armenian Genocide at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York, and a Noah's Ark sculpture created on behalf of the Armenian people now permanently housed at the Vatican. Michael, his husband, Aret, and their teenage twins are proud of their Armenian heritage and enjoy being active members in the community, including Michael’s role as Honorary General Consul of Armenia to Florida.
Michael's creative vision continues to expand into new territories, including a luxurious bedding collection that brings his distinctive aesthetic to home textiles. Most recently, he has launched Anabel Aram Jewelry, a fashion jewelry line named after his daughter, extending his artistic legacy into wearable art that captures the same handcrafted beauty and attention to detail that defines all of his work.
Michael has developed a legion of devoted collectors worldwide and garnered the attention of an illustrious and diverse audience including the British Royal family, Pope Francis, and numerous Heads of State. The brand is championed by esteemed North American retailers Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as over 1,200 independent international retailers.
Dr. James Philip Bagian
A Legacy of Service and Safety
Dr. James Philip Bagian is an engineer and physician whose career has been defined by a focus on safety and human performance in high-risk environments. His 1989 NASA Space Shuttle flight marked the first time an individual of Armenian heritage traveled into space. His commitment to public service was shaped by his father, Philip Bagian, a first-generation American who served as a highly decorated fighter pilot during World War II, providing an early example of dedication and discipline.
During 15 years as a NASA astronaut, Dr. Bagian flew on two Space Shuttle missions: STS-29 in 1989 and STS-40 in 1991. Following the STS-51L Challenger mishap, Dr. Bagian served as a lead investigator for the recovery effort related to the crew and crew module. Utilizing his dual expertise in medicine and engineering, he was the investigator who first dove on the wreckage to personally identify and recover the remains of the Challenger crew. This somber and technical task informed his subsequent leadership in developing the Space Shuttle Crew Escape System, including the high-altitude pressure suits and survival hardware that became the safety standard for all subsequent shuttle flights. His expertise in mishap investigation continued in 2003, when NASA asked him to serve as the Chief Flight Surgeon and Medical Consultant for the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
Dr. Bagian’s contributions to medicine are centered on the advancement of patient safety. By applying systems-engineering principles from aviation to healthcare, he sought to increase patient safety and prevent the frequent harm that impacted over 30% of all patients cared for in our hospitals. As the founding director of the VA National Center for Patient Safety, he established a standardized reporting and systems-based analysis system across 173 hospitals whose aim was to prevent inadvertent harm to patients that occurred as a result of their medical care. His work, including the implementation of medical team training and root cause analysis, contributed to measurable reductions in surgical mortality and patient harm more generally and has been adopted by healthcare organizations internationally.
Currently a Professor at the University of Michigan, Dr. Bagian continues to teach and research the integration of engineering and medical knowledge. He is an elected member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, reflecting his technical expertise in human factors and safety systems. Dr. Bagian’s career remains a practical example of how technical innovation and a focus on safety can directly benefit society.
Mark Hoplamazian
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Prior to his appointment to Hyatt's Board of Directors and being named President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 2006 and most recently, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Hoplamazian served as President of The Pritzker Organization, LLC, (TPO), the principal financial and investment advisor to certain Pritzker family business interests. During his 17-year tenure with TPO, he served as advisor to various Pritzker family-owned companies, including Hyatt Hotels Corporation and its predecessors. Mr. Hoplamazian previously worked in international mergers and acquisitions at The First Boston Corporation in New York. He is a Director of the Board of VF Corporation, Chair of Finance and member of Talent & Compensation committee. Mr. Hoplamazian serves on the Executive Committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of World Business Chicago, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Discovery Class of the Henry Crown Fellowship. A member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Mr. Hoplamazian co-chairs the Committee’s Public Safety Task Force.
Edele Hovnanian
President and Chief Executive Officer, H. Hovnanian Family Office
Edele Hovnanian serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the H. Hovnanian FAMILY OFFICE, based in New Jersey, which handles the assets of three generations, including a commercial real estate division, a land development division, and an investment portfolio. She joined the family business in 1987 where she was mentored by her father, Hirair Hovnanian, for two decades prior to taking full control of operations in 2006. She also is the President of the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation, which currently donates over $10 million a year to various causes.
Her undergraduate degrees include a B.S. in Finance from The Wharton School and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. After graduation she lived for one year in Soviet Republic of Armenia, learning more about the rich history and culture of that nation while becoming fluent in the language. From 1983 - 1987 Edele was an Associate in the Real Estate Corporate Finance Division of Paine Webber in New York City, during which time she also received her MBA from Columbia University in 1987.
Beyond her education and professional career, Edele is hands-on with many of the philanthropic projects supported by the Foundation. In 2003 she founded Birthright Armenia, an organization that sponsors Diasporan young adults to Armenia for an immersion-style volunteer service program and life-changing experiences. Over 4,000 young Armenians have participated in the Birthright program and its sister program, Armenian Volunteer Corporation. In addition, Edele incubated or oversees a number of other Armenian mission related programs, including HIKEArmenia, which is building the Armenian National Trail and promotes Armenia as a premiere hiking destination.
In addition to fulfilling the Foundation’s mission for Armenia, Edele overseas the Foundation’s commitment to US based charities and public institutions , with a focus on education and health care institutions, including Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania, Ocean County College, Ocean County Vo-tech , Meridian Health Care, and St Barnabas Heath Care System.
Major General Stephen J. Maranian
Major General, U.S. Army
Major General Stephen J. Maranian, U.S. Army (Retired) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The son of Jacob Jack Maranian and (the late) Alma Khachadoorian Maranian, he and his siblings Jennifer and Ara were raised in the Armenian church, attending Sunday school and services at St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Mass. Following graduation from Natick High School in 1984 he studied at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania earning both a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a commission as second lieutenant in the regular army through Bucknell’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in 1988.
Major General Maranian served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1988-2023 as a field artillery officer and later as a general officer. Serving 13 overseas tours spanning 18 years abroad in seven different countries, Steve served in several high-profile positions throughout his career, achieving significant impacts as a leader, and was often chosen to modernize and command both operational units and academic institutions.
Major General Maranian’s first general officer assignment was as the army’s chief of field artillery, a position tracing its lineage back to Henry Knox. He served as deputy commanding general of the army’s 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. Academically he served as provost of Army University and later as the commandant (president) of the United States Army War College. In his final assignment, Steve served as the first commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command, a headquarters designed to integrate effects across the European and African continents.
Steve is a two-time recipient of the distinguished service medal – the army’s highest peacetime award, a six-time recipient of the legion of merit and he was awarded two bronze star medals and the combat action badge for service while deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Steve has been decorated by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, NATO, Romania, and the Republic of Korea. He proudly served as a paratrooper and as a jumpmaster. Over three airborne assignments, he made over 50 static line parachute jumps and was awarded the army’s senior parachutist badge as well as the Canadian parachutist badge.
In addition to his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University, Steve earned two master’s degrees, a Master of Science in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Master of Arts in human resources development from Webster University. Additionally, Steve is a summa cum laude graduate of the Greek language course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He also conducted post-graduate research for the NATO Alliance as a senior research fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.
After his retirement from active duty in 2023, Steve spent two years serving as a senior mentor for the Army at high-level simulation exercises coaching and developing senior officers and their staffs. He remains active as an organizational and leadership consultant and as a board member. Steve and his bride of 33 years, Cynthia Hall Maranian reside in coastal North Carolina and are avid travelers.
Katherine Sarafian
Senior Vice President, Production, Pixar Animation Studios
Katherine Sarafian has been an integral part of the success and growth of Pixar Animation Studios, holding a variety of key leadership positions that have led to her current role as Senior Vice President, Production. Sarafian produced Pixar’s Academy Award® -winning feature film, “Brave” (2012), before moving into her role on Pixar’s executive leadership team.
Sarafian’s career at Pixar began in 1994 when she joined the studio as a production coordinator on the studio’s first full-length feature film, “Toy Story. ” She gained further production experience in Pixar’s short film department and on feature films such as “A Bug’s Life.” Sarafian served as production supervisor on “Monsters, Inc.,” and as production manager on the Academy Award® -winning feature “The Incredibles. ” She produced the Academy Award® -nominated short film “Lifted” in 2006 before taking the helm as producer of "Brave.”
Sarafian’s experience spans the range of Pixar’s creative and business interests; in addition to her film production work, she has overseen Pixar’s feature film Development department and served as its Director of Marketing and Consumer Products. Sarafian joined Pixar’s Executive Team as Vice President, Strategic Talent Planning in 2015. In 2018, she was elevated to the studio’s Senior Vice President, Talent, where she guided leadership development, education, and production talent resources in partnership with Human Resources and Inclusion Strategies, cultivating Pixar’s workforce at all levels. In her current role as Senior Vice President, Production, Sarafian oversees all feature film production at the studio, leading the producer team and guiding show operations to help shape Pixar’s filmmaking experience.
Before joining Pixar, Sarafian worked in development at Castle Rock Entertainment and in digital entertainment at Sanctuary Woods Multimedia.
Sarafian holds a Master of Arts degree in Film and Television Critical Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, both from the University of
California, Los Angeles. She is Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation. Sarafian is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America. She serves on the Advisory Board of TUMO Center for Creative Technologies.
Peter Vosbikian
Peter Vosbikian is widely recognized as an accomplished executive in the household products industry as well as a dedicated advocate for Armenian heritage and community engagement. He has also carried on the legacy of his parents who survived the 1895 pogrom of the Armenian People, then living in Turkey, and the 1915 Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Government. Through perseverance, resourcefulness and determination, his father Bedros immigrated to the United States and built a new life that would inspire future generations of the Vosbikian Family.
Vosbikian often reflects on the profound influence of his father Bedros whom he describes as his greatest role model and inspiration. Bedros emigrated to Philadelphia from Malatia in 1914 and soon after he was successful in bringing over his remaining brother Tomas and Bedros’ wife to be, Vartanoush. Having previously worked in metal forging, the two brothers established their own manufacturing business in 1919. While building their company from the ground up, they remained deeply connected to their cultural roots and instilled those values within their family. Vosbikian credits both his father and mother with creating a nurturing environment that emphasized pride in heritage and strong family bonds.
Armenian music also played an important role in the Vosbikian household. Following their service in World War II, Vosbikian’s three older brothers, together with their cousin, formed the Vosbikian Armenian Band. Although he was too young to participate, Vosbikian recalls how Armenian music and dance became powerful ways for their family and community to transform hardship into celebration and unity, helping preserve cultural identity through challenging times.
Innovation was another defining trait of the family. Bedros and Tomas secured more than 100 U.S. patents throughout their careers. Among their most notable achievements was the invention of the Quickie Automatic Sponge Mop which introduced a groundbreaking self-wringing mechanism to the consumers of America. After graduating from Temple University, Vosbikian joined Quickie Manufacturing Corporation and became deeply involved in guiding the company’s growth. By the time he retired in 2010, the Company had grown into the market leader, offering hundreds of household and commercial cleaning products distributed through major retailers nationwide.
In 1964, Vosbikian married his college sweetheart, Irene Di Fulvio. Peter takes great pride in his wife who chronicled her father-in-law’s extraordinary journey, in her book BEDROS and later her book THE CARNATION TABLET, inspired by her father’s diary from World War II.
Throughout his adult life, Vosbikian has remained actively involved in philanthropic and cultural initiatives that support education, community development and preservation of Armenian history and the Armenian Homeland. He is a past Board Chairman and Life Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America and together with his wife Irene, have been ardent supporters of the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, Pennsylvania since its inception.
Peter and Irene are blessed with four children and eleven grandchildren.