Tufenkian

Yesterday James Tufenkian came to speak with us at the Birthright Office. He told us his story and it illuminated how one man’s vision can help propel an entire country forward.  

His parents were first generation Armenian immigrants to the US; they were in the US because their families escaped the genocide. He grew up in Oregon and when he studied the genocide he knew he wanted to find a way to help his people. In addition he wanted to reclaim his Armenian roots so he legally changed his name from James Frances to James Tufenkian.  

Seeing the profit margins he could make buying and selling rugs he got into the business. After the fall of the Soviet Union he knew that Armenia had it’s freedom but the blockades from Azerbaijan and Turkey made living and working conditions impossible. Still in 1993 Tufenkian felt it was time to leave for Armenia, which he felt would be like ‘the wild west.’

On his plane to Armenia when he was asked what his plans were he said that he was on his way to find sheep. In reality he was planning on starting a rug manufacturing business in Armenia. He figured he could have an impact on the Armenian economy through finding the sheep that produced the ideal wool for carpets and hiring local women to weave the carpets. He found success in a country that at the time was practically devoid of infrastructure.

His next venture was to open hotels in some of Armenia’s villages, even though tourism in those areas was nonexistent. His Tufenkian hotel chain is currently doing well and he’s now opening another in Yerevan and then branching in to Tbilisi, Georgia. In addition to providing jobs he opened a foundation to pursue charitable work in Armenia as well.

James Tufenkian speaking to the Birthright Volunteers