CULVER CITY, CA (PRWEB) JULY 26, 2023
The State of California and the California Assembly conferred an official resolution commending Servicon Board Chairman Michael Mahdesian for his career of service to the country, California, humanity, and the Armenian community. The resolution was delivered to Mahdesian by California State 46th Assembly District member and candidate for LA City Council, Adrin Nazarian, at the company’s Culver City headquarters during its 50th anniversary celebration Friday, July 21.
The opening of the resolution states: “Michael Mahdesian, a respected California civic, community, and humanitarian leader, has brought credit and distinction to himself through his many notable achievements and has significantly improved the quality of life for people around the world through his efforts, and it is appropriate at this time to highlight his many accomplishments and extend to him special honors and the highest commendations.”
The document concludes: “This resolution recognizes and thanks Michael Mahdesian for his lifetime of achievements and meritorious service to humanity and conveys best wishes that his indomitable efforts will continue in the years ahead.
Tradition of Caring
“I am extremely humbled to receive a resolution such as this from the great State of California, and I thank the assembly and Adrin Nazarian for this honor,” Mahdesian says. “My father was a first generation American who came of age during the Great Depression. He knew the value of hard work. He also valued treating others with respect and helping elevate the people, community, and industry he so loved. He passed these values along to me. This recognition encourages me that I have carried on his traditions and helped in some small ways to make this world a better place.”
Lifetime Achievements
The resolution highlights a number of Mahdesian’s significant achievements.
After earning his master’s degree in urban planning and international economic development from the University of California, Los Angeles, Mahdesian joined several civic advocacy organizations; he distinguished himself as a leader in Los Angeles’ Armenian American community through his work with the Armenian National Committee of America. During this time, he met the love of his life, Natalie. They married and started a family, which he supported by launching a janitorial supply company that later became the supply division of Servicon, the company founded by his father, Richard.
In 1989, Mahdesian was commended for his tireless efforts in organizing airlifts and disaster relief following the devastating earthquake in Armenia. That same year, President Bill Clinton appointed Mahdesian to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as bureau deputy overseeing international humanitarian aid and post-conflict transitions to peace and democracy.
During his service at USAID, Mahdesian provided invaluable support following the Rwandan genocide, helped coordinate programs with the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, led the first U.S. team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the overthrow of the Mobutu regime, and administered humanitarian aid during conflicts in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. His diplomatic and humanitarian efforts helped countless people.
In 2000, Mahdesian returned to California and took on the role of Servicon board chair. In this position, he elevated the company and the cleaning industry overall to new heights by pioneering green cleaning and sustainability efforts. He also worked with the California State Legislature to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and address the issue of the underground market and its effects in depressing wages and benefits for workers in the cleaning industry. Mahdesian’s dedication to supporting the local community was recognized by former Los Angeles Mayor Jimmy Hahn, who appointed Mahdesian to the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, where he served from 2001 to 2005.
In 2020, Mahdesian founded ServiconCares, a philanthropic foundation that donates to—and partners with—groups in Southern California to improve the communities where Servicon employees work and reside. Through ServiconCares, Mahdesian recently launched the Mahdesian Family/ServiconCares Scholarship Fund for Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, which will fund five renewable scholarships for undergraduate students from south Los Angeles annually.
Servicon’s 50th Anniversary: A Fun Time for All
The company’s 50th anniversary was celebrated in style last weekend, beginning with a gala at the company’s headquarters Friday evening that included drinks, dinner, and musical entertainment. In addition to Nazarian’s presentation of the resolution to Mahdesian, other awards were presented during the event, including the Bronze American Business “Stevie” Award for Thought Leadership won by Laurie Sewell and the Bronze Digital Health Award for Website Responsiveness from the Health Information Resource Center, which was accepted by Servicon Marketing Manager Anthony “AJ” Calzada. The evening also featured the unveiling of a much-anticipated mural painted by local artist Stephanie Grigsby. The 20-foot-high by 75-foot-long mural located next to the main entrance of the company’s corporate offices provides “A Look at Servicon,” including elements of the company’s past and a vision of its future.
The 50th anniversary festivities continued Saturday and Sunday with a carnival for all company employees and their families, offering food, drink, games, a dunk tank, face painting, and other fun family-oriented activities.
About Servicon, California’s Leading EVS and Commercial Cleaning Services Provider
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Servicon is a leading hospital EVS and commercial services cleaning company specializing in hospital EVS, life sciences, aerospace, and facility maintenance of complex facilities. At Servicon, we live by our purpose to elevate the industry and provide healthy environments for people to thrive. As a privately held, women-owned and operated company, we work and live by our vision of creating a better working future. To learn more about Servicon, contact us today.
