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Cemil Ozyurt

Cemil Ozyurt (born 1976) is a Turkish-American journalist, media manager, and co-founder & editor-in-chief of the U.S.-based Turk of America, the first Turkish-American magazine in English. He is also co-founder & Editor-in-Chief of Turk Avenue, a Turkish global business portal and Co-founder of TOA Awards, the only independent organization created to reward successful Turkish Americans.

Ozyurt was born in Mucur, Kirsehir in 1976. After completing elementary and middle school in Mucur, his family moved to Istanbul. He graduated from Pendik High School in Istanbul in 1993.

Ozyurt graduated from Marmara University Graduate School of Journalism in 1997. He started his journalism career while he was student in the University in 1995 at Dunya Newspaper in Istanbul. He worked for the newspaper as a reporter from May 1, 1995 to December 15, 1998. After daily newspaper experiences, he started to work for Platin, the weekly business magazine. After six months working for the magazine, he joined the Army on August 1, 1999 at Tuzla Infantry School in İstanbul. Completed his duty on October 2000 and continued to work for Platin Magazine.

He moved to the United States on June 19, 2001 to pursue his master's degree. He attended a language school in New Jersey and studied on business journalism at Baruch College, City University of New York in 2004.

He started their first business as magazine publisher in August 2002 in New York City. Turk of America Magazine has become the longest running Turkish-American magazine that has published by Turkish Americans.

Along with TOA Consulting, TURKOFAMERICA Magazine, which has been awarding successful people of the United States in different categories since 2014, honors the year’s successful people in different field from diplomacy to business, academy to entrepreneurship. He has organized the 50 Most Influential Turkish-Americans Award Ceremony, the 30 Most Influential Turkish-American Women Award Ceremony, the 40 Under 40 Turkish-Americans Award Ceremony, the 30 Distinguished Friends of Turkey Award Ceremony, and Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony. He married with Fidan Ozyurt in 2008 and has two sons, Kerem Ali and Kaan Ahmet.

Honors & Awards

The Best Research Article Award - Republic of Turkey Office of the Prime Minister Directorate General of Press and Information Jun 2014

Local Media News Competition on Research Category, - Feature article: "Amerika'daki Türkler Çılgınca Dernekleşiyor"

Excellence in Media Award - American Turkish Associations Assemble April 2012

The TurkofAmerica Magazine received “Excellence in Media” award at the 32. Annual National Turkish American Convention, organized by ATAA, FTAA, and TACC, on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Skills

Journalism • Digital Media • Social Media • Editing • Public Relations • Social Media Marketing • Business Strategy • Blogging • Publishing • Podcasting

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The Gifted Photographer Joined TURKOFAMERICA Team

Koray Kasap is potentially one of the most famous and talented Turkish American photographers in 21^st century joined to TURKOFAMERICA team as a creative art director and lead photographer. Kasap has worked as both an image maker and a photographer for several well-known Turkish singers, TV stars, model, and artists such Tarkan, Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan, Müslüm Gürses, Ahmet Kaya, Kenan Doğulu, Cem Yılmaz, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Bayezıt Öztürk. After moving to the United States in 2017, Kasap also worked with Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jason Statham. Most recently he shot photos of Netflix movie which was shot in New York, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Beren Saat have leading roles.

January 7, 2023
Published in Culture & Art
Written by Admin TOA

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Dr Abraham K. Yoosuf, and other Syriacs from Mardin, Kharput and Diyarbakır in Worcester, Massachusetts. 1922, July 4. American Independence Day.

First Syriac Immigrants in the United States

George Anton Kiraz has published extensively in the fields of computational linguistics, Syriac studies, and the digital humanities. He wrote several books, journals, research papers and articles about Syriacs. He is the founder and director of Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute, the Editor-in-Chief of Gorgias Press, and a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. He earned an M.St. degree in Syriac Studies from the University of Oxford (1991) and an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (1992, 1996). His latest books include The Syriac Orthodox in North America (1895–1995): A Short History (2019) and Syriac-English New Testament (2020).

January 6, 2023
Published in Research
Written by Admin TOA

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Cemil Ozyurt, Managing Editor & Co-Founder

Mardin in America: Syriacs

By Cemil Özyurt - We have left behind 20 years in publishing. There is no such continuity in publishing life in America. Since the beginning, migration stories have always intrigued me. The United States is a country of immigrants, and every immigrant has a story worth telling. In New Jersey, especially in Bergen County, I have been meeting Syriacs for many years. I've had good friendships. For a long time, I wanted to draft the story of the Syriac community in America in a special issue. I first told this intention to Erol Devli, one of the leading figures of the society. The aftermath came by itself anyway. I reached out to names that were respected in society. Cebrail (Gabriel) Akyön, one of the leading names in the Syriac community, helped me meeting many names at St. Gabriel Church in New Jersey. And a subject has emerged that has never been covered by any media outlet in the U.S. to date: the Syriac Community in America.

January 6, 2023
Published in TOA Authors
Written by Cemil Ozyurt

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Turkish Philanthropy Funds Celebrates its 15th Anniversary at MET

Turkish Philanthropy Funds community celebrated its 15th Anniversary on May 9^th, 2022 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and honored Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder of Chobani with The Philanthropist of the Year Award for his lifetime dedication to philanthropy to achieve a world of justice and equality. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City also participated the gala.

December 28, 2022
Published in Associations
Written by Admin TOA

The second Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Yuhanna Abajy, archbishop of Nazireh and the Euphrates, in West New York. (Photo courtesy of St. Mark's Cathedral, NJ.)

Genesis of the Syriac Community in North America *

The presence of the Syrian Orthodox Church on American soil goes back to the late nineteenth century. There are no records of who the first Syriac person was to arrive on American soil, but it is known of some individuals, such as Dr. Abraham K. Yoosuf, a native of Kharput, Türkiye, who arrived in the United States as early as 1889. Dr. Yoosuf was born on December 12, 1866, and received his higher education at Central Turkey College in Gazi Antep (Aintab), where he graduated in 1886 and worked as instructor until 1889. The same year he came to the USA and worked his way through Baltimore Medical School, graduating with high honors. He then settled down in Worcester, where he began his practice and in 1897 organized and served as president of the Assyrian Benefit Association. Dr. Yoosuf was a prominent figure who played an important role in the life of the Church, people and adopted nation before passing away on December 26, 1924.

December 28, 2022
Published in Interesting Facts
Written by Admin TOA

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Lakewood Group staff with Chris Morgan. Photo by Tulug Ozel

Do You Want to Buy or Sale A Restaurant: Lakewood Group Realty Is Ready to Help

“80% of the restaurant business default the first two years. It's a very taxing and demanding business. Because of that, the entrepreneur interested in opening a restaurant must be very knowledgeable of this business to succeed,” Chris Morgan says.

December 28, 2022
Published in Restaurants
Written by Admin TOA

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ASA Board members at Fuzuli International Airport in the city of Fuzuli in Azerbaijan. It is one of the country's seven international airports.

ASA Delegation Tours Azerbaijan to Demonstrate Solidarity

Members of an Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) delegation visited Azerbaijan on September 6-13, 2022. The delegation trip started with the visit to the Tomb of the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and laying a wreath on behalf of Azerbaijan Society of America, as the symbol of remembrance and to show our formal respect. Continued with visiting the Alley of Martyrs and the Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery & Memorial. Aesthetically designed and laid out memorial that leads to the monument with the flame burning in memory of martyrs who lost their lives defending Azerbaijan.

December 28, 2022
Published in Associations
Written by Admin TOA

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Burhan Öçal made his United States debut in February 1998 with Eliot Fisk in Los Angeles. PHOTO by KORAY KASAP

World Percussion Master Who Doesn't Like to Brag, Burhan Öçal

Recognized worldwide as a virtuosic percussionist Burhan Öçal has made the bridging of musical cultures his central mission. A native of Kırklareli in Thrace region, he grew up in a musical family. From his father, he learned a variety of percussion instruments, while his mother introduced him to religious vocal music. After his first contact with Western music, he became interested in combining other genres and cultural traditions, such as jazz and Western classical music, with his own. Burhan Öçal’s instruments are as diverse as his music. He is a highly skilled player on a number of stringed instruments. Once Sting described him as ‘the king of drum.’

December 28, 2022
Published in Culture & Art
Written by Admin TOA

Süheybe Çökük’s customers include retail giants such as Michael Kors, Children's Place, David Yurman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bloomingdales, and Macy's. Photo by Koray Kasap

Printing from Walls to Vehicles, from MoMa to Mom&Pop

When COVID-19 spread and halted life, employees of Letra Sign Supplies, a sign, banner and printing business in Garfield, New Jersey were concerned. They had moved the company from Clifton, NJ to Garfield that year. The company was on the eve of growth. They were providing logo, banner, sign, and other printing materials services to the retail sector at all scales, from small to large. What they feared did not happen. On the contrary, their business grew.

December 28, 2022
Published in Culture & Art
Written by Admin TOA

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Tim Özgener Returns to Cigar Business

Murat (Tim) Özgener is back in the cigar industry with a new brand bearing his family name. The man who once owned and ran CAO alongside his father and sister is about to launch Özgener Family Cigars Bosphorus. It’s his first blend in around 12 years, and the beginning of what he expects to be several cigars launched under the Özgener name. “I still love cigars—and I found I appreciate them more and more,” said Özgener. “Some of the most satisfying portions of my life were in the cigar business. I love the traditions.” He’s been working on the new project, he says, “for close to two years.”

December 28, 2022
Published in Case Studies
Written by Admin TOA

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Municipal Vehicles Are Entrusted to Nico

“Nico is amazing!! I had scratched up the side of my car really bad I came to him and he completely fixed it!”, “All-in-all, this is a great shop along with great personnel. I will definitely come back here for my auto-body problems and especially to Nico.”, “Highly recommend this place. Nico was very quick giving an estimate on my wife's SUV.”. These are some reviews from Yelp about Gold Coast Motorsport in Edgewater, NJ. Over 10 years’ experience specializing in auto body and all mechanical, Emir (Nico) Koca says, “We are Edgewater's most trusted auto body shop.”

December 28, 2022
Published in Technology
Written by Admin TOA

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His grandparents left Diyarbakır, the largest city in Southeastern Turkey, in 1922. They first moved to Aleppo, Syria and then came to the U.S. in 1960. Jack Darakjy, practicing law for 35 years, has an extensive knowledge of Syriacs from Diyarbakır.

Syriacs from Diyarbakır

Jack Darakjy, attorney in River Edge, NJ. His parents were originally Diyarabakır, the largest city in Southeastern Turkey, on the banks of Tigris (Dicle), one of the greatest rivers of Middle East. His grandparents left Diyarbakır in 1922 to Aleppo, Syria. His eldest uncle came to the U.S. in 1922 and his family moved to the States in 1960. Practicing as a lawyer for 35 years, he speaks French, English, Arabic, Turkish and Armenian. He has an extensive knowledge of Syriacs from Diyarbakır as well. Diyarbakır St. Mary Church has survived 18 centuries throughout history and continues to inspire a strong and growing presence in the United States. With roots planted in 1915 in West Hoboken, N.J., (now North Bergen), the first Assyrian Orthodox church in the U.S. took its name from the original church in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Darakjy answered TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

December 28, 2022
Published in Interesting Facts
Written by Admin TOA

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Michael Ghassali won two times council member’s election and then ran for mayor in 2015

First Christian Syrian Born Mayor in the U.S.

Montvale, NJ — population 7,844, 36 miles from New York City’s Manhattan - was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894. When he was sworn-in as a mayor on January 4th, 2016, Michael Ghassali made history as the first Christian-born Syrian to become a mayor in the Eastern United States. His mother from Harput, Elazığ in Armenian descent and his father was born in Mardin, a city in southeastern Turkey. He was working as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the nonprofit Feed the Children, one of the leading anti-hunger organizations. First, he ran for the city council, later ran for mayor. In the 2016 election, he got 70 percent of the votes and for his second term no one challenged him. He ran for Congress in 2020 election but after COVID he pulled off from the race. Now his Republican party colloquies encourages him to run for as Bergen County Executive. Michael Ghassali answered our questions:

December 28, 2022
Published in Politicians
Written by Admin TOA

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