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An American Dream Realized Through Ali Koç’s Touch: Pegasus Transport

Founded in 1994 with humble beginnings in New Jersey, Pegasus Transport Services Inc. has grown to become one of New Jersey's leading transportation companies. Behind this success story lies the support and vision of one of Turkey's wealthiest businessmen, Ali Koç. Cengiz Taşdemir, initially set on a path in music education, transformed into a thriving entrepreneur in the commercial world. A 1987 graduate of the Turkish Music State Conservatory at Istanbul Technical University, Taşdemir made the bold decision to emigrate to the United States, turning a new page in his life. This decision was heavily influenced by his wife and her sister's encouragement. Initially, the Taşdemirs stayed in Virginia Beach for 2.5 months before moving to New Jersey on the recommendation of a friend from Rize.

January 21, 2025
Published in Businessman
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Berker Hazar’s Bold Vision: 1,000 Employees and Billion-Dollar Policies

In the United States, insurance is an indispensable financial instrument, covering nearly everything and everyone, from businesses to individuals. Hazar Insurance, based in Maryland, is no exception. Founded by the young and ambitious entrepreneur Berker Hazar, the company is on a mission to become a billion-dollar policy issuer. With over 120 direct and indirect employees, Hazar Insurance is growing rapidly. Since its inception, the company has built a database of over 100,000 businesses. Now, with plans to expand beyond Maryland to states like Florida, Texas, and California, Hazar is confident in his vision. “In ten years, I want to surpass 1,000 employees,” he says.

January 21, 2025
Published in Professionals
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Elite Gutter Supply: A Tale of Entrepreneurial Triumph

In the bustling city of Paterson, New Jersey, a remarkable success story has been quietly unfolding over the past few years. Elite Gutter Supply Inc., a gutter manufacturing facility, stands as a testament to the vision and perseverance of its founder, Kadir Canbaz. What started as a humble endeavor has blossomed into a thriving business, poised to become a leader in its industry. Born in Turkey, Kadir Canbaz embarked on his entrepreneurial journey upon arriving in the United States in 1998. His first venture, AYKA Seamless Gutter, began modestly as a gutter installation company. Through hard work and dedication, the business flourished, growing to encompass three trucks and seven employees within just three years. In 2006, after selling AYKA Seamless Gutter, Kadir set his sights on a new challenge: founding High Tech Gutter Supply Inc.

January 21, 2025
Published in Case Studies
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Teacher Turned Entrepreneur: Bringing Turkish Flavors to the U.S.

Şenel Akbaş, a former primary school teacher from Ordu, Turkey, has successfully transitioned from an educator to an entrepreneur in the United States. With a passion for Turkish cuisine and culture, Şenel founded Basil Grocery, a thriving online market that specializes in Turkish food and household goods. Despite the challenges of establishing trust in the competitive online market, Şenel's dedication to customer satisfaction has led to significant growth and success, making Basil Grocery a beloved resource for Turkish expats and enthusiasts across the country.

January 21, 2025
Published in Success Stories
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From Father to Son: The Uzel Family's Legacy in Dentistry

Dr. İlhan Uzel graduated from one of Türkiye’s top medical schools, Hacettepe University, in 1992. In addition to practicing as a clinician, he pursued both specialization and doctoral studies.
Driven by a desire to further his expertise in periodical diseases and implantology, Dr. Uzel made a pivotal decision to move to the United States. He chose Boston University among many other respected teaching institutions that he received acceptance from. Boston is universally known as a biomedical research city and advancement in general, Boston University school of Dental Medicine has been one of the fundamental schools shaping up Dental Research, and of course, one of Dr. Uzel ‘s favorite sports basketball and favorite player Larry Bird wore the Boston Celtics jersey.

January 21, 2025
Published in Academicians
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Engineering Excellence: Florida Quality Truss Shapes Iconic Structures

Florida Quality Truss, based in Pompano Beach, FL, has been a leading truss manufacturer in South Florida since 1986. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing wooden trusses for residential, commercial, and custom projects, serving clients across the state, from the Keys to Tampa Bay and beyond. Founded with a commitment to quality and community, Florida Quality Truss is managed by Tolga Adak, who serves as the Vice President, and Güney Adak, who holds the position of President. Under their leadership, the company has grown to be a trusted name in the industry, known for its timely delivery and top-notch engineering services. The company operates strategically located manufacturing plants that ensure the prompt delivery of components throughout Florida. Güney Adak, who founded Florida Quality Truss with his brother Tolga in 1986, was born in Ankara, Turkey, in 1953. After completing his high school education in Ankara, he attended Istanbul University, where he studied economics before transitioning to Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) to pursue civil engineering. However, driven by a desire to enter the workforce at a young age, Adak left İTÜ and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 20.

January 21, 2025
Published in Businessman
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Blending Traditions with the Future: Hürrem Hammam Brings the Turkish Bath Experience to the U.S.

Miami, FL - The most renowned Turkish bath in the world, which first opened its doors 161 years ago on October 3, 1863, in Brooklyn Heights, New York, has made its grand reentry. Originally launched by Charles Shepard, an expert in hydrotherapy, the bath became a pioneering establishment. By 1867, Shepard opened a second bath on the same street, transforming the original into a women's bath. This setup created a classic hamam experience with separate facilities for men and women at different times of the day. According to research by Malcolm Shifrin, this bath complex garnered significant attention and acclaim upon its opening.
Dr. Shepard was inspired by a Turkish bath that opened in Ireland in 1859 when he integrated the Turkish bath concept into his clinic in the United States, introducing the American audience to this unique bathing tradition.
New York City’s first Turkish bath opened in 1865 at 13 Laight Street, founded by Dr. Martin L. Holbrook, Dr. A. L. Wood, and Dr. Eli P. Miller.

January 21, 2025

Dr. Nalan R. Oncul: Pioneering Optometry and Empowering Communities

Totowa, NJ - Dr. Nalan Oncul opened her clinic, 20/20 Eyecare, in Totowa, New Jersey, in 2019 as a young doctor starting out on her journey. Over the course of five years, 20/20 Eyecare has seen a significant increase in clientele and has become more widely recognized in the surrounding area. During this time, the clinic has achieved a remarkable feat of receiving five-star ratings from all patients who left Google reviews. Patients not only from local New Jersey residences but also from neighboring cities and states have visited the clinic for treatment.

January 21, 2025
Published in Professionals
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From Diplomacy to Entrepreneurship: The Inspiring Journey of Duden Freeman

As a first-generation immigrant and naturalized American, Duden Freeman had an early life marked by moving countries and attending international schools. This environment, surrounded by children of diplomats and multinational executives, instilled in Freeman the idea that traveling, living, and working overseas was normal. In hindsight, this experience was a privilege that deeply influenced a diverse career, which spanned various roles and continents, ultimately leading to the U.S. diplomatic corps. The entrepreneurial spirit required to navigate different countries also fostered a desire to become an entrepreneur. This culminated in founding Idelire Consulting after a tenure with the Department of State, allowing Freeman to bridge cultures and serve others while fulfilling entrepreneurial aspirations.

January 21, 2025
Published in Professionals
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Honoring Dr. Banu Onaral: A Lifelong Champion of Knowledge and Progress

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Dr. Banu Onaral came from a lineage deeply rooted in innovation. Her mother, Şükûfe Demirağ, was the daughter of Nuri Demirağ, a pioneer in Turkish aviation and industry, while her father, Mehmet Kum, was one of Turkey’s first aircraft engineers and pilots. This environment nurtured her passion for learning and exploration from an early age. Dr. Onaral attended Notre Dame de Sion French Girls’ High School in Istanbul and pursued higher education at Boğaziçi University, earning a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. She completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. Joining Drexel University in 1981, she became the H. H. Sun Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, and later, the Founding Director of Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems.

January 21, 2025
Published in Academicians
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Empowering Women Through Technology: Lara Ozkan’s Vision for Inclusive Health Solutions

Lara Özkan's journey into the realms of Computer Science and Molecular Biology is a testament to her passion for solving complex biological problems through innovative research. Her academic path began as a wet-lab researcher at the Izmir Institute of Technology, where she worked on a project aimed at targeting breast cancer with nanocarriers for combinational drug delivery. This experience opened her eyes to the potential of integrating deep biological understanding with computational science skills. Unlike many who specialize in either biology or computer science, Özkan found a deep interest in the intersection of both fields. The high-dimensional and complex data emerging from biological samples intrigued her, driving her to use computer science tools to decode these intricate puzzles. This led her to delve into data science for biology and conduct computational biology research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. These experiences have paved the way for her current academic career at MIT, where she is pursuing dual majors in Computer Science and Molecular Biology and engaging in computational biology research at the MIT Media Lab and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

January 21, 2025
Published in Academicians
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How Serhan Aydemir Built a Niche Platform for the Community

Serhan Aydemir's journey from Türkiye to the United States is a testament to his passion for technology and determination to build a new life. Growing up with an interest in technology and computers, Aydemir’s career began to take shape with the rise of the internet in Turkey during the mid-90s. With a background in graphic and web design, his move to the U.S. in 2010 represented a significant step toward pursuing his dreams.
The decision to relocate was driven by his longstanding desire to live abroad, a dream initially inspired by his uncle and cousin living in the U.S. However, upon arrival, Aydemir found himself facing the challenge of starting anew in a country where his relatives were no longer present. Leaving behind his family, career, and belongings to start from scratch was no easy feat. Despite these hurdles, Aydemir’s resolve was bolstered by his dreams and the excitement of a new beginning.

January 21, 2025
Published in Entertainment
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How an Ice Cream Truck Became Her American Dream

In June 1999, Tülay Unutmaz arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa with her three children, unaware of the tough journey ahead. Following an unfortunate marriage that ended after 18 years, she chose to stay in America rather than return to Turkey, determined to provide a better future for her children. Her estranged husband tried to force her out of the home through a restraining order. However, after learning of the domestic abuse she had suffered, the local sheriff intervened and instead issued the order against her husband, allowing her and her children to remain in their home for three additional months. After that, she began the search for a rental.

January 21, 2025
Published in Businessman
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Turkish Stories Shine in the Heart of Hollywood

Supported by Turkey's Ministry of Tourism and Culture and sponsored by OGM Pictures, the event brought together industry leaders, film enthusiasts, and Turkish stars for an unforgettable two-day celebration of storytelling and creativity. The opening night featured the premiere of Zeki Demirkubuz's "Life" (Hayat), Turkey’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. On the second day, the event began with the screening of "We Need to Talk About Dilan", a short film produced by Dilan Çiçek Deniz, and continued with premieres of two highly anticipated Turkish series from OGM Pictures, **"Scheherazade" (Şehrazat) and "The Forgotten Ones" (Sahipsizler). The event not only showcased Turkish storytelling to an audience of industry professionals, including Academy and Golden Globe members, but also provided a platform for cultural exchange within the Turkish-American community.

January 21, 2025
Published in Culture & Art
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