Who we are

Rev. Fr. Mesrop Topalian, Mag., Dr. Theol

Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Topalian, Mag., Dr. Theology, was born in Kfardelakos-Zgharta, Lebanon. After high school he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Vienna (1968-1973) and after his ordination on September 9, 1973 he taught the old and new Armenian Languages at the Seminary of the Mekitarist Congregation of Vienna (1973-1979) and at the Institute of the Indo-Germanic Languages of the University of Vienna (1977-1979). He was the chief-editor of the “Handes Amsorya Magazine for Armenian Philology” (1984-1987). He earned a master degree (1986) and doctorate (1987) in theology at the same university. As assistant and as pastor he served in Vienna, Los Angeles, Beirut and since 2002 in Anjar, Lebanon. Fr. Topalian is known as preacher and freelance writer in many Armenian newspapers and magazines under the pseudonym Mesrop Hayouni (Մեսրոպ Հայունի). He is the author of more than 55 books focused on themes in spirituality, philology, mariology and literature. Since 2003 as founder-editor he is publishing the “Moussaler Armenian Catholic Monthly” and the periodical “Mariam Bulletin Mariologique”.

Dikran A. Tchablakian

Mr. Dikran Tchablakian is a Singapore citizen born in 1952 in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed his high school education at the International College of Beirut. Mr. Tchablakian founded NewTek, a company focused on IT distribution in the Middle East. In early 2005, NewTek after attaining a $10M market cap merged with 2 other companies ACT and Elite Computer Services both in Saudi Arabia, to form a merged company is called EJADA. Today Ejada is the largest IT service company in the region, with 600 employees and realize revenues of $200M.

Mr. Tchablakian also founded CompuMe, in 1998, “The Number One IT Megastore in the Middle East”. The franchise operations covers UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain. Early 2007 CompuMe LLC Dubai Operation has been merged with i2 Group which had an existing 300 stores in 23 countries in the region (Middle East, Africa and UK) for mobile phones representing NOKIA. In early 2013 the company changed its name from CompuMe to TecBuy after selling the CompuMe brand; currently he holds the CEO position of Tecbuy. During the last 10 years Mr. Tchablakian invested in various diversified businesses and expanded his horizon of business throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, Japan and Taiwan. Mr. Tchablakian speaks French, English, Italian, Arabic and Armenian and is married to Janet with a son Alex and a daughter Tara.

Krikor K. Jabourian

A Lebanese national of Armenian Origin, Krikor K. Jabourian is a global entrepreneur who has established and run a number of businesses, specializing in the Middle East where he has lived for more than 30 years. He began his education at the Catholic school, Ecole Mesrobian Bourj Hammoud in Lebanon, later transferring to the Ecole Mekhitariste – Hazmiyah and then the Ecole Des Arts et Metiers.
After High school in France, he graduated from the Yerevan Polytechnical Institution in Armenia with a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and moved to the Middle East; first to the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and then to Dubai in 1988 to establish Gulf Computer Support Systems, with expanding offices throughout all the major GCC gateway cities.
Capitalizing on the rapid infrastructure growth through the region, he then set up a separate company dedicated to airport ground services equipment, AIRPO-TECH LLC. Krikor is multilingual; fluent in English, French, Arabic and Armenian.
Enjoying both his business and home with his wife Christine and son Kerop, Krikor is an active member of the Rotary club in Dubai, a member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs, and the Dubai World Trade Club.

Koko Garabet Sakayan

Koko Garabet Sakayan, born in Anjar, Lebanon , 22 nov. 1968. During 1988-1990, he studied art at Toros Roslin Academy Of Fine Arts in Beirut . In 1993 he moved to Venice , Italy and graduated from the Venice Academy Of Fine Arts. He visited the the United States several times during 1999-2003 holding solo exhibitions in Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Virginia. From 2003-2006, he resided mostly in Vienna , Austria , holding solo exhibitions in Vienna and Donnerskirchen. In 2006, he moved back to Vienna. He also holds solo exhibitions in Italy and Lebanon. During 2012-2013, Koko worked on the commission of realizing 12 paintings for the alter of S. Mary Of The Rosary Armenian catholic church, Anjar, Lebanon. He has received numerous awards and recognitions during his artistic career, and since 1984 he took part in numerous group exhibitions in Lebanon, Syria, Armenia, Italy, France, USA, Austria.

Montegrappa

Since 1912, Montegrappa has been manufacturing writing implements in the same historic building on the bank of the River Brenta. The river winds through one of the most picturesque areas in the prosperous North-Eastern part of Italy, through the historic town of Bassano del Grappa. Its Italian heritage is an important component of the company’s persona: that it is the first Italian pen manufacturer. “Italian-ness” is at the heart of Montegrappa tradition. It guides the company’s philosophy.

Founded as a “Manifattura pennini d’oro e penne stilografiche” (“Manufacturer of gold nibs and fountain pens”) during a turbulent period in Italy’s history, Montegrappa was a by-product of the region’s social history. The transition from the 19th to the 20th Century was greeted with changes in working conditions, with moves from the agrarian to the urban. Montegrappa – originally known as ELMO – benefitted from a pool of local talents, a workforce able to produce finely crafted objects, with style, with panache and with a drive to achieve excellence.

Montegrappa was among the first to use celluloid and galalith, elevating it to the material of choice for superior pens. The company’s skilled craftsmen were able to perfect the manufacturing process with original and precise technical solutions, which served as the platforms for the artistry of the pens’ designers. Through the ensuing decades, Montegrappa would produce numerous models, now highly collectible.

Montegrappa pens have played their part in history, for signing documents during key moments in the 20th Century. Famed Italian leaders including Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini used Montegrappa pens. Amongst the Russian leaders of the last part of the century, Boris Yeltsin gave his Dragon pen to Vladimir Putin on 2nd January 2000, and with this pen he symbolically handed over his power to him. Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev signs all official documents with the Montegrappa Extra 1930.