While a Business Marketing major at California State University, Northridge, Marina was also employed in her family business of jewelry manufacturing. During her 13-years there, she brought theory to practice and helped the business continue to thrive by developing a marketing strategy, which later resulted in the creation of a marketing department—something the business did not have before. This helped to change the focus of the company to a consumer based one, in addition to shifting focus from solely being a manufacturing business to one that included a designer brand: Barkev’s.

Along the way, Marina married Aret Kurian, and gave birth to their daughter, Ella. When it came time to start playing with Ella, Marina realized that the types of Armenian toys she was hoping to find did not exist. This is when she started mulling over the idea of developing educational Armenian toys. Marina was keen on developing an Armenian product that wasn’t just a toy, but was first and foremost an educational tool that would bond children to their heritage. After two years of researching, thinking, developing and perfecting, the final products were ready to be rolled out with a newly minted brand to back it up: Toot Hoot, www.toothoot.com.

As a parent, Marina wants her daughter to develop a strong sense of Armenian identity. And what better way to establish that then through recognition and tie to culture? Feeling connected to ones heritage and history provides a sense of belonging. That bond found in playing with toys are a fun and exciting way of reinforcing that connection every day in our own homes.