Distinguished Fellow Ali Erdemir from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to engineers. The NAE recognizes Erdemir for his distinguished contributions to the science and technology of friction, wear and lubrication. Erdemir, a program lead in Argonne’s Applied Materials Division, develops new materials, coatings and lubricants with his research team to reduce friction and wear, maximizing efficiency and durability in moving mechanical systems. The discoveries and innovations stemming from his work have earned him six R&D 100 Awards and 23 U.S. patents. The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected 86 new members and 18 foreign members.

Turkish port operator Yildirim Holding Inc. says it has lined up the financing to bid for a major American sea terminal against three other international companies, in a move that will sharply increase its role in North American shipping operations. Company Chairman Yuksel Yildirim told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that he has already met with regulators in Washington who are reviewing a deal that would bring a multiyear concession for the Long Beach Container Terminal in Southern California.

By Joseph A. Mann Jr., The Miami Herald - As an 18-year-old student living in Cyprus, Ozan Baran opened his first business in 1994, trucking oranges around the island nation. “I went bankrupt,” he said. “It was a great learning experience.” This setback did not discourage the Turkish native from getting involved in business again. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in international relations at Girne American University in Cyprus, Baran moved to Miami to live with his sister. He arrived in 1999 with $600 in savings.