In the world of creative entrepreneurship and community-building, few figures embody both vision and heart as compellingly as Lucy Simonyan . Co-founder of Lusanet Collective, Lucy has not only helped build a physical creative hub for artists and makers in Burbank, but has also extended her influence into civic and entrepreneurial circles — culminating in a major honor from Senator Anthony Portantino and a role on a high-impact IKEA panel that united local women entrepreneurs.
From Armenia to American Dream, With Purpose
Lucy’s background is rooted in resilience. She grew up in Armenia and earned her master’s degree in accounting and finance at the French University in Armenia. When she relocated to the U.S in 2010, she carried more than her professional credentials — she carried a purpose: to build bridges, elevate underrepresented voices, and build a thriving creative economy in her adopted community.
With that vision, Lucy and business partner Anet Abnous launched Lusanet Collective — a brick-and-mortar creative hub and retail space designed to support artists, makers, and small business founders across stages of growth. The space functions not just as a storefront, but as a gathering point: a venue for pop-ups, exhibitions, resource sharing, ideation, and real connection among local creative entrepreneurs.
Over time, Lusanet Collective has become woven into the fabric of Burbank’s entrepreneurial and artistic ecosystem, offering much more than a retail showcase — it is a symbol of community, collaboration, and elevation.
The IKEA Women in Business Mixer: A Platform for Inspiration
In March 2025, IKEA Burbank hosted a Women in Business Mixer, a morning event that drew more than 50 local women entrepreneurs, creatives, and business leaders. Attendees gathered over a complimentary Swedish breakfast, networked, and heard from a powerhouse panel of women who are making tangible impact in their communities.
Importantly, Lucy was one of the featured panelists, bringing her insight as a creative business owner navigating growth, collaboration, and community impact. The panel included:
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Lucy Simonyan, Co-owner of Lusanet Collective
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Carmenita Helligar, owner of Local as Can Bee
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Kim Williams, owner of The Enchanted Florist and An Open Invitation
The conversation ranged from the challenges of building a brand in a competitive market to the power of community support and visibility. The event reaffirmed the value of bringing women entrepreneurs together — to learn, uplift, and build momentum together.
For Lucy, her participation in that IKEA panel was more than a speaking slot — it was a platform to model courage, share lessons, and strengthen connections across the local business ecosystem.
Senator Portantino Recognition: A Defining Honor
If the IKEA event was a celebration of today’s work, the recognition from Senator Anthony J. Portantino in 2023 was a public affirmation of Lucy’s rising impact and leadership.
Each year, Senator Portantino hosts his Women in Business Legislative Update & Awards Luncheon, honoring accomplished women across the 25th Senate District for their contributions to economic vitality, innovation, leadership, and community enrichment. In 2023, Lucy (referred to in some media as “Lucy Simonyan”) was among the honorees for the Women in Business Awards.
This recognition was doubly meaningful: not only was Lucy acknowledged among a distinguished cohort of women business leaders, but her Armenian heritage was also spotlighted — a testament to the multilayered identity she brings to her role. asbarez.com Armenian community leaders and businesswomen were explicitly noted among the honorees in Portantino’s 2023 ceremony.
At the awards luncheon, more than 400 people attended, and 41 women across the district were honored for their innovations, leadership in nonprofits, creative enterprises, and more. The event additionally featured a legislative update and keynote address (that year, Dr. Laurie Leshin, director at JPL, delivered remarks) to uplift the honorees’ stories.
Lucy’s recognition at this level is not merely symbolic — it signals that her work is being noticed at institutional levels, and that her voice carries importance. It underscores how small, locally grounded initiatives can ripple outward into broader civic, cultural, and policy conversations.
The Impact Behind the Accolades
Honors and panels are powerful, but they are only meaningful when anchored in sustained impact. What does Lucy’s recognition — and Lusanet Collective’s existence — mean in concrete terms?
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Elevating underserved creatives: Many artists, makers, and entrepreneurs struggle with exposure, access, or resources. Lusanet offers an accessible platform — a bridge between creative work and market opportunity.
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Fostering community & collaboration: The hub provides a space for like-minded creatives to share ideas, exchange advice, and co-create. That sense of belonging is often undervalued, but it has ripple effects in confidence, resilience, and cross-pollination of ideas.
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Inspiring next-generation leaders: For women, particularly immigrant women or those from underrepresented backgrounds, Lucy’s trajectory — from Armenia to a local creative leader recognized by a state senator — is a strong narrative of possibility.
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Economic and cultural vitality of Burbank: Through pop-ups, events, exhibitions, and curated markets, Lusanet helps draw foot traffic, supports micro-businesses, and contributes to a vibrant local cultural economy.
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Civic bridging: The recognition from Senator Portantino helps Lucy and her ventures gain visibility in policy and governance circles — potentially opening doors for advocacy, funding, partnerships, and systems-level change.
What’s Next for Lucy & Lusanet
With the momentum generated by the IKEA panel and Senator Portantino’s honor, Lucy and her team are well poised for further expansion. Whether through new co-working initiatives, expanded exhibitions, mentorship programming, or collaborations with local institutions, the next chapters may well deepen Lusanet’s footprint and influence.
Lucy’s story reminds us: when you marry creative ambition with community purpose, you create something greater than the sum of your parts. Her recognition is not just for her, but for the many artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers she supports — a ripple of honor and opportunity extending outward.