Special Issues - turkofamerica.com

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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$5.5 billion Visa Mastercard settlement: Who is eligible for a one-time payment?

Mastercard and Visa settled a class action lawsuit months ago that accused the global payment giants of violating antitrust laws to exploit merchants. Millions of businesses were forced to charge high fees to accept customers paying with Visa or Mastercard. Some are entitled to a payout to compensate for the negative effects these actions had on their livelihoods.

December 7, 2024
Published in Businessman
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Englewood Jewelry Shop Owner Goes Missing After Allegedly Collecting $7 Million in Goods

Yusuf Simsekyilmaz, who owns Diamond of Sofia in the town of Englewood, New Jersey, has allegedly disappeared along with jewelry, watches, and valuable accessories worth an estimated $6-7 million. The shop, which opened in March 2024, was reportedly closed by Simsekyilmaz on Saturday, September 28, after he collected jewelry from the market, promising an extensive sale. He vanished after closing the shop that day, along with his girlfriend.

October 3, 2024
Published in Businessman
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yusuf simsekyilmaz

Barbaros Karaahmet of Herrick Feinstein Announced as Office Managing Partner of the Year Finalist by Law.com

America's leading media platform in the field of law, law.com, announced the finalists of the Office Managing Partner of the Year award among law firms in America. Barbaros Karaahmet, the managing partner of Herrick Feinstein, one of the well-known law firms in New York, was also included in the list where 10 firms made it to the finals. The evaluation, where the winners will be announced on September 5, includes partners from leading law firms in America such as Sidley Austin, Manning Kass, Tully Rinckey, Holland & Knight, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, along with Herrick Feinstein.

August 29, 2024
Published in Businessman
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New York Life and Beyond Magazine Latest Issue Has Been Released

"New York Life and Beyond" magazine's latest issue focuses on Mediterranean cuisine and features prominent Turkish and Greek restaurant owners in New York and New Jersey. The magazine also includes news and research on owners of restaurants in two states and lists nearly 300 dining places. The magazine also devoted space to the earthquake that occurred in Turkey on February 6 and relief efforts conducted in the United States.

August 1, 2023
Published in Businessman
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Youngest Professional Basketball Player in Turkiye, Yağız Yıldız, Joins Worcester Academy

Worcester, MA – In a significant development for both basketball enthusiasts and educational institutions, Yagiz Yildiz, the youngest professional basketball player in Turkey, has joined Worcester Academy for his 11th and 12th-grade studies. Yildiz's presence at Worcester Academy is expected to elevate the school’s prestigious academic and athletic programs, inspire fellow students and athletes, and provide Yildiz with unparalleled opportunities for academic and athletic growth. His journey from Istanbul to the USA marks a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.

June 28, 2024
Published in Success Stories
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ColdX: Leading the Way in Cold and Frozen Storage Solutions

Cold storage plays a pivotal role in preserving the quality and safety of perishable goods, ranging from food to pharmaceuticals. In this dynamic industry, one company stands out for its comprehensive solutions and commitment to excellence: ColdX. Founded by Eyup Ulu, also the owner of one of New Jersey's largest truck fleets, PortX, ColdX has recently completed construction of its state-of-the-art facility in Wayne, NJ, setting new standards in cold storage services. ColdX offers a wide range of specialized storage solutions tailored to various industries. From frozen foods to pharmaceuticals, the company ensures precise temperature control to maintain optimal conditions throughout the storage period. With its advanced refrigeration systems and climate-controlled environments, ColdX guarantees the integrity of stored products.

April 30, 2024
Published in Businessman
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The Young Star of the Gastronomy World Is The New Owner of Samdan

Meet Emre Yeşil, a dynamic and innovative young chef whose gastronomic journey began at the Incirlik Air Base in Adana, Turkey, and now continues in Cresskill, New Jersey. At 28, Emre Yeşil is a visionary chef who continues his profession with passion. With approximately 14 years of culinary experience, he has participated in renowned food festivals in Turkey, won numerous awards, and trained as a chef at the Istanbul restaurant of the Master Chef of Turkey, Mehmet Yalçınkaya. In 2018, he embarked on a new culinary journey in the United States, working in prestigious restaurants in New York and New Jersey. Emre's biggest dream was to one day open his own restaurant with a unique concept and create cooking videos. He fulfilled this dream by taking over the Samdan Restaurant. Acquiring Samdan, one of the oldest Turkish restaurants in New Jersey, from Yusuf Şimşekyılmaz, Chef Yeşil reached a new customer base and impressed them with various delicious flavors.

April 24, 2024
Published in Restaurants
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Turkish Philanthropy Funds Hosts 2024 Innovation and Social Impact Summit

(New York, April 2nd, 2024) – Turkish Philanthropy Funds, the leading U.S. community foundation for high-impact social investments dedicated to Turkish and Turkish-American communities, today announced it will convene the 2024 Innovation and Social Impact Summit on Tuesday, April 23rd at the Times Center in New York City. The Summit will gather a diverse group of proven entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to discuss leading practices in market-based solutions that drive societal impact. Panels will delve into a range of current topics impacting investor sentiment and entrepreneurship potential including AI’s impact on driving social good; disaster resilience through innovation; and the role of corporations in social impact.

April 2, 2024
Published in Associations
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From Dream to Reality, from Muş to Illinois: Zellano Home, the Largest Furniture Store Under One Roof in the USA!

The largest furniture store under one roof in America has been operated by the Serbest Family, which has been active in the furniture sector in Turkey since 1990. Located within the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, covering an area of 220,000 square feet, the showroom offers furniture products targeting every income group. The store, previously utilized by Sears, transitioned to Zellano Home Furniture in May 2018. Zellano Home guarantees delivery to every state in the USA within 3 days and also operates a second store spanning 13,000 square feet in Dallas. Establishing operations as Zelal Furniture in 1990 in İnegöl, the heart of Turkey's furniture production, the Serbest Family decided to venture into America with their own store in 2018. Emrah Serbest, who previously engaged in furniture sales in Iraq for 8 years, capitalized on family connections in Chicago to inaugurate the first store in the state of Illinois.

April 23, 2024
Published in Success Stories
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St. Bartholomew School, 4941 W. Patterson Ave. in Portage Park. Violet Miller/Sun-Times

300 migrants to be housed at shuttered Catholic church on Northwest Side in Chicago

By Cindy Hernandez - Chicago Sun Times - A shuttered church in Portage Park will serve as a new migrant family shelter, the city announced Friday. The Archdiocese of Chicago will lease St. Bartholomew Catholic Church at no cost — months after church officials offered to house new arrivals rent-free at the church. In turn, the city will sub-lease the building to the Zakat Foundation, which provides emergency relief and aid, to care for 300 new arrivals starting later this month, Johnson's office said. An agreement was made and the shelter was to open in January, but the deal never went through.

April 8, 2024
Published in Associations
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"Lean Startup, To Lean Company, To Rich Exit" by Dr. Kenan Sahin is released with Forbes Books

NEW YORK, March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lean Startup, To Lean Company, To Rich Exit: How To Apply Kenan Systems' $1,000 In, $1.5 Billion Out Principles To Today's Startups by Kenan E. Sahin, PhD is now available. The book is published with Forbes Books, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes, and is available today on Amazon. Lean Startup, To Lean Company, To Rich Exit tells the story of Dr. Kenan Sahin's extraordinary entrepreneurial journey.

March 27, 2024
Published in Businessman
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LOSEV USA Ramadan Campaign Let the Children Heal First with Your Ramadan Donations

LOSEV, with the belief that "Feeding a needy family, healing a sick child, and making a tearful mother smile are among the most beautiful acts of worship," will once again bring blessings to thousands of families' tables this year. Being Turkey's most trusted foundation for 25 years, LOSEV - the Foundation for Children with Leukemia- is distributing aid packages consisting of dry food, meat and meat products, and hygiene items that a family may need, to leukemia and cancer patients from the first day of Ramadan onwards.

March 21, 2024
Published in Associations
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