TACCI Annual Gala Sponsored By EST 1923

Some of the famous guests were Hon. Mevlüt Cavusoglu (president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), H.E. and Mrs. Ertuğrul Apakan (Ambassaddor of Turkey to the UN), H.E. and Mrs. Mehmet Samsar (Consul General of Turkey in the US), Mr. and Mrs. Fazli Corman (Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN) Mr. Cenk Uygur (Turkish-American journalist and political commentator on MSNBC), Mr. and Mrs. David Schneider (The Coca Cola Company Senior Advisor to the Chairman), Mr. and Mrs. Celal Secilmis (TACCI President), Mr. Engin Tuncer and Mr. Murat Caglar (Representatives of the EST 1923, title sponsor of the gala), TACCI Vice Presidents Ms. Sevil Özisik, Mr. Tahir Erimli, Mr. John Driscoll, Mr. Nazim Kalkanci and TACCI Board Members Mr. Burak Alpaslan, Mr. Ali Cinar, Mr. Ali Dogan, Mr. Hüseyin Ünver, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Meirowitz, Mr. Salim Görür, Mr. Ridvan Sezer; Mr. Serhan Kara and Mr. Ahmet Canlı (Turkish Commercial Attachés in New York) Ms. Neslihan Kaptanoglu (TOBB USA Representative), Ms. Elizabeth Daly (Mayor Bloomberg's Office, Director of Department of International Trade), Mr. and Mrs. Erhan Atay (Turkish American Businessmen Association), Mr. Decosta Headley (Advisor to Congressman John L. Sampson), Mr. Joseph Reagan (President of Greater Louisville Chamber), Ms. Alev Günay (NY Representative of Invest in Turkey - ISPAT - Agency), Mr. Mustafa Merç (Former TACCI President and Türkon America President), Mr. Yildirim Eroglu (GM of Vakıfbank New York Branch), Mr. Alp Ozaman (Marketing Manager of Turkish Airlines New York), Mr. Alp Baysal (Vice President of Kiska Construction), Mr. Mehmet Kirdar (President of Turkish American Business Forum). 

Also, Turkish State Minister Hayati Yazıcı and President of Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu sent special proclamations that were shared with the audience.
This year's gala was sponsored by EST 1923, a new brand, created by legendary household brand Eyüp Sabri Tuncer, which is about to launch its global brand EST 1923 soon, starting from the US. EST 1923 refers to the initials of the original brand and it also reflects the establishment year of the brand, for the obvious reason. Mr. Engin Tuncer of EST 1923, traveled with Mr. Murat Çağlar for this event exclusively from Istanbul, Turkey. Mr. Tuncer gave a speech to the audience and he expressed his content about entering the US market with the instruments that TACCI offer to its members.

The other sponsors were Turkish Airlines and Vakıfbank New York Branch. Special items were also available for the silent auction throughout the night and the gift raffle, where a lot of guests won the chance to dine at the best Turkish restaurants in town or to spend a weekend at the very room where Agatha Christie wrote her novels in Pera Palace Istanbul. The other donations for the silent auction and the raffle were made by several companies including The Marmara Manhattan Hotel, The Marmara Pera Hotel, Pera Palace Istanbul, Istikbal Furniture USA, Suedmod Leather, Serrra Mediterranean Bistro, Ali Baba Turkish Cuisine, Ak Cafe NJ, Turkish Kitchen, SipSak Restaurant, Tulair International Corp, CN Wire, Turkish Express Line, Güllüoglu USA, Dervish Restaurant, Chef Claude Alain Solliard, Seckin Management, Calık USA, Artist Shandor Hassan, Hürriyet USA and Esprit Wellnes & Spa.
(Foto: TurkishNY.com, Celal Secilmis, President of TACCI with Cenk Uygur.