Business Services Professional

Grisha Shirvanyan, PhD

Address: ** ********* ***., ***. **,

Yerevan 375056, Armenia

Mobile phone: (+374 91) 419 262

Home phone: (+374 10) 642 946

E-mail: *.**********@*****.***

************@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

A mature, creative, result-oriented, hard-working and dedicated professional possessing the unique ability to work independently and in a team environment. Demonstrated talent for project initiation, planning, and implementation and monitoring activities, with strong follow-through on details.

SUMMARY OF SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Maintain country & product market studies, marketing & promotional materials, trade show databank & contacts, international buyer information, public & private linkage (international donors, government, business community), consultancy network, partnership building techniques, professional presentation know-how, perfect language (English, Russian, Armenian) skills, proven writing/editing talents, etc.

Perform strategic planning, systems approach, qualitative & quantitative analysis, feasibility studies, valuation & needs assessment, project development & implementation, progress criteria & benchmarks set-up, work plan development & reporting, liaising & coordinating with outside partners, market analysis & development, trade show coordination & market tours, business planning, financial analysis, linkage-to-finance leverage, client advice & guidance, monitoring & mentoring, instructive workshops & presentations, capacity building, ISO planning, etc.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Development Alternatives Inc., Yerevan

Development Alternatives Inc., a US-based corporation, had been carrying out a long-term USAID-funded Armenia SME Market Development Project (DAI-ASME).

July 2002-Dec 2007 Business Advisor

• Conducted competitive analysis of selected products, developed an understanding of the domestic and export markets, and worked out a strategy to penetrate the markets

• Identified high-potential SME clients, developed and coordinated an integrated program of technical (including STTA line-up) and financial (linkage-to-finance) assistance for market expansion (including trade shows & market tours in Ukraine, Russia, U.A.E., Belgium, Netherlands, etc.)

• Built up holistic relationship with partner SMEs and helped them develop future visions and viable business strategies along with the elaboration of feasible operational and financial plans

• Conducted field studies of potential export markets for selected products; in particular, completed five-week-long thorough market studies in Turkey (2002) and Ukraine (2005)

• Produced annual work plans and quarterly reports (including the broad areas of market development, firm-level assistance, financial linkages/leverage, business service providers, policy and associations)

• Produced and provided technical training to client SMEs as required (in particular, conducted workshops and seminars on export market development, trade show planning, ISO introduction, EU market access requirements, etc.)

• Helped enhance the capacity of both private and public entities to comply with EU market entry requirements for selected products (in particular, prepared and leaded a mixed study group to Hungary)

October 2000-June 2002 Finance & Investment Advisor

• Located and evaluated promising Armenian SMEs in terms of growth potential both in export and domestic markets

• Helped client SMEs to develop viable business proposals with sound sales and cash projections

• Structured financial assistance to client SMEs via applying capital cost sharing grants to leverage commercial funding

• Liaised with partner Armenian banks in securing growth finance to client SMEs

• Contributed to concerted efforts by international (Credit Agricole group) and local parties (ACBA – Agricultural Cooperative Bank of Armenia) in setting up the first Armenian commercial leasing company

Bannock Consulting Co / Development Programs Ltd; Yerevan

February 2000-September 2000 Financial Advisor

Bannock Consulting (United Kingdom) and Development Programs (Armenia) had been implementing the EBRD Program for Institution Building and SME Credit Line in the Republic of Armenia.

• Prepared due diligence reports on local partner banks

• Conducted data collection and financial analyses

• Performed company, market and business plan research and evaluation

• Carried out credit portfolio analyses

• Provided consulting services to local partner banks and applicant enterprises

ADA/JICA; Yerevan

October 1998-December 1999 Chief Economic Consultant to JICA Study Team

Japan International Cooperation Agency, in collaboration with Armenian Development Agency, carried out the Study of Private Sector Development in Armenia to result in elaborating Master Plan that would address the problems and solutions in this area.

• Rendered consulting services to the Team Leader in the fields of economic development, institutional reforms, laws and regulations, privatization, specific sectors, financial mechanism, legal framework, taxation system, SME promotion, etc.

• Organized meetings and participated in discussions with top-level government officials as well as other relevant parties

• Took part in preparing, compiling and editing the Final Report

ADA (then EDIPA); Yerevan

October 1997-September 1998 Fund Manager, Enterprise Support Fund (ESF)

The ESF, a part of the WB-financed Enterprise Development Project, was targeted at (i) increasing the competitiveness of Armenian exports and assisting actual and potential exporters to search and maintain export markets and (ii) assisting enterprises to locate prospective joint-venture partners. For these purposes, the ESF had been providing refundable grants to eligible Armenian companies.

• Identified potential beneficiaries

• Appraised grant assistance requests

• Prepared monthly reports for the Grant Approval Committee and for IDA

• Assisted enterprise in program identification and development of the grant proposal

• Assisted firms in procuring specialized consulting services

• Monitored the use of grants including procurement of goods and services

• Managed the funds of the ESF including accounting and auditing arrangements

April 1996-September 1997 Head, Enterprise Development Department

• Developed databases on prospective Armenian companies and would-be overseas partners as well as on their business proposals

• Provided information and consultancy services to local and foreign entrepreneurs

• Prepared, published and distributed comprehensive materials on Armenia’s business climate (such as Investment Climate of Armenia: Facts and Figures)

• Liaised with central and local Government offices as well as business associations to utilize international consultancy and matchmaking opportunities

August 1995-March 1996 MINISTRY OF ECONOMY / UNDP; Yerevan

National Project Coordinator, UNDP Umbrella Project

The Project was conceived to provide specialists that would assist Armenia in carrying out its economic reform program.

• Managed day-to-day activities within Umbrella project

• Administered UN consultancy missions and assignments

• Recruited international and local consultants to assist private and public enterprises

• Prepared terms of reference and project performance reports

• Maintained project accounts and prepared financial reports

• Provided guidance to Government officials on UNDP procedures

• Negotiated, organized and supervised support services to national executing agencies

December 1994-July 1995 MINISTRY OF ECONOMY; Yerevan

Program Officer, Foreign Aid Coordination Center

The Center had been the Government top unit primarily responsible for the administrative management of international assistance projects, both humanitarian and development, implemented in Armenia.

• Coordinated external aid programs in reforming economic institutions and developing private sector

• Evaluated and prepared progress reports on Armenia’s economic reform program.

• Drafted terms of references for consultancy services

• Made arrangements for international bidding within the privatization program

EDUCATION

1984-89 ST.-PETERSBURG ENGINEERING & ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY;

Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Ph.D. in Economics

1977-81 YEREVAN ECONOMIC UNIVERSITY;

Yerevan, Armenia

Diploma of Economist

TRAINING

2006 Candidate in the PMP (Project Management Professional) Program / Member of PMI (Project Management Institute, PA, USA)

2003 DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC. ARMENIA BRANCH; Yerevan, Armenia

Certificate of Completion

Attended a two-week course on Advanced Marketing.

2002 FINTRAC, INC; Yerevan, Armenia

Certificate of Completion

Attended a weekly course on Agribusiness Information Systems

2000 MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC; Yerevan, Armenia

Certificate of Completion

Attended a weekly course on Financing Growth of SMEs

1997 HELLENIC FOREIGN TRADE BOARD; Athens, Greece

Certificate of Completion

Attended a three-week course on Economic Development & International Trade Relations Towards 2000

1993 JOINT VIENNA INSTITUTE; Vienna, Austria

Certificate of Completion

Attended a two-month course on Aspects of Public Finance.

COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, MS Access, MS Project, Lotus Notes, Internet.

LANGUAGES

Armenian – native, English and Russian – fluent

REFERENCES

Mr. Gary D. Kilmer – Development Alternatives, Inc.

Former Chief of Party, Armenia SME Market Development Project (ASME)

7600 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA

E-mail: ***********@***.***, ************@*******.***

Mobile phone: + 001 703-***-****

Mr. Fred Harris – Bearing Point, Inc.

Chief of Party, Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion and Quality (SABEQ)

PO Box 940503, Amman, 11194 Jordan

E-mail: *******@*****-******.***

Mobile phone: +962-**-*-***-***

Mr. Peter Robbins

International Marketing Consultant

4 Meadow Cottages, Caldecote, Baldock, Hertfordshire SG7 5LE, United Kingdom

Tel/Fax: +44 (0-146*-******

E-mail: *****@************.*******.**.**

Grisha Shirvanyan

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