The ingredients for women’s success

Deirdre Newman

Success in business comes when you apply vision, passion, generosity

and love to your daily routine, Zov Karamardian said Friday when she

was honored as Woman Business Owner of the Year.

Karamardian was honored by the National Assn. of Women Business

Owners at the Westin South Coast Plaza. Three other business women

received awards, and 20 more were recognized for their achievements

by women’s organizations in Orange County.

The annual event shines a spotlight on women who contribute to the

economy and set examples by their significant strides in the business

world.

“I’m proud to be among all these incredible women,” said Nancy

Dahan, a family law attorney who was honored by the Women in

Leadership of Orange County. “I’m glad there is such a thing to honor

these women and everyone is here to support them.”

This is the eighth year the Orange County branch of the national

association has hosted an awards luncheon.

Karamardian opened Zov’s Bistro, which offers contemporary Middle

Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, in Tustin in 1987. The bistro includes a restaurant, a bakery, catering services and a cooking

school. Aficionados of the bistro include author Dean Koontz and his

wife, Gerda. Karamardian also provides cooking classes at inner city

high schools to inspire students to pursue professions in the

culinary industry.

“In this day and age, with corruption and insecurity in the

business world, many view success as exploitation,” Karamardian said.

“But showing we are active and caring in the community helps dispel

that view.”

Dahan, who has been practicing family law for 14 years, is a

partner in the law firm of Brown & Dahan. Dahan created a Web site

(https://women911.com) to provide resources to victims of domestic

violence.

“I could see that people who have money and access don’t know

where to go if they’re being stalked,” Dahan said. “There are avenues

of respite that people are not aware of. With the Web site, there are

private links to their possibilities.”

Planning Commissioner Katrina Foley, chair of Women in Leadership,

said the organization decided to honor Dahan because of her tenacious

commitment to helping other women.

“[Dahan] is a tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence

and has worked diligently to prevent teenage pregnancy, which

sometimes can result in domestic violence,” Foley said.

Former Mayor Karen Robinson, who is now a Superior Court judge,

was honored by the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.

Robinson said she was thrilled by the tribute.

“This is wonderful,” Robinson said. “I’m so honored to be honored

by the Black Chamber of Commerce as its remarkable woman of the year.

There are so many distinguished women in Orange County, and I’m

honored to be included in that group.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].