Gagik Vardanyan was the Deputy Director of Save the Children/Armenia and had the full responsibility in establishing SC's microfinance program in 1998, which eventually span-off as an independent MFI in 2000 and the same year merged with the microfinance program of CRS/Armenia. He was the key person in designing the microfinance program, designing the strategy and business plans, fund raising, staff selection and development, product design, establishing a branch structure, etc. Has a university and postgraduate degree in electronic engineering. The list of his MF related training includes Boulder, Germany, Glazgow (Springfield Center), Washington, Morocco, Cambodia, Bulgaria, etc., traveled widely to visit other development/microfinance institutions, conducted training for NGOs in Romania in Microfinance Institution Building (was contracted by ILO), was invited as microfinance resource person or panelist in global events organized by ILO, OESC, UNDP and MFC. Before joining SC in 1995, he was the Chief Specialist at the Armenian Ministry of Industry responsible for SME cooperation and Director of a EU Business Communications Center supporting Armenian SME sector. He had the lead role in the proposed project and will participate in the collaborative learning activities.

  Alexander Sahakyan is a certified accountant and trainer, has an 8-year experience in accounting, project facilitation, manual/policy design, etc. He started working for MDF-Kamurj as an accountant since 2005. In September 2006 he was promoted to the Chief Accountant position. Alexander has a high engineering education. He also has a Qualification Certificate (2006) from the Central Bank of Armenia allowing him to work as Chief Accountant for Credit Organizations regulated by the Central Bank.

  Lusine Simonyan has university degree in pedagogic and methodic of primary school . She started as a loan promoter in 1999, then was promoted to senior loan promoter, credit manager.From 2002-2004 simultaneously with credit manager position in Yerevan she is implemented supervision of Ijevan branch. Then in 2004 she had been promoted to marketing and PR manager position and, currently is responsible for new urban market expansion and establishing new branches for MDF-Kamurj.

  Zemfira Guloyan is one of the first loan officers implementing microfinance in Armenia. She started as a loan promoter in 1998, with the Save the Children /Armenia microfinance program located in Sissian. By 1999 she was promoted to Senior Loan Promoter and was transferred to the Yerevan office. Through her hard work and dedication she has been promoted several times since and now resides as a Credit Manager supervising a staff of loan promoters. Zemfira is an experienced professional and respected leader of MDF-Kamurj. She has a bachelor degree in history and post graduate degree in economics with two years of experience teaching applied economics.

  Anna Kirakosyan started working for MDF-Kamurj as a Junior Loan Promoter in 2002. Since then she has been twice nominated as “Best Loan Promoter of the Year”. Through her commitment, positive energy, and professionalism she has ascended from a Junior Loan Promoter to Credit Manager in only 4 years. Anna has a master degree in veterinary medicine.

  David has a university degree in finance and credit. His working experience in MDF-Kamurj started in 2001, as a loan officer. Later he was promoted to the senior loan promoter position. David is working as Rural Lending Coordinator since 2004, simultaneously, supervising the Sisian branch operations. He is one of the key program persons in the foundation, particularly, related to the new product development and market research activities. In October 2005, he participated in the MEDI/USAID training and was awarded a Micro-Plan professional trainer diploma.

  Hayk Ohanyan graduated from the Yerevan State Institute of Economics department of labor economics and sociology. Currently, he is the internal auditor of MDF-Kamurj. Hayk has an experience in working with both local and international organizations and has proven capacity in business and finance management. He participated in the International Accounting Courses, organized by TACIS/IAT Center, as well as in the Operational Risks Management training in Almaty/Khazakhstan, conducted by MFC, and Internal Auditing courses in Yerevan. Previously, he worked for seven years for a local enterprise well-known in the Armenian market, as an accountant, general accountant, general specialist on 1C accounting software and gained a good knowledge in understanding the local economic rules and regulations, development possibilities and challenges, legal aspects, etc. Later, he gained an additional experience in working as a chief accountant for two NGOs (Professionals for the Public Society and Anti-Drugs Civil Union) implementing projects funded by the European Union, UNDP and CHAP/USAID. He has also an experience in conducting staff training on accounting and business management. His own formula for success in business is KNOWLEDGE + EXPERIENCE + HARD WORK + PUNCTUALITY and SENSE OF HUMOUR.

  As an Information Systems Manager, Vladimir Arakelyan is supervising the works related to the management information system of the foundation and is responsible for providing reliable on time information on MDF-Kamurj operations to the management. He is also responsible for the maintenance of all the computer networks and the hardware of the foundation. Vladimir started his work in MDF-Kamurj since August 2006.

  Yelena Hayrapetyan has a university degree in electrical engineering. She started her work in microfinance program since 1999 in Save the Children/Armenia as technical support specialist. In 2001 she was promoted to the administrative assistant position and since 2004 Yelena is the administrative officer. For her hard and professional work in 2006 she was recognized as the “Best admin staff of the year”.

  Nune Esayan has university degree in philology. Before employment in MDF-Kamurj she had a working experience in education, as well as served as the manager of operation department of the post office. Nune started her work in MDF-Kamurj since 2003 as an assistant to the loan officer, later was promoted to the loan promoter and since 2005 – to the branch manager position. She has an extensive experience in rural farming and was awarded the “Best Loan Promoter of the Year”. During the last two years, thanks to the hard work of the staff and strong team work, her branch in Ijevan was recognized as the “Best Branch of the Year.”

  Vahe Tsaturyan has university degree in economics and post graduate degree in accounting. He started his professional experience in the branch of the Moscow Management Institute located in Ijevan, with simultaneously taking post graduation and business trainings. Vahe has a certificate of business trainer provided by ProSme, which allowed him to work as a free lance trainer. He conducted a number of business trainings in different regions of Armenia, Since 2006 Vahe is working for MDF-Kamurj as the Ijevan Branch accountant.

  Arpineh started working at MDF-Kamurj as a Junior Loan Promoter in 2001. By 2004 she was promoted to Middle Loan Promoter. Through her commitment, strong problem–solving skills and professionalism she has ascended from a Junior Loan Promoter to Gyumri Branch Manager. She has university degree in pedagogic, department of English and Russian Languages.

  Arsen Ashughatoyan has university degree in applied mathematics. Since 1992 he has got his first steps experience in accounting in Ardshin and ACBA bank.Started from the position of credit officer, than was promoted to the chief economist at Credit Department. Since 2000 Arsen working for MDF-Kamurj as an accountant in Gyumri branch. In 2001 he has participated at “Micro finance financial analyze” training, which helps him to increase his professional capacity. Arsen is an experienced professional and respected member of the staff.

  Artak Asloyan is the very first loan officer hired by CRS for “Kamurj” microfinance program. He started working in Vanadzor branch in June 1999. In 2000, after the merger of microfinance programs of CRS and Save the Children, he was promoted to Vanadzor branch manager. Now he supervises MDF Vanadzor branch staff of 19 employees. The branch serves Vanadzor town itself plus the 4 major surrounding towns and around 30 villages of the region.

  Anna Alexanyan has a master degree in mathematics and physics. From 1998 to 2000 she has worked in ”United Bank ” and in “Armimpexbank” as an accountant. In MDF-Kamurj she started as an accountant in 2000.Since then she has presented herself as a committed, professional and hard working person. During these periods she has been nominated as “Best Accountant of the Year” for three times in MDF-Kamurj. She loves her job.