"Discovering Hidden Gems: Inspiring Stories from New York Life & Beyond"

By Cemil Özyurt - In this edition, we bring you a collection of fascinating stories, unlike anything you've read before. For 22 years, we have been on a thrilling journey, and with our New York Life & Beyond brand, we continue to connect with our readers with the same excitement. In this issue, you will discover stories of women who stand out with their achievements, entrepreneurs making waves, and extraordinary professionals who are reshaping their industries. Our cover story features Onur Şafak, a young entrepreneur who has quickly made a name for himself in New York with his Blue Meze brand. He recently opened his second restaurant in the historic New York Life building. We’ve dedicated this issue's cover to Onur, the new tenant of the building that houses the New York Life magazine. Other stories include Afa Zada, CEO of Palm Beach County-based Zada Advisors, who transitioned from a diplomatic career to visa consulting, and Hürrem Hammam & SPA, which brings a fresh take on the traditional Turkish bath style to Miami.

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Zoi's Triumph in the Historic Life Magazine Building: A Journey Led by Onur Şafak

Onur Şafak, who had been investing in various sectors in Europe until 2008, moved to the United States, taking the first steps toward his future success story. His entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks made him stand out as a Turkish entrepreneur in New York. Onur Şafak, Chairman of Maya Prestige Group, started his journey in the United States with the ice cream industry and combined this experience with many other ventures and business experiences. His strategic steps, along with his education and experience from Turkey and Europe, led him to establish Maya Prestige Group in 2024. After working for an export company in America for four years, Şafak ventured into his first entrepreneurial experience by opening an auto gallery. After eight years of education and knowledge acquisition, he entered a new industry: the food sector.

Chasing a Dream: From a Passion for Cinema to $100 Million in Auto Sales

Entrepreneur Yiğit Yalçın has never been motivated purely by money; success has always been his driving force. As the third-generation member of a family with a 100-year commercial legacy, Yalçın’s roots run deep in business. His grandfather, Hüseyin Yalçın, founded the first timber factory in Tekirdağ, Türkiye. Following in his family’s entrepreneurial footsteps, Yiğit opened his first car dealership in Austintown, Ohio, with the goal of building a lasting legacy like his ancestors. In the years since he opened his first dealership, Yalçın has launched two more in Youngstown. Since starting operations in 2017, he has sold over $100 million worth of cars. Yalçars, Yalçın’s dealership group, has established itself as a reliable partner in the auto industry, and Yalçın plans to expand nationwide through trusted partners and franchise models. Though the COVID-19 pandemic slowed his growth plans, his ambitions remain strong.

"A Passion for Justice: Fejir Uğurlu's Fight for Accident Victims"

Fejir Uğurlu, one of New York's emerging Turkish-American attorneys, has built a reputation for advocating passionately on behalf of accident victims, particularly within the Turkish community. Uğurlu's path to the U.S. legal scene is anything but conventional, involving international education, high-stakes cases, and a deeply personal motivation rooted in family tragedy. Uğurlu began her legal journey at Maltepe University in Türkiye, where a scholarship opportunity allowed her to continue her studies in Germany. This was followed by a stint in London, where she gained practical experience before taking on leadership roles, such as serving as Vice President of the European Law Students' Association (ELSA) in Türkiye. She was selected to participate in a prestigious delegation to the United Nations, representing one of only five individuals worldwide, further honing her legal acumen at the UN's Permanent Mission of Türkiye.

A Source of Inspiration in Technology and Entrepreneurship: Bayram Altınışık and Andromeda's Pioneering Projects

Under the leadership of Bayram Altınışık, Andromeda Technology has emerged as a standout innovator with two groundbreaking projects reshaping their respective industries. Givetarget breathes new life into used books on Amazon, leveraging advanced pricing algorithms to optimize profitability while also providing strategic solutions for price analysis. Meanwhile, Byedrone introduces operator-free drones designed to deliver a unique and engaging experience for hotel guests. Both projects highlight Altınışık's expertise in developing technology-driven business models and underscore Andromeda Technology's commitment to research and development (R&D), solidifying its position as an innovation-focused enterprise.

Where Faith Meets the American Dream Zakat Foundation of America

LAST FEBRUARY, A new community center dedicated to uplifting statistically masked yet increasingly impoverished and marginalized communities opened in Long Island, a place traditionally thought of as where people on the economic upswing moved. What’s interesting is the center’s mission: to socially uplift and unify the ‘common human soul’ of Long Island’s communities of the needful.
The moral-cultural values mix that the center’s mission articulates perfectly reflects what is unique about the charity behind it. Zakat Foundation of America is a fast-emerging U.S.-based, Muslim-founded and directed, global humanitarian organization of growing consequence and innovative impact in the charitable world. 

Cigar World Icon Murat Özgener Highlights CEO Club Event in New York

 

At its regular April meeting, the CEO Club of New York hosted the renowned figure of the cigar world, Murat Özgener, owner of Özgener Family Cigars. Based in Nashville, TN, Özgener Family Cigars had sold one of its well-known cigar brands in the US, CAO International, to Scandinavian Tobaccoational in 2007. Founded by Cano Özgener with his children Murat and Aylin, CAO quickly became one of the well-known cigar brands in the US. Murat Özgener, who returned to the cigar world last year with the Bosphorus brand, met with cigar enthusiasts at the event held at Lefkes restaurant.

New Jersey-Based TriaExodus Aims to Redefine the Cigar Experience with Personalized Luxury

In a market saturated with tradition, TriaExodus is bringing a breath of fresh air to the cigar industry. Founded in New Jersey, TriaExodus specializes in creating personalized cigars and bespoke cigar boxes, offering a unique blend of luxury and individuality that promises to resonate with discerning cigar enthusiasts. At the heart of TriaExodus is a commitment to craftsmanship and customization. The company sources its cigars from renowned factories in the Dominican Republic, where skilled artisans hand-roll each piece to perfection. These premium cigars are then shipped to New Jersey, where TriaExodus adds the final touch—custom-designed packaging and cigar bands tailored to the tastes and preferences of each customer.

Chicago Turkish Festival draws more than 10,000 people

Over 10,000 people attended a three-day festival celebrating Turkish culture in the US city of Chicago, drawn by traditional cuisine, art and theatrical performances. “The response to our invitation was much more than our expectations. We are very pleased,” said Halil Demir, one of the founders of the committee for the event, which ended Sunday. “In fact, we were able to bring so many people. We surpassed 10,000 people,” said Demir, adding they estimated that the number of visitors on the last day of the festival numbered in the thousands. Demir, who is also the executive director of the charitable group that spearheaded the festival, the Zakat Foundation, said it was a “fantastic feeling that people responded to our call in that very short time.”

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