Turkish People in America - Turk of America

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Banu Onaral

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

$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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

More...

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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

"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
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Rising Turkish Entrepreneurs in the American Restaurant Business

By Cemil Ozyurt - The number of food and beverage establishments owned by Turks or offering Turkish cuisine in the states of New York and New Jersey has reached 300. A comprehensive list of Turkish-owned or foreign-owned but Turkish cuisine-serving dining establishments was compiled in a study conducted by TURKOFAMERICA magazine. In New York and New Jersey, there are nearly 300 establishments operating in categories such as fine dining, authentic Turkish cuisine, steakhouse, seafood restaurant, fast food, cafe, lounge, bistro, diner, bakery, pizza & pide salon, hookah lounge, food trucks, and catering. While the number of businesses owned by Turkish entrepreneurs in America was around 50 in 2009, there has been a noticeable increase in the last 10 years. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 until now, nearly 100 businesses have been established.

August 14, 2023
Published in Businessman
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Eyüp Ulu: The Unsung Hero of the Largest Disaster Relief Campaign: Mobilizing Turkish-Americans for Earthquake Aid

One of the greatest disasters of the century, the earthquake that struck on February 6, 2023, affecting 11 provinces in Turkey, prompted Turkish-Americans in the United States to mobilize for aid efforts. Online campaigns were launched, and people came together to donate clothing, medical supplies, tents, and various other materials. However, questions arose as to how and where the aid would be organized. The logistics company PortX, located in Carlstadt, New Jersey, became the central hub for the relief campaign on the East Coast. With the assistance of around 300 volunteers, nearly 200 containers of relief supplies were packaged at the PortX warehouse.

August 14, 2023
Published in Businessman
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

More...

Videos