App designer earns honor

A local web designer who launched his business as a teenager out of his bedroom in the late 1990s recently won an award for his mobile app that guides visitors through downtown Glendale’s shops and eateries.

About a year ago, Shant Sahakian developed the Downtown Glendale App, an index of restaurants, retail stores and other commercial businesses as well as an up-to-date events calendar among other features.

“It takes a geolocation of someone who works in downtown and lets them see what’s around for coffee… so the app makes that really easy,” he said.

Sahakian’s company, Sedna Solutions, was one of two companies to win an Impact Award in the “App Development” category from the Internet Marketing Assn. He accepted the award in December.

“It was a great honor because you pick the project you’re proud of the most,” Sahakian said. “It’s nice to see that your peers also agree and appreciate the work that you put out.”

He said he’s working on adding more features, including one that will let prospective residents see which living units or offices in downtown are on the market.

The app was designed for the Downtown Glendale Assn.

Now 29, Sahakian founded Sedna Solutions when he was 14 and a student at Toll Middle School after developing an interest in turning the Internet into a career, long before high-speed service was commonplace.

“I loved playing sports… I loved hockey and basketball, and I loved designing and programming,” he said. “I loved it from the start.”

Sahakian initially started creating websites for small mom-and-pop shop owners, and since then, Sedna has branched out to marketing, branding and public relations.

Sahakian is a lifelong Glendale resident and his company is located in the community as well.

He is also one of the co-founders of Glendale Young Professionals, a program that’s part of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce.