Volume 8 Issue 37 - 8th Anniversary Special Issue

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PUBLISHER TurkofAmerica, Inc.

CO-FOUNDER & GENERAL MANAGER Ömer Günefl – [email protected]

CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING EDITORCemil Özyurt – [email protected]

GENERAL COORDINATOR Tolga Ürkmezgil

ART DIRECTOR Sinem Ertafl

EDITOR Patricia Russo,

DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR Necdet Köseda¤

SENIOR ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Ayhan Kay

WRITER-REPORTERS Ayfle Önal Zambo¤lu, Ali Ç›nar,Demet Cabbar, Duygu Uçkun, Maureen Ertürk, Melda Akansel.

CONTRIBUTORSBurcu Baykurt, Burcu Gündo¤an, Halim Özyurt.

ADVISING COMMITTEEAli Günertem, Egemen Ba¤›fl, Ekmel Anda, Ferhan Geylan,G. Lincoln McCurdy, Hakk› Akbulak, Mahmut Topal,Mehmet Çelebi, Osman (Oz) Bengür, U¤ur Terzio¤lu.

MAIN OFFICETURKOFAMERICA, Inc.115 River Road, Suite 1206Edgewater, NJ 07020Tel: +1 (201) 917 5483Fax: +1 (917) 322 2105info@ turkofamerica. comwww.turkofamerica.com

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE U.S.

CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles): Barbaros Tapan -btapan@ turkofamerica. comTel: +1 (213) 924 8027

CALIFORNIAA (San Fransisco): Ayfle Önal Zambo¤lu –aozamboglu@ turkofamerica. comTel: +1 (650) 938 1764

CONNECTICUT Ali Ç›nar – [email protected] -Tel: +1 (203) 722 4339

MASSACHUSETTSMustafa Aykaç – [email protected] - Tel: +1 (857) 205 8318

NEW YORK (Rochester)Ersoy Yildiz – [email protected] - Tel: +1 (585) 414 4300

EUROPE: Yasin Ya¤c› – [email protected]: +31 (624) 66 92 23

TURKEY

GENERAL COOORDINATORNuri Özyurt – [email protected]

TURKEY REPRESENTATIVEErtan Turhan - [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTIONPark Plaza Kat:7 19/C Büyükdere Cad. 80670Maslak / ‹stanbul Tel: +90 (212) 345 0345Fax: +90 (216) 348 7910

PRINT:‹maj ‹ç ve D›fl Ticaret A.fi.‹maj Center Macun Mahallesi 3. Cadde No:2 (A Girifli) ‹stanbul Yolu 6. Km. Yenimahalle - Ankara - TurkeyTelefon: + 90 (312) 397 91 40Fax: + 90 (312) 397 41 52E-Mail: [email protected]

TURKOFAMERICA is a member of Independent Press Association.TURKOFAMERICA is a member of Turkish American Chamber ofCommerce Industry.

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INDEX

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6460

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14 TURKISH DIVA SEZEN AKSU DELIGHTS CONCERT HALLS One of Turkey’s biggest pop music exports, Sezen Aksu, (born on July 13, 1954) is a pop music singer, songwriter and producer who has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. She filled North Bethesda’s Strathmore, New York’s CarnegieHall and New Jersey’s NJ PAC for nights of nostalgia with almost 8,000 fans.

25 SULEYMAN DEMIREL, 9TH PRESIDENT OF TURKEY Suleyman Demirel, the ninth President of Turkey, had given a special interview to Turk of America during his stay in New York, in 2003. During the meeting, he had told the Turkish community in the US that “they should not be depressed nor feel any inferiority complex. We started this race 150 years behind, but now need 30 more years to reach the American standards.”

26 FOLLOWING THE TRAILS OF TURKISH PIONEERS Between 1860 and 1921, approximately 1.2 million people migrated to the U.S. and other parts of America from the Ottoman land. An estimated 15 percent of these people are thought to be Turkish or Muslims.

29 PM RECEP TAYYIP ERDO⁄AN SPOKE TO TURKOFAMERICA: During his visit to New York, Washington DC and Boston, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdo¤an spoke to TURKOFAMERICA about Turkish-American relations and the problems of Turkish associations as well as Turkish people in the US. Erdogan stated that Turkey and the US are indispensable partners for each other.

35 THE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN TURKEYThis psychologist of the family, Ms. Guler Sabanci, has a verydifferent character in the business world as one of its mostpowerful women. In 2004, Ms. Sabanci was ranked 20th among the 50 Most Powerful Women in a study of countries outside the US by Fortune Magazine, and 7th in the list of Most Powerful Women created by the Financial Times.

39 UNIQUE SETTINGS OF NEW YORK Ekmel Anda, the founding partner of a series of companies among which is a mounter producer workshop in Long Island City, a design company called Diamond Plaza which addresses the tastes of people from the high income class, chair manufacturing says he is passionate about his work.

45 SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH THE EYES OF THE TURKISH COMMUNITY September 11, 2001 - 8:46 A.M. A plane hits the first tower of the World Trade Center at 1790 km per hour. Zuhtu Ibis, who works on the 103rd floor at Cantor FitzGerald, calls his wife and says, “Don’t worry, I am all right! I have to go now, the building’s being evacuated!” Turan Ayaz, who works on the 65th floor at Port Authority, reaches for his phone. His words are the same.“I am alive, don’t worry!”

60 GOVERNOR PATERSON WELCOMES TURKISH INVESTORS Since David Paterson became governor, New York State hasfaced enormous political challenges, from the state’s budgetgap of more than $4 billion to the state’s worst fiscal crisis since the mid-1970s. In his first speech as Governor, on March 17, 2008, one of the crucial issues on which Governor Paterson led the charge for New York’s future was the puttingforth of a statewide renewable energy strategy to harness thepower of the sun and wind.

64 THE SECURITY OF THE INTERNET IS IN THE HANDS OF A TURK As the Internet continues to become an ever-bigger part of our lives, security concerns are increasing. The world’s second biggest Internet security company belongs to a Turkish businessman from Hatay, Melih Abdulhayo¤lu. He isthe owner of Comodo, which has 700 employees in five offices around the world and an annual growth rate of 50%. We are proud and pleased that his first interview in the

Turkish media has been given to TURKOFAMERICA.

08 • TurkofAmerica

When we decided to publish the first TurkishAmerican business magazine eight years

ago, nobody believed that we would survive everfor three or four issues. Despite the doubters,the issues have followed each other and almosteight years have passed. When I think aboutwhat we have done in eight years, I am reallyproud of our team and their work.

TURKOFAMERICA has connected two countrieswith its unique source. We have reached peoplewho had never been contacted before to covertheir stories, have traveled over 200,000 miles inthe U.S. and overseas, and have helped the voiceof Turkish business people to be heard aroundthe world.

When we started to publish the magazine, ourmain target was to serve as a bridge between theU.S. and Turkey to develop business relations.Now I have seen that we have accomplishedmany important things, but we still have a longway to go.

One of the most important achievements ofTURKOFAMERICA is helping New York State toopen a trade office in Istanbul in 2010 for Turkishbusinessmen who want to invest in New YorkState.

The other important development of themagazine is that for the last two years we havedistributed the magazine on Delta Airlinesbusiness class Istanbul-New York flights. We areone of very rare ethnic publications which havesuch an agreement with one of the Fortune 500companies.

To celebrate our anniversary, we organized aU.S. concert tour for one of the most popularTurkish pop singers, the Queen of Turkish popmusic, Sezen Aksu. I believe that it will beremembered for a very long time and it will be avery special night for her fans.

In addition to our teamwork, having unique con-tent and reaching very niche markets are our keyfactors for success. In this period, we had manycompetitors. Each of them helped us to improveour quality and service but unfortunately none ofthem have survived.

One of our important differences as a businesspublication is that we have introduced manynationally successful Turkish-American busi-nessmen and professionals to the American pub-lic for the first time. TURKOFAMERICA hasbecome a needed source for the Turkish mediaas well. They have reached many sourcesthrough the magazine.

As journalists, we have interviewed many impor-tant figures, such as the President, PrimeMinister, and many State Ministers of Turkey,U.S. Congressmen and mayors of famous cities,trade association executives, community lead-ers, activists, actresses, and academicians. Wedelivered their message to the Turkish-Americanpublic and the business community.

Even though we heard many times from differentpeople that is was impossible to survive in thepublishing business as a ethnic publication inthe U.S., the TURKOFAMERICA team has carriedout the miracle.

According to the U.S Dept. of Commerce and theCensus Bureau, seven out of 10 new employerfirms survive at least 2 years, half at least 5 years,a third at least 10 years, and a quarter stay inbusiness 15 years or more. TURKOFAMERICA isrunning toward its 10th year and I hope it will bestaying in the publishing business as long asTurkish- Americans live in the United States.I would like to thank all of our advertisers,subscribers, readers, contributors, editors,writers, and photographers. We couldn’t havedone anything without your support. Happyeighth anniversary. !

What An EIght Years!

FROM EDITOR

By Cemil Ozyurt [email protected]

We have reached

people who had never

been contacted

before to cover their

stories, have traveled

over 200,000 miles

in the U.S. and

overseas, and have

helped the voice of

Turkish business

people to be heard

around the world.

To learn more about the shopping mall project,

please call 201-315-0646 or 973-772-8500 or email [email protected]

Located in the busiest street of Clifton and Paterson,where Main Avenue and Number 46 highway

intersect in New Jersey.

The shopping mall can include almost ten stores in its100,000 square foot space.

The First Turkish Shopping MallWelcomes You ...

Turkish Mall

SEZEN AKSU

When Sezen Aksu

arrived at JFK

International Airport

on April 2, 2010,

Turkish Americans

were ready to listen

to her after her

ten-year absence

from U.S. concert

halls. Even though

having gone through

a 10-hour trip from

Istanbul to New York,

she was energetic

and had a smiley

face. She was happy

to be in New York

again to perform

after 10 years.


Turk›sh D›va Sezen Aksu Del›ghts Concert Halls for TURKOFAMERICA’s E›ghthAnn›versary

Photo by Engin Tekin.

Her close friend, artist Meltem Cumbul, and director Yasar Gagawere with her, and Aksu’s first comment about New York was

that the city was her favorite city in the world. She said she couldn’tlive in a city where she wouldn’t be able to walk on its streets freely.When she compares New York to Los Angeles, she says, “I can’t livein Los Angeles.”

Her first wish was that the concert series would have a great successfor sides, organizers and her crew.

Turkey's famous “Little Sparrow,” pop singer and composer SezenAksu, performed her concert series for TURKOFAMERICA Magazine’seighth anniversary in the U.S. The concert series started on April 4that Maryland’s Strathmore Hall, continued at New Jersey’s NJ PAC onApril 6th and finished at New York’s Carnegie Hall on April 7, 2010.

With an orchestra conducted by composer Fahir Atako¤lu, Aksu drewsustained applause from the crowd at all three halls. The presentseries marks the first time Aksu has embarked on a U.S. tour, havingnot played in the country since the "Moon and Stars Project" in 2000.

THE BIGGEST TURKISH-AMERICAN CONCERT ORGANIZATION One of Turkey’s biggest pop music exports, Sezen Aksu, (born on July13, 1954) is a pop music singer, songwriter and producer who hassold over 40 million albums worldwide. Her nicknames include the"Queen of Turkish Pop" and "Minik Serce" (Little Sparrow). Shefilled North Bethesda’s Strathmore, New York’s Carnegie Hall andNew Jersey’s NJ PAC for nights of nostalgia with almost 8,000 fans.The series sold the largest number of tickets for any Turkish-American concert series.

The Sezen Aksu Concert Series was organized by TURKOFAMERICAMagazine and GNL Entertainment, and sponsored by theWashington, DC-based Turkish Cultural Foundation, Pittsburg-basedVocelli Pizza, Delta Airlines, Istikbal Furniture, Turkon Line, KismetLimousine, Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank, Turkish Kitchen, Ali BabaRestaurant, Toros Restaurant, Royal Auto, Mega Shipping, PeraRestaurant and Amerturk, Inc. The concerts have drawn great inter-est from Turks living in Maryland, New York and New Jersey, as wellas the neighboring states Virginia, Washington, Delaware,Pennsylvania, Connecticut and even Florida. Over 20 companieswere the service sponsors for the concert series as well.

The series was the biggest concert organization in terms of specta-tors and budgets organized by Turkish-Americans in the U.S. Thesponsorship of Delta Airlines was unique for the Turkish-Americancommunity in the U.S. because it was the first time in the communi-ty’s history that a Fortune 500 company sponsored a concert whichwas organized by Turkish-Americans.

Performing along with composer and pianist Fahir Atako¤lu, Aksuwas on stage for roughly two-and-a-half hours at the halls. AfterSertab Erener, Sezen Aksu was the second Turkish singer who per-formed in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium.

Throughout the concert nights, Aksu maintained a warm rapportbetween herself and her fans, telling them how profoundly sheappreciated their deep and heartfelt friendship. “I am very happythat I have had this experience.”

TOUCHED ON DEMOCRATIC INITIATIIVE AS WELL At Carnegie Hall, speaking about Turkey’s democratic initiative,

Aksu discussed the country’s Roma citizens, saying, “We don’t haveany indication that any human is superior to any other.” With thewords eliciting great applause from the audience, she said music andsongs always bring people together in peace.

“I thank you all. I hope you will remember me as a nice person afterI leave here,” she said.

During the concert, Aksu also praised Atako¤lu, who played his ownsongs. His song, “Sar› Zeybek” (The Yellow Zeybek), was wellreceived by the crowd and drew loud applause.

At the end of the concert, Aksu returned to the stage for an encoreand performed two more songs, including “Arkadafl” (Friend), forwhich she received a long standing ovation. Among the spectators atthe concerts in Maryland, New Jersey and New York were Turkey’spermanent representative to the United Nations, AmbassadorErtu¤rul Apakan, and his wife, Lale Apakan, New York Consul GeneralMehmet Samsar and his wife, Feruze Samsar, as well as actressMeltem Cumbul.

During the concerts, Aksu joked with her band members, especiallywith the famous composer and her orchestra chief Fahir Atakoglu.Atakoglu says: “In our musical journey, we wrote songs together.Sezen Aksu wrote lyrics to my melodies that have become hits inTurkey and all over Europe. I also wrote arrangements and producedalbums for Sezen. In my career I have shared the stage with her manytimes; and for me every time has been a great honor and a musicalprivilege to play for her." After the concerts, Sezen Aksu thanked theorganizers and met some of her lucky fans backstage. After the firstconcert in Maryland, Ayse Numan Bageant, one of Sezen Aksu fansfrom Hawaii, visited Sezen Aksu at backstage and gifted her Hawaiiantraditional flowers necklace. Kavus Gokoglu, one of spectators who lis-tened Sezen Aksu in 1983 her first concert in New York, says that lis-tening her was a great pleasure for him and he adds: “After 27 years, Ihad a great night with her songs.” (Anatolia News Agency)!

TurkofAmerica • 15

Sezen Aksu at backstage with the concert tourorganizers.

COVERS



ISSUE 3

Their customers are

executives of the IMF,

the World Bank or the

Pentagon, as well as

White House staffers

and senators and

representatives from

the US Congress.

TURKOFAMERICA

talked to the

successful Turkish

businessmen in the

heart of Georgetown

in Washington, D.C.

THE STARS OF GEORGETOWN

In the capital of the United States, Turkish businessmenown hair salons that serve high society and some of the

best restaurants. Their customers are executives of theIMF, the World Bank or the Pentagon, as well as WhiteHouse staffers and senators and representatives fromthe US Congress. Here are the successful Turkish busi-nessmen in the heart of Georgetown:YURDUN ÖZTÜRK George is the oldest Turkish hairdresser’s in Georgetownand has been serving customers at the Four SeasonsHotel for 24 years. George is known as the ‘school’ forTurkish hairdressers who work in Georgetown or otherregions of Washington, DC. Although Öztürk had won theopportunity to study political science, he preferred to bea hairdresser. He commemorates his first master inAnkara, Akay ‹smail. NUR‹ YURT Many Turks who have hair salons in Georgetown hadtheir former experience in ‹stanbul Ba¤dat Caddesi, andNuri Yurt, who owns Toka Salon, is one of them. Havingstarted his working life at Kuaför Mustafa in BefliktaflSerencebey and having had experience in the famousneighborhoods of ‹stanbul, such as Etiler or Niflantafl›,Yurt came to the US 19 years ago.

THE FIRST TURKISH HOTEL IN WASHINTON, D.C. Cavit Öztürk is an entrepreneur and a former chef.After having had five years of experience in England,he has been in the US for almost 25 years. He ownsCafé Divan, which has been operating for eight years.When he first came to the US, he worked as a chef forten years and then started working in renovatingbuildings. In his new place, he used one of the exam-ples of renovation designs that he had utilized in con-struction for eight years. Café Divan has a modernlook with its internal decoration and outer design.Öztürk renovated the upper floors of the restaurantand opened one of the boutique hotels of DC. BÜLENT BOZDEM‹R Located on Georgetown’s M Street, Tara Salon hasbeen serving its customers for four years. The ownerof the place, Bülent Bozdemir, is 44 years old and wastrained as a hairdresser in ‹stanbul Ba¤dat Caddesi.He has been doing this job for 27 years. Among hisfamous customers are Princess Diana, BarbaraStreisand and Monica Lewinski. Bozdemir has styledMonica’s hair for almost two years and has been cov-ered in People Magazine as ‘Scandalous Stylist’.(Issue: 3, November 2002) !


ISSUE 4

If you want to seeGrand Bazaar

(Kapal›çarfl›) inManhattan,

we recommend thatyou to go to 46th or

47th Streets.

If you want to see Grand Bazaar (Kapal›çarfl›) inManhattan, we recommend that you to go to 46th

or 47th Streets. With its stalls and workshops, thewhole experience reminds people of the famousKapal›çarfl›. Ali Ergifl, who is the first entrepreneur inthe gold jewelry business in Manhattan and is alsoknown as Exhange 33 Ali, is the first person to becontacted by those who want to do business in gold.He came to the United States in 1969. He was former-ly a wrestler who won the Turkey and Balkan cham-pionship in the category of 75 kilos in 1966. Now heis running his business on 47th Street, where theheart of Manhattan’s gold market is located. Afterworking in the jewelry business for 40 years, he cur-rently owns a 5-floor department store. In the past,whoever arrived in Manhattan used to find Exhange33 Ali. “I used to do my best to help everyone.” hesays. There are 50 offices in the department store heowns and 31 ‘booths’, small sales points, in theentrance.

(Issue: 4, December 2002) !

GRAND BAZAAR INMANHATTAN


ISSUE 5

R›za Atafl from Malatya Wrestling Club, former

Fenerbahçe soccer player Salim Görür, Turgay Kad›o¤lu

from the Fenerbahçe Rowing Team, and Can Sonat,

former basketball player of Efes Pilsen and Fenerbahçe.

SPORTING BUSINESSMEN

TURKOFAMERICA brought together four businessmenwho were transferred from wrestling mats, football

fields, boats and basketball courts: R›za Atafl fromMalatya Wrestling Club, former Fenerbahçe soccer play-er Salim Görür, Turgay Kad›o¤lu from the FenerbahçeRowing Team, and Can Sonat, former basketball playerof Efes Pilsen and Fenerbahçe. Former sportsmen aretoday’s successful businessmen.

Every young person who is involved in sports has to thinkabout his or her post-sports life. No matter what kind ofsports you are involved, in you can only make money forthe next ten years of your life, taking an optimistic pointof view. What about after ten years? How do thesesportsmen earn their living once their sports careersend? Former Fenerbahçe, soccer player Salim Görür cur-rently owns Dervish Restaurant on 47th Street inManhattan. Can Sonat, whose team won the champi-onship twice when he played on Efes Pilsen and whoalso played on Fenerbahçe’s basketball team in its firstyear as a champion during the 1990-91 season is nowmanaging the US sales and international agency rela-tions of Ata Freight Lane, a New York-based companywhich serves 81 countries worldwide in transportation.Turgay Kad›o¤lu, who won the championship severaltimes on Fenerbahçe’s rowing team, now manages a gasstation in New York. R›za Atafl, who was on wrestlingmats for 11 years, now owns Istanbul Restaurant inBrooklyn and introduces Turkish cuisine to Brooklynites.

(Issue: 5, January 2003)!

ISSUE 7

Fahir Atako¤lu has been living in Maryland since the early

1990s. With his wife, Tülin, whom he married in 1995, and son

O¤ulcan, Atako¤lu invited TURKOFAMERICA to his house.

Fahir Atako¤lu always has a presence in our lives.He is sometimes in the jingle of a news announce-

ment of a television channel, or sometimes in thejingle of a documentary, advertisement or movie so-undtrack. He has been living in Maryland since theearly 1990s. With his wife, Tülin, whom he married in1995, and son O¤ulcan, Atako¤lu invited TURKOFA-MERICA to his house.

Fahir Atako¤lu is a renowned Turkish pianist andcomposer who has worked with a wide range of ar-tists across many genres of music, ranging in stylefrom symphonic scoring to advertising jingles. Hewas born in Istanbul, Turkey. From the age of 7, Atako¤lu was interested in musicand began playing piano and drums. Though his fa-mily intended for him to continue in the family busi-ness, his mother fostered his interest in music andthrough his music teacher Muzaffer Uz he was intro-duced to Cemal Reflit Rey, Turkey’s famous compo-ser, pianist, script writer, and conductor. Atako¤lustudied under Rey from 1977-1979. He attended theIstanbul State Conservatory from 1978-1980. In 1980he moved to London and for five years studied atboth the London School of Music and Croydon Colle-ge. He earned a degree in marketing and advertisingfrom Croydon College in 1983 and returned to Istan-bul to work as a jingle composer in the advertisingsector. Atakoglu has created music for commercials, newssegments, and documentaries via advertising agen-cies including Lintas, McCann Erickson, CDP Europe,Young & Rubicam, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Ogilvy &Mather. Atako¤lu acknowledges that his training inad jingles honed his skill as a composer to create im-mediate context within his music. A major composer, arranger and pianist who is famo-us in his native Turkey and becoming increasinglywell-known in the United States, Fahir Atakoglu’s la-test album “Istanbul In Blue” is the “most added”and the most increased in air play album, accordingto Jazz Week and Media Guide. He has also compo-sed music for Turkey's top bands and musicians, inc-luding Mazhar Fuat Özkan, Sezen Aksu, and SertabErener. He also composed music for the Greek musi-cian Notis Sfakinakis, with Atako¤lu's song Telos Di-os Telos going platinum with sales over 480,000 co-pies. Since 1994, Atako¤lu has recorded 10 albumswhich have sold over 2 million copies in 17 countries.

(Issue: 6, March 2003)!


Fahir Atako¤luIs Sa›l›ng ›n the World


ISSUE 7

The first Turk in the NBA first told

TURKOFAMERICA abouthis life in the US, his

objectives and experience with the Sacramento

Kings.

I’m Not aTemporary

Player›nthe NBA

Hidayet Türko¤lu, a.k.a. Hedo, started playing inthe NBA when he was 21 years old. Currently he

is playing in his 10th season. When we interviewedhim in 2003 he was not a major player on the teambut was hoping to be permanent. His biggest dreamwas to win the championship in Sacramento. Hehas not won any championship yet but has man-aged to leave a permanent mark in the NBA. In hisfirst year, he had his first encounter with the leg-

endary Micheal Jordan: “When I first met Jordan, Iwas pretty nervous and shuddered with respect.Playing against someone that you have watched onTV for years, that you’ve been fond of. It is impact-ful.” The first Turk in the NBA first told TURKO-FAMERICA about his life in the US, his objectivesand experience with the Sacramento Kings.

(Issue:7, May 2003)!


ISSUE 8

The Grammy Awards have been presented 48 times. He was nominated 15 times as the best producer of the year;

he won twelve times, most recently in 2003. Arif Mardin,one of the most important record producers and music

arrangers of the 20th century, passed away on June 29,2006 at age 74 in New York. He had talked to

TURKOFAMERICA.

Arif Mardin is one of the legendary names in theAmerican music industry. Having won 7 Grammy

Awards, his latest success was to introduce NorahJones, whose albums sold in record numbers whenshe was 23. Arif Mardin, who was 71 years old atthe time, was living the golden age of his careerand not thinking about retiring.

“After signing an agreement with the company,Jones prepared a demo album. However, the execu-tives of Blue Note Records did not like it and theywanted her to work with me. When I first met Jones,she was afraid of me. She told me she was thinkingto herself how she could discuss her music withsomeone who had worked with Aretha Franklin.I told her she was the boss and we startedworking.” Arif Mardin, producer of several famousmusicians and winner of seven Grammy Awards,told TURKOFAMERICA about his new adventuresafter Atlantic Records.

(Issue: 8, July 2003) !

Ar›f Mard›n Is ›n the GoldenAge of H›s Career


ISSUE 9

Alinur Velidedeo¤lu, who has achieved many

projects both in Turkey and the US, Turks in the

US can have access to what is going on in Turkey

anytime during the day. Turkey is no longer miles away;

it is as close as a TV button.

Thanks to successful adman and entrepreneurAlinur Velidedeo¤lu, who has achieved many

projects both in Turkey and the US, Turks in the UScan have access to what is going on in Turkey any-time during the day. Turkey is no longer milesaway; it is as close as a TV button.

The man who ›ntroduced Turk›sh TV to the US:

Alinur Velidedeo¤luYou are a passionate fan of Befliktafl with a bigexpectation of championship. Befliktafl is celebrat-ing its 100th year and from fans to players, every-one in the team is fighting to be that year’s champi-on. Finally the long-awaited time comes and every-one is fixated on the outcome of the criticalGalatasaray-Befliktafl game. Tickets are sold out, allcoffee shops are booked and the Befliktafl neigh-borhood is full of fans. However, you are in the US.Instead of grabbing your flag and going out toshout ‘Champion Befliktafl’, you are miles away.How could you share that joy? You do not have toworry about it anymore. That dream can come truethanks to famous businessman/adman AlinurVelidedeo¤lu. He told TURKOFAMERICA how DFHNetwork started in the United States.

(Issue: 9, August 2003) !


Suleyman Demirel, the ninth President of Turkey,had given a special interview to Turk of America

during his stay in New York, in 2003. During themeeting, he had told the Turkish community in theUS that “they should not be depressed nor feel anyinferiority complex. We started this race 150 yearsbehind, but now need 30 more years to reach theAmerican standards.”

Suleyman Demirel said that there is a lot to learnfrom the US: “I came here in 1949 for the first time.At that time there were no real dams in Turkey. I sawwhat a dam is in the US. They call me the Dam Kingand what I learned here has a lot to do with it”.

Mr. Demirel thinks that he learned a lot about hisprofession when he came to Denver in 1949. He sayshe had the opportunity to visit many dams, names ofwhich he can recount. “At that time we had onlythree dams. One of them was the Porsuk Dam, which

When asked if he partly owes his

nickname as the “Dam King” to his timein the US, Mr. Demirel

replies, “Of course. We learned

dam-building in the US.”

was leaking through a serious crack on its body. Theother two were the Gebere Dam in Nigde and theBilecik Dam. But we learned about dams from theUS. Later on, I sent 300 engineers to America, so thatthey can observe the latest developments and applythe same in Turkey.”

When asked if he partly owes his nickname as the“Dam King” to his time in the US, Mr. Demirelreplies, “Of course. We learned dam-building in theUS.” In 1954-55, when he came here for the secondtime, his focus shifted to the electricity system. Afterciting a statistic that at that time only 13 out of 35thousand villages in Turkey had electricity supply,Mr. Demirel remembers: “I examined the electricitypolicies of different states, I researched how theelectricity system in Tennessee worked. Then Iimplemented what I learned in Turkey.”

(Issue 10, November 2003)!

Suleyman Dem›rel, 9th Pres›dent of Turkey,spoke to TURKOFAMERICA:We Need 30 Years to Reach the Amer›can Standards

ISSUE 10

Professor Sedat Isci of Aegean University contin-ues to follow the trails of Turkish pioneers in

America. During his research under the project titled“First Turkish Settlers in America: 1860-1921'' heidentified five cemeteries in Detroit, and one in NewYork that belongs to early comers. There are approx-imately 250 graves at the Rockville Cemetery inLybrook, New York. Some of them have very interest-ing epitaphs. For example, one Turkish tombstonereads ‘I came here as a Turk and lived as a proudone.’

Mr. Isci located the first Turkish cemetery in Salem in2000. He then focused his search on Detroit and con-ducted preliminary research on three of the five

Between 1860 and1921, approximately 1.2

million people migrated to the U.S.

and other parts ofAmerica from theOttoman land. An

estimated 15 percentof these people are

thought to be Turkishor Muslims.

cemeteries that were identified. In these three ceme-teries, Mr. Isci identified between 500 and 1000Turkish graves.

Between 1860 and 1921, approximately 1.2 millionpeople migrated to the U.S. and other parts ofAmerica from the Ottoman land. An estimated 15percent of these people are thought to be Turkish orMuslims. According to Professor Isci, approximately60 thousand Turks and/or Muslims came to the U.S.during this period. The total number of Muslim immi-grants in the same timeframe is estimated to bearound 150 thousand.

(Issue 10, November 2003)!


Follow›ng theTra›ls of Turk›sh

P›oneers

ISSUE 10


ISSUE 11

From Dallas to

Chicago, from New

York to Washington,

D.C., in every corner

of the U.S., Turkish

women successfully

stand in the forefront

with their success in

business and

professional life,

and academics. Here

are the Turkish

women and their

success stories.

Some are doctors, others academicians, busi-nesswomen, musicians… either in leading U.S.

cities like New York, Dallas, Chicago,Washington, D.C., or nationwide, they are on thespotlight because of their accomplishments.Their names are on the top of the lists of mostsuccessful doctors, academicians, and managers.

The astrophysicist Feryal Özel, whose name islisted in the “Big Ideas” list next to John Nash andEinstein, Fatofl Gül, who was elected severaltimes as the most successful physiotherapist bysix thousand doctors, Emel Singer, owner of

Banner Personnel, Inc., which is in the top 25 ofwomen-owned businesses in Chicago, SevinÖtgünç, vice-president of Picasso Travel, whichis, one of the top 10 travel agencies; BengiMayone, the first Turkish soprano of New YorkMetropolitan Opera, Asl› Demirgüç Kunt, whodiagnosed the financial crises with her report tothe World Bank, S›dd›ka Demir, who was selectedas the Young Engineer of the Year, are some ofthe names in this issue. Here are the women inthe forefront and their stories…

(Issue: 11, February 2004)!

WOMEN WHO WROTE THEIR

NAMES ON THE TOP


ISSUE 12

One of those

impressions belongs

to Architect Mustafa

Kemal Abadan. Along

with co-designer

Architect David

Childs, he is one of

the two chief

architects of the

55-story twin towers

that belong to AOL

Time Warner Center

rising high in the sky

at Columbus Circle.

PLACING SIGNATURES

ON SIX CONTINENTS

Apartner of one of the world’s largest architectfirms Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM),

Architect Mustafa Kemal Abadan is one of the twodesigners of the 55- story AOL Time Warner Centerbuilding. Mr. Abadan put his signature on dozens of

projects in five continents as well as being the archi-tect of many buildings in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila,London, and San Paulo.

New York City’s skyscrapers offer a spectacular viewto the city viewers. Even if you walk down theManhattan streets every day, you cannot help your-self but admire buildings laddering high into thesky. Building a skyscraper in NYC means leaving apermanent impression on the city’s architecture.

One of those impressions belongs to ArchitectMustafa Kemal Abadan. Along with co-designerArchitect David Childs, he is one of the two chiefarchitects of the 55-story twin towers that belong toAOL Time Warner Center rising high in the sky atColumbus Circle. The 210 meter tall structures costapproximately 1.8 billion U.S. dollars. This repre-sents the largest credit line to date received from abank to be used for a building construction.

Naturally, our meeting location with Mustafa KemalAbadan was the AOL Time Warner Center.Considering the photo opportunities that NYC’s sun-rise offers, he requested to meet with us early in themorning. We weren’t going to disagree with themaster architect who drew this skyscraper designand met with him at 9:30 in the morning. Theentrance of the building facing the Columbus Circlehas a huge window face.

The ground floor mall is one of NYC’s most popular.First, we ask Mr. Abadan “How does it feel to leavesuch a mark on a city like NYC?” With a light smilehe says, “In some businesses you deal with intangi-ble items. However, that doesn't leave anything tan-gible to you or to next generations. But designing,such a structure, is so honorable and it is somethingthat I can proudly present to coming generations.”

(Note: After this article, Abadan designed a buildingin Australia and the continents number reached six)(Issue: 12, May 2004)!


"My government

has a strong

will to improve

our relations and

cooperation

with the US to the

highest possible

point for the

benefit of the

Turkish and

American people."

During his visit to New York, Washington DC andBoston, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdo¤an spoke to

TURKOFAMERICA about Turkish-American relationsand the problems of Turkish associations as well asTurkish people in the US. Erdogan stated that Turkeyand the US are indispensable partners for eachother. “We would like to see our cooperation toimprove and to include cooperation in economicareas and reconstruction of Iraq”, said the PrimeMinister. He also emphasized that Turkey’s successis very important for the stability in the region.

- How appropriate is it to categorize the Turkish-American relations into pre-Iraq war and post--Iraqwar eras? What implications would your govern-ment’s policy have on the future of relations? WWhat do you think about the idea that strategic part-nership with the US is over and a new strategysshould be formulated under new conditions? Although there were difficult times, the fundamentalstrategic and political realities define the relationsbetween Turkey and the US as a relationshipbetween two allies. The alliance between the twocountries has a strong base. Therefore there cannotbe any pre-war and past-war periods. Iraq cannot bedefining factor for our relations; they extend overmuch longer term and cover a wide range. Duringthe Iraq war, we had different perceptions of the cri-

sis and adopted different approaches. This is nor-mal. The world is changing fast, and it is natural forevery country with its own system to evaluate devel-opments according to its own political position.Turkey and the US are indispensable partners foreach other in this region. This relationship comesfrom the past and will continue in the future.

My government has a strong will to improve our rela-tions and cooperation with the US to the highestpossible point for the benefit of the Turkish andAmerican people and in a way in which the coopera-tion contributes to the stability in the region.

In addition to strategic partnership, we would likeour relations to expand into new horizons such aseconomic cooperation and the reconstruction ofIraq. One of our fundamental objectives is to bringcommercial and economic relations to be as impor-tant as political and military relations. As the onlyMuslim country in the region with a free marketeconomy and secular democracy, Turkey has manyvalues to offer. Turkey sets an exemplary model forother countries in the region. The success of thismodel is very important for the future of these coun-tries as well as the stability in the region.

(Issue: 12, May 2004)!

Pr›me M›n›ster Recep Tayy›p Erdo¤anspoke to TURKOFAMERICA:

“Turkey’s Success Is Important for theStab›l›ty ›n the Reg›on”

ISSUE 13

The Crown Building is one of the well-known build-ings on Fifth Avenue in New York City in that it hosts

offices of internationally renowned trade marks. TheCrown Building, featured as the building with “the bestCentral Park view in Manhattan in New York city guides,was the only building with rising office rents despite anoverall 20 percent depreciation in the mid-90s.

The purpose of our visit to the 1921-built CrownBuilding is not to get acquainted with its history. Weare there to hear the story of Gilan, one of the ten-ants who aims to become an international trademark in jewelry. As natural as it seems, the roadGilan took to reach this success is a rather long one.

Gilan opened its first store in the Covered Bazaar inBursa in 1981. After graduating from the Civil

Gilan chose New York

City as a spot to

become an

international brand

name. Their designs

convey an authentic

breeze from Anatolia.

Apart from New York,

Gilan has customers

from Los Angeles, San

Francisco, Chicago,

and Dallas and. In five

years, the exquisite

jeweler plans to open

stores in Los Angeles

and Las Vegas.

Engineering Department at Y›ld›z Technical University,Ferhan Geylan returned to his home town and decidedto pursue a career in the jewelry sector, rather thanrunning the food wholesale business his family hadbeen in since 1937. The first store he opened in Bursawith his brother Muharrem Geylan was the first steptowards the formation of Gilan as a trademark in thejewelry sector. The name “Gilan” comes from theroots of the family that reaches to the Gilan village inKosovo, Yugoslavia. Although the family left theBalkans many years ago, they keep their village’sname alive by naming their jewelry after it.

(Gilan opened its first flagship store on Fifth Avenuenext to Louis Vuitton in 2005)

(Issue: 13, July 2004)!


THE FIFTH-AVENUE ANATOLIAN JEWELRY

MOTIF: GILAN


ISSUE 14

The roots of the Melungeons who are believed to bebrought to the American continent by the Spanish

sailors around 1500’s lie in Caucasia, the Mediterrane-an region and to Anatolia. Prof. Dr. Brent Kennedy isthe most known and the staunchest defenders of theOttoman connection of the Melungeons. Prof. Ken-nedy, because of an ill- ness that he could make nosense of and one that his doctors could not diagnosehas become ill on 1988.

He could not walk and he had difficulty making move-ments. At a time when he said his farewells to his wi-fe and children and awaited death, his doctor has di-agnosed Brent with sarcoidosis. Later he was also di-agnosed with familial Mediterranean fever. But that iswhere the oddities began. How could Brent, who upuntil that day was taught that his ancestors were fromIreland and England and nowhere else, develop a ge-netic disease that Mediterranean people were incli-ned to have? The question that he used to ask his mot-her as a child of “How come my brother is dark skin-ned and my other relatives look more like eastern pe-ople rather than Irish or British people?” has started

Melungeons not only

live in Tennessee but

also in the region

called the Appalachia

that encompasses 13

of the US states.

There are 75 thousand

people who view

themselves as

Melungeon but their

true numbers those

who are descended

from the original

settlers are believed

to be in millions.

to weigh in more. He had DNA tests done and convin-ced people he knew on getting DNA tests. The resultswere surprising. The DNA results showed that their ro-ots went as far as Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tur-key, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, India and Eastern Africa.Native American results also showed up. The bloodtests performed on 177 Melungeonsshowed that so-mehow at least some of them had diseases seen inpeople from the Mediterranean region such as sarco-idosis, thalassemia, and Behcet’s disease. The inte-rest in Brent for Turks began in 1988 with a diseaseadventure and for the first time in 1995, though peop-le were telling him not to, he went to a trip to Turkey.Brent Kennedy says that although he cannot prove histheories and ideas to a 100 percent, in his heart, hefeels himself to be of Turkish descent. (Note: After ashort period of the interview, Prof. Kennedy gotstroke. He was undergoing outpatient therapy. Hewas not able to talk or walk but he traveled by busfrom Tennessee to New York to participateIstanbulUniversity Alumni meeting in 2007.)

(Issue: 14, October 2004)!

From Anatol›a to Appalach›a


ISSUE 15

Sanli Pastore & Hill is known for its skill in evaluating the valueof companies. The experts at the Company also act as witness-

es in cases involving firms in disagreement. Nevin Sanli, who has appraised over 1500 companies in his

career, is the founder and principal owner of Sanli Pastore & Hill, the largest business appraisal

firm in California.

SP&H is known for its skill in evaluating the valueof companies. The experts at Sanli Pastore & Hill

also act as witnesses in cases involving firms in dis-agreement. They appraise nearly more than 150companies each year, acting as expert witnesses incourts throughout the US. The firm’s expert witness-es have appeared in over 250 court cases. With

nearly 25 employees, SP&H is the largest appraisalfirm in California and one of the five largest firms inthe US in this industry.

The name Sanli comes from Nevin Sanli’s last name,the founder and principal shareholder of the compa-ny. Born in Izmir, Sanli received his economicsdegree at the University of California in Irvine. It washis idea to set up a professional company that wouldspecialize in assessing the value of firms.

With his current partners Thomas Pastore andClinton Hill, Mr. Sanli established his own companyin 1992, in which he holds 66% of the shares.Although Clinton Hill left the firm later on, his nameremained on the company’s masthead.

(Issue: 15, December 2004) !

Appra›s›ng Compan›es


ISSUE 16

“Guler is the first childof my elder brother,

she is the first niece,grandchild, cousin. Shecharms everybody withher bright intelligence,

charisma, and entrepreneurship. She

might be my niece, butshe is not different

from my own children.In our family, whoever

is in trouble or gets sickknows that Guler is

there for them…”

The Most Powerful Woman ›n Turkey

These worlds are quoted from the last book by Mr.Sakip Sabanci, the beloved Turkish businessman.

Sakip Aga, in his book “Health Before Everything”,describes Ms. Guler Sabanci as the psychologist ofthe family.

Ms. Guler Sabanci was elected president of theBoard of Directors in May 2004, after the death ofMr. Sakip Sabanci.

This psychologist of the family, Ms. Guler Sabanci,has a very different character in the business world asone of its most powerful women. In 2004, Ms. Sabanciwas ranked 20th among the 50 Most Powerful Womenin a study of countries outside the US by FortuneMagazine, and 7th in the list of Most Powerful Womencreated by the Financial Times. TURKOFAMERICA hadspoken with the Sabanci Holding’s President of the

Board of Directors, Ms. Sabanci, at Sabanci Holding’sheadquarters in Levent.

It must be a difficult task to fill the position of Mr.Sakip Sabanci, who had a very colorrful personality?Did you have any concerns about not being able to fillhis shoes? How did you feel?? Mr. Sabanci was a great person and he had a lot of dif-ferent qualities at the same time. And he was success-ful in all of them. I only took over the presidency of theboard of directors. I cannot fill the place he had in thesociety, in the hearts of people, nor can I assume hisroles. I can never take on all his responsibilities.I worked with Mr. Sabanci for 27 years. I understoodhow great a teacher he was, after starting my job.I realized the importance of many things afterwards.

(Issue: 16, April 2005) !


ISSUE 17

Telenity,

established by

four Turks,

is providing

professional

software

solutions and

globally selling

them to telecom

operators.

Telenity is located in Monroe, Connecticut, but thereal production comes from brains in the Istanbul

Free Trade Zone. The company has 172 employees,20 of these in the US. They have offices in India,Singapore and London, and their headquarters inMonroe is a working environment more like a villa thana business office.

Behind Telenity’s history is the story of four old friends.The story of three of the owners starts back in 1988. Af-ter Alcatel’s decision to close the research center inShelton, Connecticut with the acquisition of ITT, BekirSerbetcioglu, Ilhan Bagoren and Esref Ozulkulu beca-me unemployed. These three friends, who worked for awhile as engineers and managers in different compani-es, founded EBS in 1998 and brought the SS7 signaliza-tion system, which was considered the basic compo-nent of digital communications in the telephone switc-hboards, to standard computers. The company chan-ged its name to NewNet and was sold to ADC Telecom-munications in 1997. After a 3 year standstill, they foun-ded Telenity to continue their journey in the telecom-munication sector. Along with Hakan Dincerler, thesethree names are in the forefront of the company.

The founders of Telenity were awarded with the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for 2003, theHewlett Packard Software Partner of the Year Award for2004, and repeated this success in 2004 by beingawarded the Software Channel Excellence prize. Whenexplaining the reasons why they preferred to open aresearch and development office in Turkey instead ofIndia, Mr. Esref Ozulkulu stated that Turkey has betterpatent and software protection laws in the software sec-tor than India.

Worldwide, the average monthly bill per cell phone useris US$50. To increase this amount by US$10, the opera-tors have to try out 500 new services. Telenity’s CEOMr. Serbetcioglu estimates that about 10% of these 500will be successful.

Cell phone use is very widespread in Turkey; there are40 million cell phone users and only 5 million Internetusers in Turkey. In the US market Internet usage is pre-dominant; Internet access is around 95%. This is thereason why cell phone technology lags behind in the US.

(Issue: 17, July 2005)!

Carry›ng the World ›n a Cell


ISSUE 18

It is hard to comeacross Turks in the

history of pizzaeither before Christ

or in the 20th century. But it isinevitable to talk

about Vocelli Pizzawhile conductingresearch on the

position of Turks inthe pizza market in

America.

Vocelli Pizza owes its fame to family solidarity andambition. The journey of Hayri Ablak, father of

company president Varol Ablak, from his mining engi-neering days in Zonguldak to Germany, Canada and tothe USA is as interesting as Vocelli Pizza's own story.

The fifty-year adventure of the Ablak family in fore-ign lands started in Zonguldak. Hayri Ablak, who wasborn in the city of Dimetoka in Greece, graduatedfrom Zonguldak Mining Technical School in 1956. Va-rol, the first child of Ablak, was born in Zonguldakwhile his father was working there as a mining engi-neer. After leaving Zonguldak, their first stop in fore-ign lands was the city of Essen in Germany. So thesecond child Seckin was born in Germany. The deci-sion of the head of the family to immigrate to Cana-da after Germany dragged them to new discoveries.Hayri Ablak received a master's degree from McGillUniversity and moved to the US in 1969. Upon arri-val, the family lived in Virginia and Ohio, and thenthey moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1974.San, the third child of the family, was born there in1976. The three children of the family, born in the

continents of Asia, Europe, and North America, ref-lect the immigrant spirit of the family.

THEY STARTED IN A PIZZA OUTLET Ablak, who got into pizza business at the age of 24,opened his first pizza restaurant in New Orleans witha budget of 20 thousand dollars. When Hayri Ablaklost his job at the company where he worked due toa financial crisis, he started his own pizza businesswith his son Varol. For a while, the father and sonmanaged two restaurants but soon sold them and re-turned to Pittsburgh without finding what they ho-ped for in New Orleans.Varol Ablak, relying on his earlier experience, decidedto start his own brand. He focused on home delivery."Thirty years ago the home delivery system was not apopular marketing strategy,” he says. The family ope-ned its own pizza restaurant, Pizza Outlet, in 1988.With the inclusion of Seckin, one year later they star-ted to grow in the pizza business. (Note: Today Vocel-li has 120 branch and employs 2500 people.)

(Issue: 18, November 2005)!

P›zza Eng›neers

Un›que Sett›ngs of New York Ekmel Anda, the

founding partner ofa series of compa-

nies among which isa mounter producer

workshop in LongIsland City, a design

company calledDiamond Plaza whichaddresses the tastes

of people from thehigh income class,

chair manufacturingsays he is passionate

about his work.

Alot has changed since 1989, when he first set footin New Jersey on the advice of his father, who had

retired from Ziraat Bank. He had only 1000 dollars inhis pocket when he came to see an acquaintance withwhom he had conversed briefly for an hour back inTurkey. First, he worked as a petrol station attendant.

HELLO 47th STREET An acquaintance called Yusuf Degirmencioglu helpedhim and some of his friends to get work permits by ta-king advantage of a law in Las Vegas. "Uncle Yusufwas a milestone in my life. The moment I met Uncle Yu-suf, my star shone in the U.S.,” he says. Today, Degir-mencioglu is a like a grandfather to Anda’a children. When Anda obtained the right to live and work in theU.S.A. in the 1994 green card lottery, he quit his job inthe gas station in Orange, New Jersey and started wor-king as a sales agent in a book store. He was introdu-ced to the gold business through the brother of theowner of the bookstore, who was a goldsmith. On theweekends, he started working as an assistant in a je-welry store in Woodbridge. Then he opened up hisown store with a capital of 7,000 dollars.

CROSSING ROADS WITH PARTNERS In 1993, the biggest shop of the mall, which consistedof 20 stores, was put up for sale for 300,000 dollars. An-da, the owner of the smallest shop in the mall, appliedfor the store with a friend called Italian Ernie. They bothgave 25,000 dollars. Anda borrowed his share of the25,000 from Yusuf Demircioglu, who helped him everytime he was hard up for money. With the arrival of Ma-urice Payami, who had decided to sell his store and mo-ve Los Angeles, to New Jersey, they became three part-ners. In the same year, Anda, Ernie, and Maurice boughtanother shop in the mall for 40,000 dollars. The threepartners bought 5 stores within the next three years. From 1993 to 2001 the partners lived quite wealthily.When Anda found out that his countryman Dursun Ko-cak, who gave him access to unlimited credit in theirtrade, had closed his business, he looked for a newpartnership. The adventure of Unique Settings of NewYork, which was on the verge of closing down, beganin 1999. Ekmel Anda grasped the opportunity to ad-dress a very wide circle with 4 partners.

(Issue: 18, November 2005) !


ISSUE 18


Cano A. Ozgener’s

work experience,

which started with

the meerschaum and

continued with cigar

boxes, shifted to

cigar business in

1995.

Nashville, the home of American country music, is almostburning because of the hot weather. Driving from the

airport, the silhouette of the city emerges. The Bell SouthBuilding which became very famous with the movie Batmanis one of the buildings that are often pointed out to tourists. Well, our main subject is not country music or the ethnicstructure of Nashville of course. Our main goal is to meetwith the heirs of the C.A.O. International which has beenusing the city as their headquarters since 1968. Althoughthe company was established by Cano Ozgener, his sonMurat’s (everybody knows him as Tim) and his daughterAylin’s roles have been very important in enlarging thecompany and turning it into a brand. C.A.O.’s new buildinglooks like a museum more than a business place. Eventhough the exterior gives you the feeling that this is a bigstorage facility, there is a different world inside. The buil-ding has been designed according to the Feng Shui philo-sophy. There are paintings of the lands in Nicaragua onwhich the tobacco grows that is used in C.A.O cigars onthe right side of the hallway in the entrance. On the left si-de, old Eskisehir meerschaums, pipe boxes, the first C.A.Ocigars which are a part of the company’s history are exhi-bited. The father’s, Cano Ozgener’s, name started to beknown in the industry first by the meerschaums that he

imported from Eskisehir and marketed. The pipe whichranks as the most expensive meerschaum ever made andis listed in the Guinness Book of World Records still be-longs to Cano Ozgener. It is worth around $50.000. CanoA. Ozgener’s work experience, which started with the me-erschaum and continued with cigar boxes, shifted to cigarbusiness in 1995. “How many meerschaum pipes can aman buy in a life time? Or how many cigar boxes can hehave?” and he started working on creating a cigar label.C.A.O. made its rise with the label Maduro in 1998. Sinceit was rated very high in the cigar lovers’ magazine, CigarAficionado, it got the attention of everybody instantly.

C.A.O., which employs a total of 400 people at two facto-ries in Nicaragua and Honduras, sells around 8 million ci-gars a year. (Note: C.A.O. International Inc., was acquired by HenriWintermans Cigars. Wintermans, which is based in Hol-land, is a unit of ST Cigar Group Holdings Inc., one of theword's largest cigar producers in January 2007. Murat Oz-gener, CEO of CAO signed a five-year contract and remai-ned as company president.)

(Issue: 22, September 2006) !

K›ng of the Luxury C›gar L›ght›ng Up ›n Nashv›lle

ISSUE 18

ISSUE 19ISSUE 19

Inter›or Des›gner Who Br›ngs Cultures Together

On a recent trip to

New York to gather

political support,

Oz Bengur

introduced his sister

Sara to the crowd

gathered in the

room by saying:

“I am sure you know

more about my

famous interior

designer sister than

you know about me.”

However many miles Oz Bengur has come in politics,Sara has traveled still further in her career. While Oz

is not yet one of the 100 elected to enter the senate, Sa-ra, is one of the country’s top 100 interior decorators,according to evaluations made by House BeautifulMagazine. Sara Bengur was one of four children of an economist fatherwho worked for the IMF. Her father grew up in Samsun whe-re his father (and Sara’s grandfather) was the Mayor. He ca-me to the U.S. 65 years ago from Turkey.

FAMILY’S PRIDESSara Bengur, was born in 1965 in Washington D.C. and li-ved in one of the most famous neighborhoods of Istanbul,Bebek, for almost seven years. She went to school at Ro-bert College. Once they completed their education, Sara’solder siblings, also became well known in their own profes-sions. Belkiz, a therapist who uses yoga in her practice, Os-man, a politician, and Resai, a doctor at Rainbow Babies inCleveland, Ohio, are the pride of their parents from Sam-sun.Sara Bengur’s success on the New York Design scene isnot surprising considering that she comes from a family ofoverachievers. Her brother Osman (Oz) Bengur has devo-

ted his years to politics in the halls of Washington. In fact,Oz is the first Turkish candidate to run for the U.S.Congress.

Sara returned to the U.S. after living in Istanbul and studiedEconomics at Colby College in Maine. Although she startedher career as a financer, she soon decided to utilize herknowledge of business and creative instinct as an InteriorDesigner. In her formative years she worked for the well-known New York design firm Stephen Sills. This creativetraining helped her to develop a keen knowledge of the bu-siness and of her own aesthetic. Bengur, who started her own company 14 years ago, beca-me famous by giving her office her name: Sara Bengur In-teriors, Inc. A young decorator who still has a very high-class clientele, Bengur emphasizes that the cost of the de-cor depends on the material she uses and the size of thearea. Bengur’s design projects spans anywhere from oneto four years. She rarely uses new furniture when desig-ning and prefers to mix antiques with interesting contem-porary pieces. One of her goals is to create her own line ofproducts.

(Issue: 17, July 2005)!



The importance of

these figures is

that 32% of the

Turks living in

Germany are

German citizens.

Germany, not being able to meet the labor needs ofits growing economy after the Second World War,

opened its borders to Turkish workers with the “laborrecruitment agreement” of October 30, 1961. Followingthis agreement, thousands of Turkish workers arrivedin Germany, starting the Turkish immigration toEurope. When, after an oil crisis and economic reces-sion, Germany stopped the recruitment in November1973, after 12 years, the number of Turkish immigrantshad reached 900 thousand. Immigration, meant to behalted after this date, continued through family unifi-cation.

THIRD GENERATION EUROPEAN TURKSAs time passed, it became more obvious that thisimmigration, considered to be temporary not only byTurkey and the immigration-accepting countries, buteven by the immigrants themselves, was turning out tobe a permanent one. This permanency in Europe repre-sented structural changes in the lifestyles of immi-grants.

The first workers arriving in 1961 were mostly men.These “expatriates” were hoping to return to their

country after a short period and invest their savings intheir towns and villages, and enhance their social sta-tus. As the years followed each other the men did notgo back, but instead brought their families over.

TURKISH BUSINESSES IN EUROPESince its establishment in 1985, the Center for Studieson Turkey (TAM) has been investigating the invest-ment dynamics of Turks in Europe. A scientific surveyof 846 businessmen conducted in June-July 2005 is anexample of the Center’s important research in thisarea.

According to the study, the number of Turkish immi-grants who have obtained German citizenship, eitherby birth or by naturalization, is about 840,000. As of2004, also taking into account the 1.8 million Turkishcitizens living in Germany, the number of people ofTurkish origin exceeded 2.6 million. The importance ofthese figures is that 32% of the Turks living in Germanyare German citizens, and they are part of German soci-ety, passing beyond any discussion of adaptation.

(Issue: 20, April 2006)!

Secret Dynamo of the European Economy

ISSUE 20


11 years of

entrepreneurial and

operational

experience in

electronic design

and manufacturing

in China and South

East Asia, Turker

Hidirlar has

graduated from

Staffordshire

University

The September 11 attacks occurred six monthsafter the foundation of Rapid Conn, Inc. in Orange

County / Foothill Ranch, California, to specialize inthe design, manufacturing and trading of cable andconnectors. To overcome the difficulties they fore-saw in the future, the management of the companyhad to make fast decisions, and they announcedtheir decision: “Either four people would be fired, oreverybody had to sacrifice 20% of their salary.”

When the newly hired design manager Robert JeanTondreault packed his belongings and was travelingfrom New York, he did not know that his salary hadbeen cut by 20%. But as a New Yorker, whounderstood what had happened, he agreed to the cutlike all the others. Today, he is research and develop-ment manager and one of the partners of the company.While companies owned by brothers sometimeshave difficulties in management, the parent compa-

ny of Rapid Conn, the Connect County Group, is man-aged like a family company among its American,Singaporean and Turkish owners. Hidirlar states thatthe secret behind the harmony can be found in the2000-year-old Chinese philosophy of business. Heattributes the harmony to the partnership structurein which the partners never lie or cheat each otherand always in trust each other and work with hon-esty. As old-Chinese philosophy, The Art of War(Sunzi bingfa/Sun-tzu ping fa) has these rules in Hedescribes Ang Chuang Juay, his partner for 20 yearsin this way: “Probably he didn’t spend time with hisson as much as he spends with me.”(Note: Turker Hidirlar quit Rapid Conn and foundediCon Inc., Orange County, California area in 2008.iConn is a manufacturing and engineering servicesprovider of electrical components and complexassemblies/ sub-assemblies for EMS, CM and OEMcompanies.)!

Connect County Is Connect›ng Cont›nents

ISSUE 21


ISSUE 22

September 11,

2001 - 8:46 A.M. A

plane hits the first

tower of the World

Trade Center at 1790

km per hour. Zuhtu

Ibis, who works on

the 103rd floor at

Cantor FitzGerald,

calls his wife and

says, “Don’t worry, I

am all right! I have to

go now, the building’s

being evacuated!”

September 11Through the Eyes of the Turk›sh Commun›ty

Turan Ayaz, who works on the 65th floor at PortAuthority, reaches for his phone. His words are the

same. “I am alive, don’t worry!”

When Turan Ayaz reaches home 13 hours later his wifelooks calm. Ayaz asks his wife later that night,“Everybody came here worried about me and you arepassing around glasses of tea as if nothing has hap-pened. Didn’t you worry about me at all?” His wife’sbrief reply still makes him burst into tears even after 5years: “You told me that you would come home no mat-ter what!” The 38 floors in between is a matter of lifeand death... Nobody hears from Zuhtu Ibis after thatphone call! But his wife Leyla Uyar also waits hopefully.After all, he had whispered the same words in haste:“Don’t worry, I will come!”

Leyla Uyar waits for him patiently for five months. Shewaited for years; what is five months compared to that?Both Leyla Uyar and Zühtü ‹bifl were born in the villageof Sari Yaprak in Yozgat and attended the same primaryand high school. When Zuhtu Ibis came to the U.S. alongwith his father to get a college education, Leyla Uyar

waited for him patiently. Zuhtu would return to YellowLeaf and marry Leyla after graduating from college andstarting to work as a programmer at one of the big com-panies in the World Trade Center. Zuhtu was 25 yearsold and he had kept all his promises so far! He also saidhe would come home on September 11.

When she was informed five months later that parts ofhis husband’s body had been found, she and her 2 yearold son Mert were still keeping their spirits up…

The only Turkish citizen who lost his life on September11, Zuhtu Ibis’s body parts were taken to his villageYellow Leaf and buried there...

Five years later, the Turkish people living in and aroundNew York, in response to the unfair treatment againstthe Muslims and the change of attitude against theimmigrants by the U.S. as well as other countries of theworld say with reproach “We were there on September11 and we also suffer from material and spritual losses.”

(Issue: 22, September 2006) !


Turkey has

announced 2006 as

“The USA year” and

within the following

two-year period the

government will

organize special

activities in the six

target states

For Turkey’s $100 billion export target for the year2010, the US economy is an important market,

with its capacity of $12 trillion. However, Turkey’sshare from this market is currently 3 per thousand.Turkey has announced 2006 as “The USA year” andwithin the following two-year period the governmentwill organize special activities in the six target states(New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia andFlorida.) State Minister Kursad Tuzmen spoke aboutTurkey’s new strategy to TURKOFAMERICA.

Considering the mutual relations with the USA star-ting from the period of the Ottoman Empire, iit is dif-ficult to observe any remarkable development. Whatare the reasons for this?

The geographical distance, tough competition, andthe unique characteristics of the US market, and al-so the fact that the companies which wanted to en-ter the market didn’t determine long term strategiesled to the development of these relations falling be-hind the desired level. The US market is a speciali-

zed market which requires long term policies in mar-keting and has tough competition conditions. Alsobecause of the fact that the country is made up ofstates, each with its own economic, social and legalstructure, we haven’t had trade relations on the levelwe desired. Moreover, for a long time only textileand ready-made clothing industries saw the US mar-ket as a target; only recently have industries like ce-ramics, iron and steel, or jewelry been approachingthe US market. Our aim is to increase the number ofsuch examples, put the US among our target mar-kets, and open the way for our companies. For thispurpose we announced 2006 as the “American year”and our activity program, which aims to acquire theportion we desire from the US market, primarily co-vers the period 2006 – 2008. Our strategy is focusedon increases in export and it is “state-based” and“sector-focused”. We believe this approach willbring important openings to our exporters in the USmarket.

(Issue: 23, January 2007)!

New Strategy:6 States, $20 BIllIon, In 3 Years

ISSUE 23


ISSUE 24

The decision not to

use Yildiz

Blackstone’s return

ticket was the

moment that

"Luca Luca"'s star

began to shine.

Luca Luca:The Moment That A Star Shone

Austrian writer Stefan Zweig's book "Moments Whenthe Star Shone" focuses on twelve names in world

history and how certain moments affected the generallyimportant roles they played in the past, no matter howshort their times on "center stage" were. Zweig, who lo-oks at such figures as Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Handel,Dostoyevski, Tolstoy, and Lenin, examines the momentswhich were decisive in making these names great. Zwe-ig asserts that one such moment for Sultan Mehmet II,who conquered Istanbul, was when the Kerkaporta ga-tes were left open by mistake, allowing the Ottoman sol-diers to climb the ramparts into the city. Everyone has amoment in their life when their star must shine. Just likein Yildiz Yuksek Blackstone's life. Yildiz Yuksek Blackstone (Blackstone being her marriedname) was born in Alsancak, outside of Izmir, and gra-duated from Izmir's Dokuz Eylul University. She had al-ways dreamed of living in America, and this dream cametrue when she went to the US, after graduating from uni-versity, to do master's work. She attended the New YorkFashion Institute of Technology, taking classes in fashi-on. After graduating, she began to look for a job, but

when she couldn't find anything like what she had ho-ped for, she made plans to return to Turkey, where shewould work with her family, who represented the famo-us Italian brand Benetton in Izmir. So, Blackstone pac-ked up, sold her things, and even bought a plane ticket.But on the day her plane was meant to take off, she re-ceived a call from the Leslie Fey company, where shehad earlier sent her resume. At the meeting, Blackstonesaid, "I have a flight to catch today, can you let me knowyour decision within the next two hours?" She got thejob, and postponed her return to Turkey. The decisionnot to use her return ticket was the moment that "LucaLuca"'s star began to shine. For it was that moment thatthe future road was paved for the brand name of Luca Lu-ca, which would go on to become a high end women'sclothing and accessory line, with eight stores in four dif-ferent states across the US. (Note: May 2008, Luca Orlan-di, the founder and designer of Luca Luca, sold the busi-ness to a boutique investment firm, the Equitium Group.Y›ld›z Blackstone is still CEO & President of the company.)

(Issue: 24, March 2007)!


Sultan Abdulmecid

II did in fact give

Wayne and Parker

two camels as a

gift, arranging for

the Ottoman side to

pay for the two

animals.

The US, which was victorious in the Mexican War bet-ween 1846-1848, added what are now the states of

Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and NewMexico to its lands. These new lands, which measured529 thousand square miles, gained even more in im-portance when, in 1849, gold was discovered in theWest. A whole new set of difficulties were presented tothe federal government, in terms of new research gro-ups to head out to the West, tranportation problems,and matters of land protection. Also, it was now neces-sary to be able to reach California from Texas.

An idea on how to reach the West which had neveroccured to anyone before came to the mind of Defen-se Secretary Jefferson Davis: Camels. Davis mana-ged to convince the US Congress to approve a 30thousand dollar budget for the purchase of camels.It was decided that the "Camel Military Corps" wo-uld then be formed.

But there were no camels at that time in the US. Howwould these desert animals be procured then? On

this front, the Ottoman Empire, which had fought theRussians during the 1850's in the Crimea, came tomind. And so in 1855, the US ship "Supply" set sail,with David Dixon Parker at its helm. Joining him wasmilitary Major Henry Wayne, who was to head up thebrigade that would be formed with the camels to bepurchased.

Wayne and Parker examined the camels that had be-en used by the Ottomand in the Crimean War. Theyasked the Ottoman Sultan at the time, Abdulmecid II,to give them permission to buy the camels, and todonate them two camels as a gift. Sultan AbdulmecidII did in fact give Wayne and Parker two camels as agift, arranging for the Ottoman side to pay for thetwo animals. The US delegation, having bought 33camels in total from Turkey, returned to the US, lan-ding at in February 1856 at the Texas Port of Indiano-la. On that day, nearly 100 camels, from Egypt, Mon-golia, and Anatolia, set foot on US soil.

(Issue 24 – March 2007)!

An Izm›r› Camel Herder›n The W›ld West

ISSUE 24


In the 1840s

Cincinnati emerged

as the soap-making

capital of the US,

primarily because

the city was the

center of the market

of animal products,

which were then key

ingredients in the

manufacturing of

soap. By the year

1837 there were 17

companies, including

Procter and Gamble,

active in the city as

soap producers.

In 1893 Procter and Gamble spent $125,000 on thepromotion of their new soap brand “Ivory”. In

1940, the so-called “big three” of Colgate, Lever, andProctor and Gamble controlled 75 percent of the so-ap and detergent market.

In 1962 the soap firms found themselves spendingapproximately $250 million in advertising.

Turkey's first soap brand was Hac› fiakir, first produ-ced in the second part of the 19th century in Crimea.In 1915 Hac› Ali Bey immigrated from Crimea to theOttoman region, thereby transporting his soap-ma-king company also. In 1987, Hac› fiakir passed fromfamily ownership to a domestic business group. Af-ter a four-year period of such management, 67 percent of the firm was initially sold in 1991 to the Ame-rican company Colgate-Palmolive, followed later bythe total sale of the company.

Colgate, the company that bought out the Turkishbrand Hac› fiakir, was formed by William Colgate in

1806 in New York, with the purpose of producingcandles and soap. In 1906 Colgate attained a capacityof 300 different kinds of soap. In 1928 Colgate combi-ned with Palmolive to become Colgate-Palmolive.

In the second of half of the 20th century three soapbrands were especially famous in Turkey: Hac› fiakir,Evyap, and Komili.

Still the biggest independent soap maker in theworld, Evyap is a giant of Turkish business, with 100percent of domestic capital and ranking as a seriouscompetitor on both domestic and international mar-kets. Evyap was formed by Mehmet R›fat Evyap inthe eastern province of Erzurum in 1927. Evyap mo-ved his production to Istanbul in 1943. Evyap, whichcarries out the 70 % of the total soap exportation ofTurkey, is among the top 100 Turkish industrial com-panies and is today run by a member of the third-ge-neration, Mehmed Evyap.

(Issue: 25, June 2007)!

A Tete-a-tete w›th theG›ants

ISSUE 25


ISSUE 26

Cologne- Müslüm

Balaban is one Turkish

restauranteur in

Germany who will be

remembered for a

long time to come.

Having lived in

Germany for 40 years,

Balaban opened his

first restaurant in

1979, then opened

“Bosphorus” in

Cologne in 1982,

followed by “Bongut”

in 1985. Bosphorus is

still run by Balaban's

sibling.

The Grand Master ofGastronomy

Upon the wish of Hochtief, one of Germany's pre-eminent construction companies, Balaban

opened a restaurant named “Opera” in 1988 inGermany's then-capital Bonn. He sold the three previ-ous restaurants and is preparing to celebrate the 20thanniversary of Opera's opening. The restaurant stillmaintains a spot in the top five best restaurants ofBonn. When Bonn was the capital, Opera was the cen-ter of the political, artistic, and high-society scenes.

Balaban currently operates a beer garden inLeverkusen, the bar in the opera house of Bonn, thecanteen in that building, and a 4200 square-meterrelaxation center in the same city. He employs nearly50 people in these endeavors.

FROM SPITZ CAFE TO A MODERN RESTAURANTHe is getting ready to open a new place with a 2.5 mil-lion Euro investment on Eren, one of Cologne's high

streets. The street, which has an 800-year history,spent 760 years of that time as home to the city'sprostitutes. The street gained its modern-day statusin the 1960s and the 870 square-meter location ofCafe Spitz has served well for 19 years as one of theimportant places to meet and be seen.

Born in 1955, Balaban is an entrepreneur who hasclosely researched the practices of restaurants fromaround the world. Having witnessed the use of anopen kitchen in New York, he implemented the samething in his restaurant. He bought the furniture for therestaurant from famous French and Italian designers.With these modern tendencies, Balaban has con-tributed a certain type of air to the restaurant, whichhe summarizes by stating, “We have been living inEurope for forty years and we have to be modern.”

(Issue: 26, August 2007)!


In 1999,

Turan Kahraman

took over the

management of

Askew Industrial

Corporation of

which he is

currently

co-owner.

You could have the greatest product in the world,but if your company doesn’t have an effective

supply solution or inventory management systems,you could be losing out. Askew IndustrialCorporation (US company) is a company that designsand implements inventory management systems andpoint-of-use supply solutions for original equipmentmanufacturers (OEMs).

Askew helps its customers reduce their total cost ofownership while improving their manufacturing effi-ciencies and increasing their profitability.

In 1999 Turan Kahraman took over the management ofAskew Industrial. He spent much of his early career asa consultant for a large international corporation aswell as many middle market companies. He currentlyserves as President and CEO of Askew IndustrialCorp., an industrial production hardware distributor.Kahraman answered TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

When did you come to the U.S. and what was thereason? In 1977, I graduated from Galatasaray Lisesi (one ofthe most renowned and influential high schools ofmodern Turkey.) At that time I was very much inter-ested in studying abroad and furthering my athlet-ic career as I had just broken the Turkish NationalRecord for Discus the prior year. In the 1970s manyworld-class discus throwers were Americans.Through the assistance of American teachers fromRobert College (which is the most selective inde-pendent private high school in Turkey), I was ableto contact American universities and ultimatelyreceive an athletic scholarship from BrighamYoung University in Provo, Utah. I graduated fromBYU with a Bachelor’s degree in InternationalRelations and a Master’s degree in BusinessAdministration.

(Issue: 27, December 2007)!

Askew Makes Manufactur›ngCompan›es More Eff›c›ent

ISSUE 27


ISSUE 28

‘’I had been to ‹stanbul once before,

and it had enthralled me. The city seemed to be San

Francisco’s geographic twin with its proximity to the water,

tall narrow wooden houses, precariously inclined streets,

and modern bridges spanning windblown water.’’

Dangers of Turk›sh Travel

As a Californian clothing designer in my thirties, I’dtraveled alone on business to at least 40 coun-

tries worldwide. When I announced that I intended totravel solo in Turkey in 1998, however, I was bom-barded with warnings from concerned friends aboutthe danger inherent in my plan.

I had been to ‹stanbul once before, and it hadenthralled me. The city seemed to be SanFrancisco’s geographic twin with its proximity to thewater, tall narrow wooden houses, precariouslyinclined streets, and modern bridges spanning wind-blown water. Opulent Ottoman palaces andmosques commanded the view, a sea of diversefaces bustled in colorful open air markets, and theethereal call to prayer floated overhead while thebeat of traffic pulsated on the streets.

Visiting ancient landmarks, wandering narrowstreets of the historic Sultanahmet neighborhoodstill nestled within crumbling Byzantine walls, Iglimpsed the multitude of civilizations, the richnessof cultures and the variety of people that had occu-pied this land bridging Europe and Asia. I felt com-pelled to return to ‹stanbul to explore both this for-mer capital of empires, and the rest of Turkey whichlay beyond in Anatolia, the peninsula of Asia Minor.

So when I had the time to return to explore more ofTurkey years later, I planned a month-long journey:arriving in ‹stanbul, but heading first to Konya, theorigin of the Whirling Dervishes and burial place ofSufi poet Rumi, then farther south to theMediterranean resort town of Antalya, and the near-by Taurus Mountains. There I would visit the leg-endary home of the Greek gods, a mountain onceknown as Olympus, before following the white cliffsof Pamukkale to the Aegean coast’s ancient Greco-Roman sites of Didyma, Ephesus, and Troy. FinallyI’d travel though Bursa, center of the OttomanEmpire’s silk production, leaving a week to reac-quaint myself with ‹stanbul.

DANGERS OF TURKISH TRAVEL ©2007 by CatherineSalter Bayar. It first appeared in TALES FROM THEEXPAT HAREM: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey,©2005 by Anastasia M. Ashman and Jennifer EatonGökmen. Published in English in Turkey (DoganKitap, 2005) and North America (Seal Press, 2006).

(Issue: 28, March 2008) !


TURKOFAMERICA

bring together three

important figures of

the venture capital

community in

Silicon Valley: Bar›fl

Karado¤an, George

Nuray U¤rafl, and

Ayd›n fienkut.

Investors were less reluctant to invest in early stagecompanies (start-ups). Many of the start-up compani-

es changed and shaped the future of high tech industry;making venture capital the most crucial part of techno-logy advancement and financing. Even though venturecapital as an investment is growing virtually everywherein the world, Silicon Valley has been in the lead since the70’s. In 2007, venture capitalists invested $7.6 billion inSan Jose and another $2.5 billion in the San Francis-co/Berkeley area. In this special California issue TURKOFAMERICA will getinsider information from three important figures of theventure capital community in Silicon Valley: Bar›fl Kara-do¤an, George Nuray U¤rafl, and Ayd›n fienkut. Bar›fl Karado¤an is a partner at Velocity Interactive Gro-up who focuses on the internet and digital media invest-ments. N. George U¤rafl joined Adams Capital Manage-ment in 1999 as a General Partner, from Apax Partners, aprivate equity firm in New York. Prior to joining Apax Part-ners, he was a Management Consultant at McKinsey &Co. in New York, working closely with clients in the tele-communications and media industries on strategic andoperational issues for media and technology clients. Among the three gentlemen Ayd›n fienkut is the one

most frequently featured by the media in the US. He joi-ned Google in 1999 as a Product Manager (he was emp-loyee number 37 – his official number is 63 but 37 is theactual number) to launch Google's first 10 internationalsites, its first online search licensing products and itsfirst Safe Search. He then became the first InternationalSales Manager at Google, eventually closing deals withall of Google's strategic syndication partners in Asia. Af-ter Google’s IPO, fienkut cashed in his options and tooksome time off to rest and to decide what to work on next.He entertained other options in retail and the restaurantbusiness only to come back to what he knew - the hightech industry. He founded Felicis Ventures, an angel in-vestment firm in 2005. He has invested in over 30 com-panies, including Buzzlogic, Disqus, Dogster, Meraki,Mint, Shopittome, Yapta, Yume Networks, Venturebeat,Webs.com, and Weebly since then, pitching in between$25,000 to $100,000 at a time. I met with Bar›fl Karado¤an, George Nuray U¤rafl and Ay-d›n fienkut for lunch at a restaurant in Palo Alto; we con-tinued our conversation at Bar›fl’s office two blocksdown on University Avenue.

(Issue: 29, May 2008) !

The Three Horsemen of S›l›con Valley

ISSUE 29


San Francisco –

Those living in San

Francisco face the

same problem as

residents living in

other expensive

cities such as New

York, Chicago, and

Boston: finding that

elusive parking

space...

There are 450,000 official vehicles in San Fran-cisco, a city of 740,000 residents and 126.9 mil-

lion square meters (49 square miles). The SanFrancisco Transportation Agency owns 40 parkinglots and 24,000 meters, which bring in a combined30 million dollars a year. There are also privately-owned parking lots. These publicly- and privately-owned lots struggle to meet the parking needs ofthe city.

Businessman Cihat Eflrefo¤lu’s U.S. Parking, Inc.operates 30 parking lots and provides nearly15,000 parking spaces for the city's downtown,which has 50,000 spaces in all (outside of the spa-ces large hotels provide). Eflrefo¤lu's American ad-venture began in 1989, when he followed his girl-friend from Turkey to the US. He was engaged toher for ten years, after which he married her in1999.

STATTED WITH 80 CAR CAPASITYUsing money from his family, Eflrefo¤lu began hisparking lot business with a bid for a prime location inthe center of the city. Within time, the 80-car capa-city parking lot he bought in 1993 became too smallfor his needs. He increased the capacity to 250 cars.After 15 years and bid upon bid, he now owns morethan thirty lots in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The following are all parking lots operated by U.S. Par-king, Inc.: CalTrans Transbay Terminal, San Francisco´sFinancial District, Moscone Center, AT&T Park, SanFrancisco Giftcenter and Jewelrymart, the Federal Buil-ding, Golden Gate University, San Francisco Depart-ment of Public Works, Alliant International University,San Francisco Shopping Center, Westfield ShoppingCenter, and Momo´s Restaurant Valet Service.

(Issue: 29, May 2008)!

Park›ng Lots ›n the Heart of the Bay Area

ISSUE 29


Vienna – The storyof the Macro Group

began in a small grocery store.

Hüseyin Ünal fromYozgat, who came toAustria as a worker,

met the halal meatneeds of various

neighborhoods inVienna. The

adventure, whichstarted by selling the

meat of 30 lambsper week, has now

turned into a company with a

revenue of 90 million Euro.

Ünal, with seven friends, started the wholesalefood and marketing business in 1985 under the

name of Aksoy. When his friends gradually quit thebusiness the company was left to Ünal.

He started the halal meat business in Austria in 1990,first by buying around 300 live lambs per week fromCzechoslovakia and Poland to sell only in his ownmarkets. When demand increased, he began import-ing 1500-2000 lambs per week from Poland,Czechoslovakia, Hungry, Rumania, Bulgria, Englandand Ireland for halal slaughtering by his own butchers In 1991, after getting authorization for halal slaugh-tering, he initiated it for livestock in the ViennaMunicipality Slaughterhouse. He began to producehalal meat products in 1992. The Macro Group buyslivestock, slaughters and sells to wholesale marketsand also produces Etsan salami, frankfurters andsucuk (spicy sausages).

Since their wholesale food space in Vienna’s No. 10district was small, the Macro Group bought a build-ing with about 3000 square meters of usage area inVienna’s wholesale market and became the largestwholesale food company in Austria.

Ünal, in addition to the wholesale food business,opened the first supermarket under the name ofEtsan in 10th District Vienna in 1997. Presently, theGroup has 13 supermarkets in Vienna, varyingbetween 600-1200 square meters in size, as well asthree furniture stores. Hüseyin Ünal, the Chairman ofthe Board of Directors of the Macro Group, which has150 employees in wholesale food, meat productionand marketing sectors, plans to raise the Group’s 90million Euro revenues to a total of 130 million Euroby the end of 2008.

(Issue: 30, September 2008)!

The Largest Turk›sh FoodCompany ›n Austr›a:

The Macro Group

ISSUE 30


TURKOFAMERICA

asked Turkish

businessmen,

who feel this crisis

very closely, about

their expectations

for 2009, the effects

of the election of

Barack Obama as

president, and the

precautions taken in

their companies.

On February 7, 2007, the Reuters News Agencysent its subscribers a seven sentence news

item. The news item said that the subprime andrisky loans of British-based HSBC Holdings hadreached 10.5 billion dollars in 2006, and that thiswas more than 20 percent over what the analystshad been expecting.

HSBC was the first bank to announce such a highloss. Subprime mortgage credits triggered theglobal crisis. Following this, New CenturyFinancial, which was one of the biggest lenders ofsubprime mortgages in the USA, declared bank-ruptcy. As the crisis that had begun in February

2007 began to grow with a snow ball effect, finan-cial institutions like Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch,Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual Bank, andWachovia were wiped off the board.

How has this crisis that has enveloped the worldaffected the businessmen living in the USA and inEurope? TURKOFAMERICA asked Turkish busi-nessmen, who feel this crisis very closely, abouttheir expectations for 2009, the effects of the elec-tion of Barack Obama as president, and the pre-cautions taken in their companies.

(Issue: 31, January 2009) !

How W›llBus›nessmen Surv›ve

Dur›ng the GlobalCr›s›s?

ISSUE 31


ISSUE 32

As we felt it was a binding duty to tell about the national

treasure of the Turks in the U.S.,

this gentleman of Istanbul, TURKOFAMERICA asked his

close friends and fellows about Dr. Zeki Uygur.

Dr. Zeki Uygur:A Treasure for Turks ›nNew York

Among the immigrant ethnic groups in the U.S.,there have always been people who dedicated

themselves to the people of their home countries.They become worried when their compatriots areworried, they become sad when they are sad. Theyhelp without any expectations in return. They areconcerned about helping their people, not theirown benefit, despite the capitalist system. Theycould adapt to the cycle and make millions to havea comfortable and trouble-free way of life, justlike many of their co-workers. Instead they chooseto conquer the hearts of their people.

They do not play cheap games like getting a“Lifetime Achievement Award” award after donat-ing a couple of thousand dollars to some busi-nessman’s foundation. They are not in the mediaaimlessly. They do not have their pictures pub-lished in magazines.

One of these people is Zeki Uygur, whose name ismentioned with respect and gratitude by manyTurks in New York.

We had been planning to tell his life story after theinterview we would have with him. Melda Akansel,who helped a lot with this edition, arranged anappointment and saw Zeki Uygur in his office. Dr.Uygur politely refused Melda’s interview request.He had thought she was one of the Turks in needof help. He said, “Let’s sit down, I will talk, we canchat but you are not allowed to use it in the mag-azine.” Zeki Uygur does not like talking abouthimself.

As we felt it was a binding duty to tell about thenational treasure of the Turks in the U.S., this gen-tleman of Istanbul, TURKOFAMERICA asked hisclose friends and fellows about Dr. Uygur. As theytold us about him, we enjoyed the opportunity toget to know this great treasure of Turks in NewYork.

(Issue: 32, March 2009) !


Since David

Paterson became

governor, New York

State has faced

enormous political

challenges, from the

state’s budget gap of

more than $4 billion

to the state’s worst

fiscal crisis since the

mid-1970s.

In his first speech as Governor, on March 17, 2008, oneof the crucial issues on which Governor Paterson led

the charge for New York’s future was the putting forth ofa statewide renewable energy strategy to harness thepower of the sun and wind.

To accomplish his strategy, Governor Paterson pays agreat deal of attention to New York State’s lag behind ot-her regions. Under Governor Paterson’s leadership, Al-bany, Buffalo and Niagara Falls met with the largest fo-reign trade mission in New York's history, 60 represen-tatives from 39 different countries. Another trade dele-gation will be visiting Long Island next fall.

To make New York more open to foreign-based compani-es, Governor Paterson desires to bring more internatio-nal companies to New York State and he wants to welco-me more Turkish companies to New York State as well.

New York State is not only important for Turkish compa-nies for doing business, but also a good market for Tur-kish students. As Governor Paterson stressed, the State

University of New York has a very strong relationshipwith Turkish universities and 1700 Turkish students arestudying at SUNY campuses. The Turkish students alo-ne who study at SUNY contribute approximately $50million to the New York State economy yearly.

Due to the business and educational potential of Turkey,the relation between Turkey and New York States keepgrowing warmer. Last January, Governor Paterson senthis senior advisor for international commerce, Sam Nata-poff, to Adana, Turkey to explore its business potential.Governor Paterson has long been aware of the importan-ce of Turkey’s business potential, but this needs to be im-proved upon by Turkish organizations and businesses.

Governor Paterson wrote an open letter to Turkish inves-tors in which he stated, “Our links with Turkey arestrong and long-standing. We work closely with the Tur-kish Consulate in New York City to help new Turkishfirms succeed here.”

(Issue: 33. June 2009)!

Governor Paterson WelcomesTurk›sh Investors

ISSUE 33


Hakki Akbulak found

out that his brother

Erdogan had a

malignant tumor.

He asked him to

come to the U.S. for

treatment. When he

persuaded him,

he made a promise

as well: “If he

recovered, I would

quit my career as a

CPA and start a new

company with him.”

Bridgeport, CT - “A blessing in disguise,” is thebest phrase to describe Hakki Akbulak’s busi-

ness adventures in the U.S. Akbulak, a Turkish bornbusinessman, left Turkey when he was 17 to attend acollege in Germany, become a CPA, then started towork for KMPG, a global network of professionalservices firms providing audit, tax and advisory serv-ices. He moved to the U.S. to work for KMPG’s U.S.branch. While he was building his career, he feltsomething was missing. When he moved toGermany, his brother Erdogan was 12 years old andthey were not able to spend time together as hewished.

Everything started to change in 1990. Hakki Akbulakfound out that his brother Erdogan had a malignanttumor. He asked him to come to the U.S. for treat-ment. When he persuaded him, he made a promiseas well: “If he recovered, I would quit my career as aCPA and start a new company with him.” Erdogansurvived and Hakki kept his promise and foundedAKDO in 1990.

They decided to work together, but what could theydo as a business? The Akbulak brothers researchedwhat products they could import from Turkey to theUnited States. Hakki Akbulak settled on naturalstone and within a short while granite, marble, lime-stone, travertine and slate became the brothers’ pas-sion – imported not only from Turkey but from 25other countries as well. He remembers those firsttwo years of business by saying that “The stoneindustry was in the Stone Age and dealing with peo-ple was not easy.”

(Issue:33, June 2009)!

A Bless›ng›n

D›sgu›se

ISSUE 33


The present size of

the Jewish

community is

estimated to be

around 22,000.

The vast majority

live in Istanbul,

with a community

of about 500 in

Izmir and other

smaller groups

located in Adana,

Ankara, Antakya,

Bursa, Canakkale,

Kirklareli etc.

At midnight on August 2, 1492, when Columbusembarked on what would become his most famo-

us expedition to the New World, his fleet departedfrom the relatively unknown seaport of Palos becau-se the shipping lanes of Cadiz and Seville were clog-ged with Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain by theEdict of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.The Jews forced either to convert to Christianity or to"leave" the country under menace "dare not re-turn... not so much as to take a step on them nottrespass upon them in any manner whatsoever" lefttheir land, their property, their belongings, all thatwas theirs and familiar to them rather than abandontheir beliefs, their traditions, their heritage. In the faraway Ottoman Empire, one ruler extendedan immediate welcome to the persecuted Jews ofSpain, the Sephardim. He was the Sultan Bayazid II. In 1992, the Discovery Year for all those connected tothe American continents - North, Central and South -world Jewry was concerned with commemorating notonly the expulsion, but also seven centuries of theJewish life in Spain, flourishing under Muslim rule,and the 500th anniversary of the official welcome ex-

tended by the Ottoman Empire in 1492. This humanitarianism demonstrated at that time wasconsistent with the beneficence and good will traditio-nally displayed by the Turkish government and peopletowards those of different creeds, cultures and back-grounds. Indeed, Turkey could serve as a model to beemulated by any nation which finds refugees from anyof the four corners of the world standing at its doors.In 1992, Turkish Jewry celebrated not only the anni-versary of this gracious welcome, but also the remar-kable spirit of tolerance and acceptance which hascharacterized the whole Jewish experience in Turkey.The events that were planned - symposiums, confe-rences, concerts, exhibitions, films and books, resto-ration of ancient synagogues, etc - commemoratedthe longevity and prosperity of the Jewish commu-nity. As a whole, the celebration aimed to demons-trate the richness and security of life Jews have fo-und in the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republicover seven centuries, and showed that indeed it isnot impossible for people of different creeds to livetogether peacefully under one flag.(Issue: 34, October 2009)!

The 517-Year-Old Journey of Turk›sh Jews-from the Iber›an Pen›nsula to the Present

ISSUE 34

MELIH ABDULHAYOGLU


The Secur›ty of the InternetIs ›n the Hands of A Turk

“You can’t

promote a safer

online environment if

you sell $60

antivirus programs to

users who have

$300 computers.

It sounds like

selling a car and

then asking for

$3000 a year to

change its oil,”

said Abdulhayo¤lu.

Melih Abdulhayoglu, the owner of Comodo.

As the Internet continues to become an ever-bigger part of ourlives, security concerns are increasing. The world’s second

biggest Internet security company belongs to a Turkish business-man from Hatay, Melih Abdulhayo¤lu. He is the owner of Comodo,which has 700 employees in five offices around the world and anannual growth rate of 50%. We are proud and pleased thathis first interview in the Turkish media has been given toTURKOFAMERICA. The company he started in 1998 in a small officein England is now listed right after Verisign as the second biggestdigital SSL certificate provider. Unlike most players in the anti-virus products market like Norton, Panda, McAfee, TrendMicro orKaspersky, he offers Internet users a free anti-virus product,Comodo, arguing that you cannnot set up a successful businessenterprise without establishing Internet security. Abdulhayo¤lu studied in Hatay until university and went to collegein England after his below average performance at high school. Hestudied Electrical Engineering at Brandon University and said, “Mybiggest dream was to be an electrical engineer and now my hobbyis actually my job.”

THE BIGGEST TURKISH EMPLOYERHe constructed his first electrical circuit at the age of 13 and hestarted Comodo in 1998. The company name was inspired by thekomodo dragon, a reptile that attacks its preys through strategicthinking. Currently, Comodo now operates in China, Romania,India, Britain, and the USA, with more than 700 employees, andAbdulhayo¤lu is the biggest employer among Turkish business-men in the US.

Having an idealistic approach to Internet security, he offers freeanti-virus programs and reaches one million new users eachmonth. Unlike McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, TrendMicro or Pandathat are sold at a certain price, the free Comodo program aims tocreate a secure online environment for everyone with its slogan,

“Creating Trust Online.” Abdulhayo¤lu created a business modelthat he profited from by selling anti-virus programs to corporateentities so that he could offer free programs to individual users.“You can’t promote a safer online environment if you sell $60antivirus programs to users who have $300 computers. It soundslike selling a car and then asking for $3000 a year to change itsoil,” said Abdulhayo¤lu. He said his company’s yearly 50% growthwas a unique success in the online market and they planned togrow further by acquiring various European firms that specialize inInternet security. Comodo does not have an office in Turkey butoperates in Romania, which has one of the most rapidly-expandingCentral European economies.

Married with two children, Abdulhayo¤lu and his wife are expect-ing their third child. He loves football and supports Arsenal inEngland and Besiktafl in Turkey. He was chosen as “TheEnterpreneur of the Year” by Ernst&Young in 2008 and is not inter-ested in selling his company. According to him, success dependson one’s decision to give up and move on when necessary. Hisadvice to young people who would like to start their own onlinebusiness is to be insistent on their objectives and never give up.He explains why the company headquarter is in New Jersey, ratherthan Silicon Valley, based on two reasons: “First, companies thatare based in Silicon Valley are in need of the technology producedthere. However we produce our own technology. Second, NewYork is the center of the world right now. But you can’t have sucha beautiful view in New York. So we ended up in New Jersey.” !


“Fast and reliable accounting, tax and audit”

Dr. NEVZAT YILMAZ, YMMOZAN BACAK, CPA

3 Hudson St. (Corner of 565 Clifton Ave.)Clifton, NJ 07011

Tel : (973) 777 7723 Fax : (973) 777 7783 Cell : (201) 918 0207

Our office in Turkey is available.

All kinds of corporate establishment, business consulting and tax returnBook keeping – payroll

I N C O M E T A X I N C O M E T A X P r e p a r a t i o n P r e p a r a t i o n


Anew shopping mall in the United States will bring to-gether many Turkish companies from various sec-

tors in one place. The project has been planned since1999, and the proposed shopping mall will have a35,000 square foot Istikbal furniture showroom, as wellas nearly ten different Turkish stores and companies inthe food, textile, souvenirs and medical/law categories. According to the project manager, Mehmet Bilici, theshopping mall, which is named Turkish Mall, is 100,000square feet in size and will be opened soon. It is plan-ned to be located in an area that is highly populated byTurks as well as various European ethnic groups. “Istik-bal stores are visited not only by Turkish people, but al-so Europeans (Polish, Ukraine, Albanian), Russian andMiddle Eastern (Arab, Jewish, Assyrian) customers.Therefore, other entrepreneurs at the shopping mallcan benefit from our potential customers and we arehappy to provide them this opportunity,” said Bilici. Hesaid it would be convenient for customers to find all theTurkish stores they needed in one place. He said cur-rently Istikbal products were sold at almost one thou-sand sales points in the United States. He answeredsome of TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

Can you give us a brief history of Istikbal in the US?We first introduced Istikbal products to American con-sumers in 1999 through a partly retail network. In2001, Sunset company and Istikbal brand came toget-her for a serious, professional and modern distributi-on network in the US. Istikbal first presented its livingroom arrangements and couches to American consu-mers. Soon the Turkish couch, known as ‘Click Clack’in the US, replaced the American futon.

Are you distributing your products throuugh your ownstore or using other distribution channels? Our products are sold online through the biggest reta-il outlets in the US, such as Walmart, Target, andJCPenny. Therefore we rely on them for distribution.

In how many different sales points can Isstikbal be fo-und in the US?You can find Istikbal products in more than one thou-sand different points in the US, from Miami to Boston,Chicago (Illinois) to California. Additionally, in Clifton,New Jersey where there is a big Turkish community,we have a 35,000 sq. ft. store and serve our consu-mers the richest collection of Istikbal products. Fi-nally, everyone in the US can use our website,www.Istikbalusa.com. In Paterson, New Jersey we ha-ve another company called Sunset International thatmanages the wholesale operations in a 20,000 squa-re meter warehouse and office building. From this po-int, we distribute to seven states, mainly New Yorkand New Jersey, through our transportation facilities.Our two main selling lines are “Next Day Delivery” and“Customer Satisfaction is the Biggest Value”.

Can you talk more about your target group and theirconsumption patteerns? This is the most important issue we are dealing withright now. The United States is a huge country anddensely populated. The majority of the population iscomposed of ‘White Americans’, which is not a homo-genous group in taste and shopping patterns. Additio-nally, the consumption behavior of Americans iscompletely different than that of Europeans andTurks. Unlike Turkish taste, Americans prefer bigger,more comfortable, softer and more highly designedproducts. Therefore it is critical to analyze the marketand define the right needs of the consumers. In a mar-ket with various preferences on the consumer side, itis important to offer different colors and designs cus-tomized to different habits to stay competitive.

Can you tell us more about your new investment inClifton? In this shopping mall, located in the busiest street ofClifton and Paterson, where Main Avenue and Number

The shopping mall

can include almost

ten stores in its

100,000 square foot

space. Once it is

launched, the project

will offer employment

opportunities for

50-100 people.

‹ST‹KBAL

The F›rst Turk›sh Shopp›ng Mall ›n the US


What is your future objective in the US market?Despite the economic crisis, the US is the biggest exporter in theworld. In fifteen years, the population is estimated to be four hun-dred million and there is an established consumption culture. There-fore it is an important market for us. Now that we are more familiarwith that market, we plan to produce the right products to meet con-sumer needs, thereby increasing our market share.

What is your advice for survival in a highly compettitive market?In the US, 80% of durable consumer products are exported mainlyfrom China because of its lower costs. Therefore the market is verycompetitive because it is very easy to see cheap copies of your pro-ducts on the market. However, the quality cannot be copied, and weconstantly renovate our products, so we managed to survive in themarket. Additionally, the key to success and healthy growth is to ha-ve a good, professional and qualified group of people who are keenon teamwork. Moreover, it is critical to adapt to changing conditionsin the market following the crisis. To increase efficiency and to mini-mize cost are key elements in survival. !

46 highway intersect, we offer consumers every Istikbal product thatcan be found in Turkey. We are also renovating the building to crea-te a ‘Turkish Mall’ in which Turkish companies can start their busi-nesses in food, restaurants, textiles, etc. The shopping mall can inc-lude almost ten stores in its 100,000 square foot space. Once it is la-unched, the project will offer employment opportunities for 50-100people. To learn more about the shopping mall project, please call201-315-0646 or 973-772-8500 or email [email protected]

What should be expected in the US furniture sector in 2010 in the af-termath of the crisis?Since mid-2007, we have seen the most severe economic crisis of thelast 30 years. Although its visible impact was in the real estate andfinance sectors, the furniture sector was affected as well. Followingthe crisis, Americans’ consumption habits were transformed and theConsumer Confidence Index dropped dramatically. Therefore, consu-mers started spending more carefully. Instead of luxury products,there is an emerging tendency to prefer functional products that canbe bought on sale.

Mehmet Bilici in Istikbal’s New Jersey showroom.


There are 420 hotels that are in New York and ranked byTripAdvisor. The Marmara Manhattan, which had initi-

ally been opened in 1989 as a condo and been providing ex-tended stay services since 1998, is on the 64th place of the-se 420 hotels. (October 27th, 2010) Even if this ranking we-re to change, The Marmara always maintains it place withinthe first seventy.Eighty seven percent of those who stay in the hotel are wil-ling to recommend it and fifty percent describe it as a ‘per-fect’ place to stay; the Marmara Manhattan is located onthe intersection of 2nd Avenue and 94th Streets and sinceits rooms are larger than the average hotel in New York, it isable to provide its customers a larger and more comfortab-le place to stay in. The total sizes of the 109 rooms of thishotel is larger, in camparison, than the total of 334 hotel ro-oms in New York’s standards. The one room units are 600-820 square feet, two rooms units are 1100 square feet, andthe three rooms units are 1450 square feet large; the avera-ge size of the hotel rooms in New York ranges between 225square feet and 265 square feet.Although the Marmara Manhattan have opened its doors toshort term stayers recently, eighty percent of its customersare long-timers.The reason for each customer’s long stay isdifferent than the other. Among them, some are travelingfor work or visiting the city while others stay here due to ot-her reasons such as renovating their house; having a floodor fire in their house in New York; staying away from homeduring a divorce phase; coming to New York for receivinghealth care or for giving birth.

Some of the special promotions that the Hotel provided ha-ve been covered in the media many times and also been bro-adcasted national television channels such as ABC. Two ofsuch special promotions were designed for those who wereto stay in the hotel due to a divorce or to give birth in the city.

SHE HAD STARTED HER CAREER 18 YEARS AGO The General Director of the Marmara Manhattan Nur ErcanMagden is a 1986 graduate of Ankara Kolej and she has be-en a team member of the Marmara for 18 years. Mentioningthat their most important goal is to be able to show the ho-tel’s visitors the hospitality of Turkish culture, Magden saystheir hotel is full seventy percent throughout the year.A graduate of the Hacettepe University’s English Language

and Literature department, Magden also received accep-tence for graduate school in a university in Los Angeles.Magden had started his career 18 years ago a representati-ve at the Marmara Hotel in Taksim, Istanbul and her positi-on then was a temporary position for three weeks.As the three weeks long position turned into a five yearslong work experience, Magden’s next stop in her career waswith Kiska, a partner firm of the Marmara Group with head-quarters in Ankara. She was transferred to Kiska in order todevelop new projects in the Southeastern provinces of Tur-key under the framework of the Southeastern AnatolianProject and she opened the first ancient hotel of Urfa, Edas-sa, as the General Director. She was then assigned to openthe Marmara Bodrum.

Megden came to the US in the year of 2000 and for some ti-me she did research to see possible job opportunities. In theyear 2003 she took the responsibility of marketing and salesof Marmara Manhattan in North and South America. And in2008 she began her position as the general director. Con-centrating more on online marketing of the hotel, Magdensays they will continue to grow in New York. The Kiska Gro-up is planning to build a second hotel in the place of the se-ven building on Lexington Avenue, which were bought priorto being demolished.

COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOTEL From Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Mort Rubinstein, MD says‘This is a very nice suit having all of the necessary kitchenappliances from refrigirator to dishwasher and the pots. Italso has a large living room with a TV and a large bathroom.You can have all of these for a very reasonable price in NewYork. We will definitely come back and recommend it to ot-hers as well’‘This hotel with its affordable prices and high quality of ser-vice, is a great opportunity for those traveling. With our twoyoung kids, we stayed in a large room of the Marmara. Theservice was very friendly and geniune. The hotel also has agreat advantage of location since it’s close to the museums,Central Park, restaurants, and shopping centers’‘I am a New Yorker who was born in New York and I now li-ve in China. I come to New York often to visit. The Marma-ra is a real home for me since I am away from my house. Ican not stay in another city in New York.’ !

The TripAdvisor.com,

one of the most well

known websites in

the world, is used by

travelers to get

information about

restaurants, hotels,

flights, and housing;

and it also ranks the

firms through voting.

THE MARMARA MANHATTAN

The Iron Lady of The Marmara ›n New York

Apparel & Carpets & Money Stores Arcade Currency Palace – Tarpon Springs, FLAsia Minor Carpets – New York, NY Fenerium – Istanbul, TurkeySarar – New York, NY

Associations & Institutions & Organizations American Turkish Associations Assemble –Washington, DCBusiness Center Dortmund – Dortmund, GermanyHazelnut Promotion Group – Istanbul, TurkeyIMMIB – Istanbul ,TurkeyIstanbul Chamber of Commerce – Istanbul, TurkeyIstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture AgencyIzmir Chamber of Commerce – Izmir, TurkeyIzmir Development Agency – Izmir, TurkeyTurkish American Business Association AmCham –Istanbul, TurkeyTurkish Coalition of America – Washington, DCTurkish Cultural Center – New York, NYTurkish Cultural Foundation – Washington, DCTurkish Exporters Assembly – Istanbul, TurkeyTurkish Leather Council – Istanbul, TurkeyTurkish Textile Employers’ Association – Istanbul,Turkey

Automotive Dealerrs BCG Motors - Arlington, VAKing Motors – Little Ferry, NJMercedes-Benz of Greenwich - Greenwich, CTRosental Jaguar - Vienna, VAVOB BMW - Rockville, MD

Automotive Repair & ServicesGibraltar Transmissions - Staten Island, NYTip-Top Autoaufbereitung - Neuss, Germany

Banking & Financial ServicesCowan Financial Group – New York, NYFort Lee Federal Savings Bank - Fort Lee, NJJ.P. Turner & Company - Melville, NY Money GramT.C. Ziraat Bank New York Branch – New York, NYWestern Union – Montvale, NJVakifbank International AG - Vienna, Austria Vakifbank New York – New York, NY

Beauty and Personal CareGeorge Four Seasons SPA Salon – Washington, DCGural Sapanca Wellness Park – Kutahya, TurkeyO Salon – Washington, DCTaylife Detox & Wellness CenterTara Salon – Washington, DC

Consttruction & Manufacturing & BuildingCN Wire - Norwalk, CTFlorida Quality Group of Companies - Pompano Beach, FLS.A. Halac Iron Works, Inc. - Sterling, VASay Yapi Teknoloji - Silivri, TekirdagTAV Airports – Istanbul, Turkey

Educational ServicesBahcesehir University – Istanbul, Turkey Ugur Education – Istanbul,Turkey

Electronic & Liqudiation Amerturk, Inc. - Santa Clara, CARapid Conn - Foothill, CA

FoodAri Edible Oil Processing Balikesir, TurkeyAvrasya Doner Kebap – Koln, GermanyBaktat - Mannheim, GermanyBey Doner GmbH – Essen, GermanyEce Olives – Vienna, Austria Efe Firat Etnich & Organic FoodsKarmez Doner - Frankfurt am Main, GermanyThe Rücker Company - Aurich, Germany- Onur Group – Vienna, AustriaOrkide Olive Oil – Izmir, TurkeyOz Kayseri Pastirami - Hofheim, GermanyYurt Konserve - Istanbul, Turkey

Foodd StoresAk Market - Paterson, NJAmish Fine Food - New York, NYAmity Grocery - Fairfax, VAFoodies - New York, NYOliva Bar - New York, NYTa-Ze Olives & Olive Oil – Chicago, IL Zeytinia N.Y. Gourmet Choice – Atlantic City, NJZeytuna - New York, NY

Free Zones ESBAS - Izmir, TurkeyEvyap Port – Körfez , KocaeliPort Isbi – Famagusta, Cyprus ISBI – Istanbul, Turkey

Government Tourism Ministry of Turkey – Ankara, TurkeyState of Indiana – Indianapolis, INState of New York – Albany, NY

Health ServicesAccurate Diagnostic Labs - Edison, NJBalancee Physiotherapie – Dortmund, GermanyCapital Health – Trenton, NJ Dr. Huseyin Tuncel – Brooklyn, NYDr. Taner Turkes – Carry, NJDr. Ulas Bozdogan – Hackensack, NJHospital For Special Surgery – New York, NYPark East Gynecology & Surgery – New York, NYPflegezentrum Cakir Health Center - Bönen,GermanySemra Coskuntuna, Psychotherapy – New York, NY

Holdings Celebi Holding – Istanbul, TurkeyEvyap – Istanbul, TurkeyEce Banyo – Corum, TurkeyMacro Group – Vienna, AustriaSanko Pazarlama – Istanbul, TurkeySilkar Group – Istanbul, Turkey

Home Furniture, Furnishings, annd Equipment Cilek Furniture – Istanbul, TurkeyMeyan Furniture – Carlstadt, NJIstikbal Furniture – Clifton, NJ


TURKOFAMERICA ADVERTISERS IN EIGHT YEARSHotels & Resort Charisma Hotel - Kusadasi, IzmirIC Hotels – Antalya, TurkeyKum Beach - Cesme, TurkeyMovenpick Hotel Istanbul – Istanbul, TurkeyOrient Express Hotel – Istanbul, TurkeyRitz-Carlton Hotel – Istanbul, TurkeyThe Marmara Manhattan – New York, NYThe Sofa Hotels & Residences - Istanbul, Turkey

Jewelry – Diamond Benchmark - Tuscaloosa, ALGilan – New York, NYGoldas – Istanbul, TurkeyHalach Gold – New York, NYIstor – Istanbul, TurkeyMarlboro Diamond Plaza – Marlboro, NJPolat Gold – Istanbul, TurkeySade Is Jewellery – Istanbul, TurkeyUnique Settings of New York – New York, NY

Law Firms Barst Mukamal & Kleiner LLP – New York, NY Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C. – New York, NYElkhalil & Associates, LLC - Atlanta, GAEllis, Ged & Bodden P.A. - Boca Raton, FLGur Law Firm – Istanbul, Turkey Haker & Ozisik LLP – New York, NY Iskender Cemaletin Law Firm – New York, NY KLF Law Firm – New York, NY Marouf Law Group, PLC - Los Angeles, CANizamian & Nizamian Law Firm - Los Angeles, CA

Limo & Car Services Kismet Limo – Teaneck, NJTeaneck Car Service – Teaneck, NJ

Media & Media MarketingDFH Network - Santa Ana, CATurkavenue.com – Edgewater, NJTurkishny.com – Brooklyn, NYDirect Media Marketing - Los Angeles, CA

Natural Stone, Marble, Granite, Glass AKDO - Bridgeport, CTGraniser Tile Kitchen Bath - Alexandria, VALucky Glass - Astoria, NYMHFS Group - Miami, FLRavini Marble - Aventura, FLSefa Stone - Miami, FLTremertas – Life’stileUTA-USA LLC - Jersey City, NJ

Online Stores & PortalBest Turkish Food - East Dundee, ILMega Bakkal – Santa Ana, CAMezun Cicek Mezun Group - Hallandale Beach, FL Istanbul.com – Istanbul, TurkeyTulumba Online Store - Brooklyn, NY

Performance Art & Visual Arts Pera Museum – Istanbul, TurkeyMay Fest – New York, NYDunya Music Inc – Boston, MA

ADVERTISERS


Duygu Kivanc – Alexandria, VAFire of Anatolia – Istanbul, Turkey

Printing, Publishing, And Allied IndustriesNettlebery Publishing – Istanbul, TurkeyPromat Printing House – Istanbul, Turkey

Professional Services (Translations, Accounting, Coonsulting, etc) Ajans Press Media Monitoring – Istanbul, TurkeyAskew Industrial Corp. Los Angeles, CABacak LLC – Clifton, NJ Firmam ABD’de – New York, NY Islamic Funeral Services – Brooklyn, NY Royal Cert Belgelendirme – Istanbul, Turkey Turkish Link - New York, NY

Real EstateAcar Enterprises, LLC – Miami, FLLoan Star Mortgage, Inc. – Boston, MAAtakan Camadan, Realtor – Miami Beach, FLCentury 21. Realty, Yesim Ozel – Cliffside Park, NJ Turan Tombul Realtor - Falls Church, VAFairmont Funding - Staten Island, NY MMC Mortgage & Refinance - NJ

Restaurant – Café – Bar Ali Baba Restaurant – New York, NY Bistro Med - Washington, DCHammerstein’s Café-Restaurant-Bar-Köln, GermanyKofte House – Fairview, NJ Istanbul Restaurant – Brooklyn, NY Maksim Mediterranean Cuisine - Hempstead, NYMasal Café – Brooklyn, NY

Pera Restaurant – New York, NYPita House - Patchogue, NYSamdan Restaurant - Creskill, NJStar Restaurant - Fairview, NJTablo Restaurant - Essen, Germany Toros Restaurant – Clifton, NJTurkish Kitchen – New York, NYTurkish Cuisine & Bakery - Chicago, ILTurkish Cuisine - Cliffside Park, NJUncle’s Place – Cliffside Park, NJVeranda Turkish Cuisine - Brooklyn, NY

Tobacco ProductsCAO Cigars - Nashville, TN

Transportation By AirrDelta Airlines – Atlanta, GATurkish Airlines – Istanbul, TurkeyLufthansa – New York, NY

Transportation ServicesAsik International - Howard Beach, NYEMS Internationale Speditons Transport GmbH -Dormagen, GermanyGokbora Air & Ground World Transport – Istanbul,TurkeyMTS Logistics – New York, NYNex Worldwide Express - New York, NYTulair International Corp. - Jamaica, NYTurkish Airlines Cargo – Istanbul, TurkeyTurkon Line - Secaucus, NJ

Travel Agencies & Yachting Agency Alp Travel – Paterson, NJ

Cornucopia Princess - Port Amboy, NJClub America Travel – New York, NYHatsail Tourism & Yachting Agency - Istanbul,TurkeyMavi Travel – Cliffside Park, NJPicasso Travel – New York, NY TGI Vacations – Cliffside Park, NJVIP Tourism – Istanbul, Turkey

Telecom & Telecommunications & Software DevelopmentAvea – Istanbul, Turkey AMS Voice – Edgewater, NJ AIT Telecom – Albany, NYAT & T – New York, NYBetter World Telecom - McLean, VADunya Telekom - Wind Gap, PAGlobalTel GmbH – Köln, Germany Mezun Calling Card - Hallandale Beach, FLRhxo – Edgewater, NJTelenity - Monroe, CTTurkiyem Video – Paterson, NJ

Textile & Apperal Calik Denim – New York, NYCoach Leatherware – New York, NYExsa Americas, Inc New York, NYHoneyBee & Me – New York, NYMacin Tekstil - Istanbul, TurkeySentefil Textile – Gaziantep, Turkey

Wholesale PGI Prestige Group – Passaic, NJ Juice & Cheese, Inc - NJ


Teaneck, NJ - After learning the secrets of Turkishcuisine, his dream was always to open a restau-

rant. He was a very talented and hard working manwho looked for a bright future for himself. Afterworking eight years in various Turkish restaurantsas a head cook, he changed his career from the culi-nary arts to the sea. Being a sailor was joyful job asa young man and he worked 10 years from port toport in different countries. He traveled to over 40countries, even though he did not like any of them,and experienced diverse cultures, but he was stillseeking a challenge.

When he was a 26-year-old man, his mother encour-aged him to go to the United States. Most motherswant their children to keep close to them but hiscase was different. “She was concerned about mylife. She did not want me to work as a sailor at sea,”he says.

The story of Emin Kahyao¤lu, owner of one of thebiggest limousine companies owned by a TurkishAmerican on the East Cost of the United States,started in 1986. When he learned that a pizza deliv-ery boy made $250 a week in Philadelphia, hechanged his mind and back to his ship. “I was mak-ing much more money. Why should I waste my timein a pizza job,” he says. After 8 months, his secondvisit to Philadelphia he decided to move to New Yorkwith his friends. “I traveled to New York on a coldwinter night by train.”

In the first days of his New York adventure, he madea job appointment with a relative who had gas sta-tions in Long Island but the owner of the stationsdid not show up. He stayed with seven roommatesin Kings Highway, Brooklyn for a while. “I had tofind my own way. I found a job in Brooklyn as abutcher,” Kahyao¤lu tells us.

He had butcher experiences in Istanbul and used tosell meat to ships. He only worked for a month as abutcher since he had a fight with his colleagues.

Every new job was more difficult than the previousone. Kahyao¤lu’s next job was in a bakery. He usedto work every day from 3am to 12am for $290 week-ly. Once again, his working experience at this jobwas not more than a year.

BORROWING MONEY FOR DRIVER’S LICENSE FEEAt that time, he finally got his driver’s license. Hestill remembers that he had no money to pay the dri-ver’s license fee to the Motor Vehicles Bureau. Heborrowed $20 from someone whom he did notknow. With a driver’s license, he started to work fora bakery as a driver. After tireless days and nights,it was time to visit his family and he went to Turkey.

When he came back to the U.S., his new job was ina gas station, as many newcomers have done, andhis new life began with a new career in New Jersey.After working a couple of weeks, he said to his boss:“Working as a gas boy is not my job. I will lookaround for another job. If I do not find anything, Iwill come back.”

His boss smiled and said: “You will come back.” Hewas irritated and replied, “I will not.”

Kahyao¤lu worked for an Italian sanitation companyand collected garbage but his destiny was the same,he had to quit the job.

“THEY FORCED ME TO DO LIMO BUSINESS”In those days, a shopping center was looking foremployees for its food section. He filled out theform and applied as a dishwasher. When the man-ager reviewed his resume, he asked why he wasapplying for a dishwasher position, as he could dobetter. “First give me a chance to work as a dish-washer. If you like my work, you can promote me,”he replied.

He became head cook of the food section in sixmonths. When he worked as a cook, he bought a1992 model town car for working part time. He got

The Turk›sh K›ng of L›mous›nes

SUCCESS STORY

Currently Kayhao¤lu

has 88 limousines in

his fleet. Operating

out of a 5000 square

foot facility, Kismet

Limousine serves the

corporate market in

the New York

metropolitan area.


company Kismet Executive Limo in 1993. Kismet Limo made a big leap in the 2000’s. In 2001, the companyhad 52 cars in its fleet but the September 11 attacks shook the com-pany. The company got back on its feet quickly. CurrentlyKahyao¤lu has 88 limousines in his fleet. When he is asked thatthere is any other big Turkish owned limousine company in NewYork metropolitan area, he says Pegasus Limousine, founded byCengiz Tafldemir in 1995.

Operating out of a 5000 square foot facility, Kismet serves thecorporate market in the New York metropolitan area. Kahyao¤luadds with a smile,: “If you see Kismet Turkey soon, don’t besurprised.”!

involved with the limo business and the company offered him a fulltime job, but later they changed their mind. If had started to fulltime work for the company, he probably would never have had hisown limo company. Kahyao¤lu smiles and says, “They forced me todo limo business.”

He started to transport hotel customers. His first corporate clientwas Clinton Inn Hotel in Tenafly, NJ. “With the help of my friend atthe hotel, I start to serve famous people.”

While watching Jeopardy, the world-famous American televisionquiz program, he saw a contestant give Kismet as the answer to aquestion, and the word Kismet inspired Kahyao¤lu. He named his

Emin Kahyaoglu, President of Kismet Limousine, has 88 limousines in his fleet.


Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank’s second office isopening in Clifton, New Jersey. Operating in Fort

Lee, New Jersey for the past ten years, the Fort LeeFederal Savings Bank will have the official openingof its three story building on Main Avenue, Cliftonwithin the following days. The Bank is also prepa-ring to transfer its first office to a new building theybought in Fort Lee.

Yasemin Koyunoglu, the only Turk owning a bank inthe US, and her husband Dr. Haralambos (Bob) S.Kostakopoulos opened the doors of their new centerto the Turk Avenue. Decorating their new office withnearly sixty marbling art pieces selected from thecollection of marbling artist Kubilay Dincer of Tur-key, the Kostakopoulos couple designed their floorswith Turkish rugs.

Having started their endeavor with a moderate sizebank in Fort Lee ten years ago, Kostakopoulos coup-

le says that they owe their strength in the face ofeconomic crisis and mortgage crises to a plannedand conscious strategy. The co-president of the FortLee Federal Savings Bank Yasemin Koyunoglu Kosta-kopoulos says, ‘What is important is not the numberof banks; how much business you do. We took oursteps slowly but sustainably.’

Not being impacted by the ‘subprime mortgage’ cri-sis that has spread all around the world due to thefact that they did not have these types of invest-ments, Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank have been ab-le to grow their business through the credits they lo-an to many Turkish businessmen in New York andNew Jersey.

Mentioning that they will present the credits that aresupported by the Federal Housing Administration tocustomers wanting to buy a house, Dr. HaralambosS. Kostakopoulos asserts that these credits, which

Having started their

endeavor with a

moderate size bank in

Fort Lee ten years

ago, Kostakopoulos

couple says that they

owe their strength in

the face of economic

crisis and mortgage

crises to a planned

and conscious

strategy.

FORT LEE FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK

A Bank Born Out of Turk›sh-Greek Love:Fort Lee Federal Sav›ngs Bank

Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank’s three story building on Main Avenue,Clifton in New Jersey.

are supported by the state 97%, are ideal for those who would liketo own a house.

THE JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Gaining a respected reputation in the banking sector, the Kostako-poulos couple’s paths have met at Columbia University. Koyunogluhad studied International Relations in graduate school and receiveda M.Phil in Economics and an A.B.D; and she also was the founderand first president of Turkish Students Organization of ColumbiaUniversity. Her dream was to complete her doctorate degree and be-come a professor. She completed all preparation for her thesis ho-wever when marriage with her spouse, whom she met with at scho-ol, came into place, she postponed her plans. Kostakopoulos says ‘Ithought I could attend school and raise my children at the same timebut my children Defne and Can have become my Ph.D thesis.’

The family tree of Yasemin Koyunoglu is full of names that have mar-ked great successes from Ottoman times to today’s Turkey.

Yusuf Pasha, who is the grandfather of Koyunoglu’s mother, is a Su-fi coming from Mevlana’s family. Yusuf Pasha used to compose Clas-sical Turkish Segah music; he was one of the viziers of Sultan Abula-ziz and also his reed flute instructor. Yusuf Pasha had chosen hisspouse Emine from among the girls that were in the Harem, with thepermission of the Sultan.

The father of Koyunoglu’s grandmother Sadiye Hanim had been aMullah in Egypt during the Ottoman era. He was brought to Istanbulto translate the Quran and made married to the fourteen years oldBulgarian migran Safiye Hanim. Koyunoglu’s grandmother from herdad’s side was Fatma Koroglu, who came from the Koroglu familyand was one of the first woman graduates of the Istanbul University.

Another elder family member of Koyunoglu who was interested inmusic was her grandfather Celalettin Iyison. The orchestral conduc-tor and the virtuoso, the grandfather was also the first music instruc-tor in Istanbul giving violin, piano, harmonica, and reed lessons.

The grandfather of Koyunoglu, Ibrahim Koyunoglu, was among thesuccessful businessmen of Turkey. He was one of the first entrepre-neurs who came to Istanbul from Eregli, Blacksea, and built the firstharbor in Halic for his own cargo ships. When Ibrahim Koyunogluhad passed away at an early age, Yasemin Koyunoglu’s father Sera-fettin Koyunoglu, who was then attending school in US, took over therunning of the business.

Serafettin Koyunoglu had studied engineering in Robert College andgot his Master’s Degree on mechanical engineering and ship designand manufacturing at the University of Southern California.

Koyunoglu’s mother Vedia Koyunoglu is a graduate of Ankara and Is-tanbul conservatoire who had received education in singing and pia-na and who is passionately devoted to music. Vedia Koyunoglu, whoalso used to play the piano for Ataturk when she was young, hascomposed many pieces. Yasemin Koyunoglu says she loves the ‘La-mentation for Ataturk’ composition of her mother among all. Hercompositions have received the permission of the Ministry of Educa-tion to be presented in schools. And a few years ago she was awar-ded by the Provost of Istanbul, who used to be one of her students.

DR. HARALAMBOS OF SOKE Yasemin Koyunoglu’s close working partner and husband Dr. Harala-mos S. Kostakopoulos used to work at Merrill Lynch as an economistat the Head of Quantitative Research department and then he trans-ferred to the Atlantic Bank as the President and CEO. Underlining theinsistence of his spouse for this transferring move Dr. Kostakopoulossays ‘If she weren’t to insist maybe I wasn’t going to transfer to At-lantic Bank. And my career as an academician would have been con-tinuing somewhere.’ Dr. Kostakopoulos’s was an executive for At-lantic Bank with $400 million stock and growing it to $1.3 billion. Af-ter leaving Atlantic Bank, Dr. Kostakopoulos bought his first bank,the First Savings Bank at the Little Falls of New Jersey. And later onhe sold this bank and founded the Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank in2000 with his spouse.

Dr. Kostakopoulos’ mother is originally from Soke, a town and a lar-ge district of Ayd›n Province in the Aegean region of western Turkey,and his family settled in New York in 1968. The first person to havecome to US from his family was his uncle. Having fled from povertyin Greece in 1910 and come to US, his uncle had run a restaurant inChicago and earned a great deal. He had lost his wealth during Gre-at Depression and returned Greece in 1966. The stories Dr. Kostako-poulos used to listen to from his uncle and the gifts he used to recei-ve inflicted the American Dream to his mind.

In the year of 1968, this time Kostakopoulos’ family settles in NewYork and runs a business almost in the value of a few restaurants.Kostakopoulos went to Soke to see the land that his mother, whomoved to Greece from Soke during the commutation in 1922, grew upin. Spending their vacation time in Turkey and Greece equally whiletheir family is still alive, the Kostakopoulos couple stays at their hou-se at Buyukada during the summer time with their friends. !


Dr. Haralambos (Bob)S.Kostakopoulos.


Approximately 4.1 million babies are born in the UnitedStates every year. With a ratio of 2.1 children per wo-

man, the birth rate is higher in the US than in Europe andCanada. According to the National Census Report of 2000,the number of immigrants’ children who were born in theUS is 28.4 million.

Immigrants, who make up 10% of the whole population,inspire their relatives to give birth in the US. By spendingmillions of dollars, eventually they could enjoy the benefitsof American citizenship eventually. The average cost of gi-ving birth in the US is around 7-10 thousand dollars. For fa-milies who prefer New York and New Jersey, accommoda-tion and transportation costs, in addition to medical ex-penses, create a big burden.

Dr. Ulafl Bozdo¤an puts his 10 years of experience in gyne-cology to use in a new office in Hackensack, New Jersey,which is 25 minutes away from Manhattan. He studied Ro-

Depending on the

hospital and location,

the average cost of

giving birth in the US

is around 7-10

thousand dollars,

which is not very

different from

Turkish rates.

DR. ULAS BOZDOGAN

Turk›sh Gynecolog›st Inv›tes Mothersto G›ve B›rth ›n New Jersey

botic Surgery at Ohio State University and is the first andonly Turkish gynecologist who uses robotic surgery in hisspecialization. He also trains residents who want to speci-alize in the same area.

Although mothers from Turkey usually prefer New York togive birth in, Bozdo¤an thinks living and environmentalfactors are very critical for pregnant women. “In the midstof traffic, noise, and chaos, a pregnant woman can bestressed out very easily. New Jersey has many advantagesin terms of living and medical costs over its very close ne-ighbor, New York”, said Bozdo¤an. He added that Manhat-tan and Northern New Jersey, separated only by the Hud-son River, shared a closeness like that between the Asianand European sides of Istanbul.

Dr. Bozdo¤an stressed there was no big difference betwe-en giving birth in a private hospital in Turkey and in the US.Depending on the hospital and location, the average costof giving birth in the US is around 7-10 thousand dollars,which is not very different from Turkish rates. In addition tohospital costs, accommodation, living expenses and con-sulting costs should be taken into account and the totalcost ends up being at least twenty five thousand dollars.

One of the critical issues for families who come to the USin order to give birth is the validity of their health insuran-ce. Dr. Bozdo¤an said that it would depend on the termsand appointments of the relevant insurance and variedfrom one company to another. He added the hospital heworked for offered a special 20% discount for patients whocome from abroad and they worked with health insurancecompanies located in New York and New Jersey.

ULAfi BOZDO⁄ANHe was born in Adana in 1973. He graduated from IstanbulUniversity Medical School in 1997 and completed his resi-dency at Süleymaniye Research Hospital in 2002. He wor-ked at Department of Reproductive Endocrinology of YaleSchool of Medicine as a post-doctoral fellow. Between2004-2008, he specialized in obstetrics and gynecology atUMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Following his trainingin robotic surgery at Ohio State University, he specializedin robotic minimal invasive surgery and was certified to tra-in resident doctors in robotic surgery. Bozdo¤an is the firstand only Turkish gynecologist to work in this field. Marriedto Asl› Bozdo¤an, he has two children, Bora and Kaan. !

Dr. Ulas Bozdogan puts his10 years of experience in gynecology to use in a newoffice in Hackensack, New Jersey.

In the Washington, DC area, a group of Turkish professio-nal volunteers started airing the first “Turkish-American

Hour” show in September 2005. Since that time, they haveproduced over 60 programs. They received the CommunityAccess Magic (CAM) Award in the International Categoryfrom Prince George’s County Community TV (PGCTV) twoyears in a row, in 2007 and 2008. The leading name of Tur-kish American TV, Hurriyet Ok, at the same time works at theWorld Bank. Ok answered TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

How was Turkish American TV born? We originally came up with the idea of broadcasting a TVprogram in 2004 to share the concert videos of the TurkishMusic and Choral Society in Washington DC, and to makethem available to the wider community. We then attended“Public Access TV” production courses and started airingour first “Turkish-American Hour” show in September 2005.Prejudices against Turkey and Turks were also influential forus in producing programs in English first. Even if the prejudi-ce is not as deeply rooted and as strong as in Europe, nevert-heless there is a stereotypical perception about Turkey andTurks in the United States. Therefore, our English programsmostly feature Turkish culture, music and art.

Two years later, in 2007, we launched another program, cal-led TAT, in the Turkish language. TAT programs featureTurks living in our community in the U.S. and their life stori-es, enabling people with Turkish heritage to get to knoweach other.

How many programs have you produced up to now andhow manyy people have watched your programs?In five years we have produced nearly 60 English programsand 30 Turkish programs. These programs are aired by lo-cal community TV stations in most counties in the greaterWashington DC area, potentially reaching two million peop-le who are cable television subscribers. Our programs arealso available on the Internet through our free streaming vi-deo service. The majority of our online viewers are from allover the USA, Canada, Turkey, Europe and even Australia!

Our Turkish-speaking audience is more interested in prog-rams related to their lives in the United States and special

events such as 23 Nisan and Turkish Festival celebrations.Americans and English-speaking viewers are more interes-ted in documentaries covering historic and tourist areas ofTurkey, pop music videos, and cooking shows, such as reci-pes for “Tas Kebab”.

Can you talk about your achievements? We received the Community Service award from the Ameri-can-Turkish Association of Washington, DC (ATA-DC) in2007, and the Community Access Magic (CAM) Award in theInternational Category from Prince George’s County Com-munity TV (PGCTV) two years in a row, in 2007 and 2008.

We work very hard to create quality TV programming. Whi-le we are embracing the spirit of volunteerism, we are veryhappy to be recognized and respected as a media organiza-tion in our community.

Could you give us some information about public-access te-levision? Most of the large counties in US have non-profit public ac-cess TV facilities open for any resident to broadcast anyprogram of their choice. There is a small yearly membershipfee and the studio facilities are generally free for residentproducers.

The producers are responsible for their program content,and therefore there are not many strict rules on the subjectscovered. The public-access TV station may review submit-ted programs prior to airing, mainly to check that they donot contain commercial messages, since they are non-pro-fit organizations.

How many people work with you? We are a team of volunteers who have diverse backgroundsand occupations. Although about seven people are regularlyinvolved with production and operations on a part time ba-sis, we are very fortunate to have many more volunteers wholove what we are doing and dedicate their time and talent asoften as they can to prepare quality programs month aftermonth. We are also grateful to have generous sponsors whosupport us financially as underwriters or with in-kind serviceto help us continue our programs and services.!

In five years, Turkish

American TV has

produced nearly 60

English-language

programs and 30

Turkish-language

programs. These

programs are aired

by local community

TV stations in most

counties in the

greater Washington

DC area, potentially

reaching two million

cable television

subscribers.

TURKISH AMERICAN TV IN WASHINGTON, DC

The Longest-Runn›ng Turk›sh TVProgram ›n the U.S.

The leading name of TurkishAmerican TV, Hurriyet Ok

(at left) is with his team members.


Adem Ar›c› – Partner of Amish Markets

Ali Ç›nar – Connecticut Representative

Ali Do¤an – Owner of Ali Baba Restaurant

Ali Günertem –Washington, DC Representative,Advisory Board Member

Ara Alboyacian – Businessman

Ayhan Kay – Photographer

Ayla Toker – Marketing Manager

Ayflegül Akyarl› – Los Angeles Representative

Ayfle Önal Zambo¤lu – San Francisco Representative, Writer

Ba¤lan Altuntu¤ - Writer

Barbaros Karaahmeto¤lu - Lawyer

Barbaros Tapan – Los Angeles Representative

Bar›fl Akbulut - Writer

Burcak Akduman – Sarar USA General Manager

Bülent ‹nal – Sales Representative of BMW VOB

Caner Aver – Researcher at TAM

Cano Özgener – Founder of CAO Cigars

Cem fiahin – Staff

Cengiz Ermifller – Businessman

Cenk K›vanç – President of Creative Republic

Coflkun K›rl›o¤lu – IMMIB General Secretariat

Demet Cabbar – Writer

Ebbie Ashabi – Businessman

Egemen Ba¤›fl – Minister

Ekmel Anda – CEO of Unique Settings of New York

Ersagun Yücel - TAV Airports Holding General Secretary

Ersoy Y›ld›z – Rochester, NY Representative

Faruk Lolo¤lu – Ambassador

Faruk fien – Director of TAVAK

Feridun Y›lmaz – General Coordinator of TURKOFAMERICA

Gönül Göze – Art Director

Güler Köknar – President of Turkish Cultural Foundation

Güney Adak – Businessman

Hakan Özçilingir – CEO of Nex Worldwide Express

Hakk› Akbulak – Founder & CEO of AKDO

Halim Özyurt – Technician

Harun Sevimli, President of Amerturk, Inc.

Hüseyin Bayram – Owner of Toros Restaurant

Hüseyin Özyurtçu – Owner of Picasso Travel

Ilgar Peker – Owner of Turkish Kitchen

‹skender Cemaletin - Lawyer

‹smail Hakk› Ercan – Businessman

‹smail Uslu – General Manager of Mavi Travel

John Driscoll - Lawyer

Koray Y›lmaz – Partner of AKM Partners

Kürflad Tüzmen – Minister

Levent Yan›k – Consultant

Leyla fien – Journalist

Lincoln McCurdy – Advisory Board Member

Mahmut Topal – General Manager of Çal›k USA

Mehmet Akif Ersoy – Art Director

Mehmet Ali Özkan – President of Ajans Press

Mehmet Çelebi – Advisory Board Member

Mesut Darendeli – CEO of Rhxo

Muharrem Kay›l› – IMMIB Research&Development Department- Chief

Murat Yalç›ntafl – President of ‹stanbul Chamber of Commerce

Mustafa Merç – General Manager of Turkon Line

Muzaffer Kahyao¤lu – Art Director

Naim Güleryüz – Researcher, Writer

Necdet Köseda¤ – Senior Photographer

Neriman Yüce – Texas Representative

Nevin Sanl› – Partner of Sanl› Pastor & Hill

Nuri Özyurt – Turkey Representative

Nurten Yalç›n Erüs - Reporter

Ozan Bacak – Accountant

Ömer Önhon – New York Consul General (2002-2006)

Patricia Russo – Editor

P›nar Özçelik – Sales Person

Sami Eyübo¤lu – Arkansas Representative

Selçuk Türe – General Manager of ISBI

Serhat Aligil – Researcher

Sevil Özifl›k - Lawyer

Sevin Ötgünç – VP of Picasso Travel

Sinan Ertu¤rul – Austria Representative

Sinem Ertafl – Art Director

Süheyl Yekenkurul – Australia Representative

fiahap Gizlen – TURKOFAMERICA Writer

Tahir Erimli – Executive Manager

Taflk›n ‹nan – Ohio Representative

Türker H›d›rlar – Businessman

Ufuk Afl›k – President of Asik International

U¤ur Terzio¤lu – President of TABA

Ural Yeflil – Editor-in-Chief of Forum Newspaper

Yasemin Koyuno¤lu – Fort Lee Federal Savings Bank

Yasin Ya¤c› – Holland Representative

Yüksel Akça – Trade Attaché

Zeynep Güven –Editor

Zübeyir Kaya – ‹maj ‹ç ve D›fl Ticaret !

SPECIAL THANK TO

SPECIAL THANKS TO


PEOPLE AND TURKOFAMERICA

Aram Güleryüz,Director.

Faruk Lolo¤lu, Washington,DC Ambassador to Turkey (2002-2006).

Dan Burton, Congressman from Indiana.

David Paterson, New York Governor.

The late actress Derya Arba!.

Eddie Bernie Johnson,Congresswoman from Texas.

Ertu¤rul Günay, Tourism Minister

of Turkish Republic.

Ferit "ahenk, President of Do¤u! Holding.

Kemal Dervi!, former President of the UNDP.

Kür!ad Tüzmen, former StateMinister of Turkish Republic.

Byron W. Brown, Mayor of Buffalo.

Güler Sabanc›, President of

Sabanc› Holding.

Hasan "a!, Former soccer

player of Galatasaray FC.

Ay!e Önal Zambo¤lu with three important figures of the venture capital community in Silicon Valley: Bar›! Karado¤an,

Ayd›n "enkut, and George Nuray U¤ra!.


PEOPLE AND TURKOFAMERICA

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City.

Muhtar Kent, President & CEO of Coca Cola.

Robert Wexler, formerCongressman from Florida.

Steve Cohen, Congressman from Tennessee.

The late renown businessmanSak›p Sabanc›, President ofSabanc› Holding.

Abdullah Gül, President ofTurkish Republic, former

Foreign Minister.

Süleyman Demirel, 9th

President of Turkish Republic.

Zafer Ça¤layan, State Minister of Turkish Republic.

Sam Natapoff, Senior Advisor of New York Governor.

CAO & TURKOFAMERICA event in Istanbul.

Terry McAuliffe, Candidate forGovernor of Virginia.

Sertab Erener & Demir Demirkan.

Virginia Foxx, Congresswoman

from N. Carolina.

Prof Lawrence DeNardis, the Emeritus President ofUniversity of New Haven.

Documents

Volume 8 Issue 37 - 8th Anniversary Special Issue