2009 Board
Executive Board of Directors
One year term, starts April 2009, ends March 2010
Leylâ Ahmed
President
Leylâ Ahmed has been living in Michigan for 25 years. For over 20 years, she worked for TACAM in various positions as a volunteer, board of director, treasurer, secretary and the president of TACAM for the 2005-2006 term.
She has a civil engineering degree from Turkey and a land surveying degree from Michigan Technological University. She has been a licensed surveyor since 200: currently she works at a civil engineering firm as a project manager and senior surveyor.
She is married to Ferid Ahmed and has two sons, Murat and Erol Ahmed.
She says working with TACAM as a volunteer gives her the opportunity to spend time with her Turkish friends and to help preserve the ties we have to our culture and country.
Beste Windes
Vice-President
Born and raised in İstanbul, Beste earned a degree in Public Relations from the University of İstanbul in 2002. She worked in export marketing for several years dealing with international clients.
In 2003 she met her husband Jason, a Michigan native, while he was working in İstanbul. 3 years later, in 2006, they decided to move to Michigan and attend graduate school. Beste is currently a full-time honor student at EMU in the MBA program with a concentration in International Business.
She is also actively involved in several university associations, helping organize events and conferences, as well as fund raising for social causes. It is Beste’s desire to actively contribute to the cultural, social and economic prospects of Turkish American society.
Hurol Ulupınar
Treasurer
Hurol Ulupınar was born in İzmir Turkey. He completed his elementary, middle, and high school studies in various cities in Anatolia due to his father’s occupation. He earned his first undergraduate degree in electronic engineering as a PLC expert from Sakarya University and his second bachelor’s degree in computer information technology from Siena Heights University.
In September 1995, Hurol met his wife Özgün Gunduz when he was a student at Sakarya University. They began dating later that winter, became engaged in 1999, and were married on June 24, 2002.
Hurol has been working for Coritech Services for three and half years as a software developer. He is an accomplished software engineer, specializing in .Net development and analysis with extensive experience in the full life cycle of the software design process — including different designs and proof of concepts.
Hurol Ulupınar was elected in 2009 as TACAM treasurer. His mission will be to build bridges with other American ethnic communities. Hurol believes in dialogue, in emphasizing our common values as Americans, and in the peaceful and civilized solution of conflicts.
Murat Ulaşır
Secretary
Born in the pearl of Turkey, İzmir, of course.
Doctors were playing the dumbek, so,the story goes
Winds of change take him to Germany
Then back to Turkey
To İTÜ, you see...
Only to be thrust back out again,
Across the Atlantic ... To Michigan
First comes a Master’s, then a Ph.D.,
This follows a house, a dog, a job and wild adventures, rated PG...
Şimdilik, Gemi dayandı TACAM limanına
Bakalım pusula iğnesi nereyi gösterecek
Bundan sonra...
Board of Directors 2009 – 2010
One year term, starts April 2009, ends March 2010
Ferid Ahmed
Ferid Ahmed is recently retired from the convenience store business after nearly twenty five years. He is currently employed part-time as a substitute teacher in the Anchor Bay (New Baltimore) school district.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan he graduated from Cass Technical H.S. in 1964 and later from Eastern Michigan University.
He is a veteran of U.S. Army having served two years from 1967 to 1969. He is married to Leylâ Ural and has two sons Murat and Erol.
Cenk Hepaktan
Cenk arrived in Michigan in ’95 for a one-year internship with AIESEC — a cultural exchange program — through which he also had the opportunity to visit a school every Thursday and gave presentations of Turkey and Turkish culture to students in the Livonia School District.
Born and raised in Izmir (except for a 3-year high school period in Istanbul), Cenk earned his undergraduate degree in computer science from Ege University, MBA from Wayne State, and is currently attending Lawrence Technology University for his doctorate in business administration. Currently working as a global product strategist developing analytical solutions for automotive clients, Cenk has been working in consulting roles for the last 12 years.
As a first-year TACAM member, Cenk is very excited to have the opportunity to take an active role. He believes the true measure of success for all of us, as the TACAM community, is to get Turkish organizations elsewhere in the States referring to TACAM's contributions and impact in promoting cultural-understanding and saying "if a handful of Michiganders can do it, why can’t we?." Please help us make it happen!
Gökhan Özalp
Gokhan Özalp (39) was born and raised in Ankara. Gokhan completed his college education at Hacettepe University, Chemistry department. Later, he continued his higher education at Eastern Michigan University to earn an MBA with a specialization in International Business Management and MSIS from the same university.
Professionally, he worked as a developer, technical lead and finally as a project manager in the medical device software industry. Gökhan is an expert in critical embedded software systems and their safety analysis.
Gökhan was involved with TACAM for more than 10 years as a volunteer and in 2009 decided to take part in the board of directors.
Jason Windes
Jason Windes was born and raised on the west side of Michigan. Soon after graduating with a degree in American Studies from Western Michigan University he took a trip around much of Europe, where he first came into contact with Turkish culture when he visited Çanakkale and İstanbul.
He then decided to move abroad, and found himself back in İstanbul, where he met his soon-to-be wife Beste. They married in 2004 and lived in İstanbul where Jason taught English in K-12 schools until he and Beste moved back to the United States in 2006. They then both decided to attend graduate school and now reside in Ypsilanti with their cat.
Jason is now towards the end of his masters program in the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University. His studies concentrate on multicultural education, issues in national identity and education due to globalization, and understanding how the surrounding society affects student learning within schools. Jason is exploring options for continuting his studies at the doctoral level while concentrating on studying education in the Turkish Republic.
Jason is honored to serve on the TACAM board, and is hoping to contribute in ways that will help all TACAM members feel that this organization serves in the interests of the Michigan Turkish community. It is this sense of ownership that will allow our organization to thrive by harnessing the energy and talents of our eclectic membership.
Jason looks forward to working to help the Turkish community introduce Anatolian and Turkic cultures, histories, and people to Americans who are rarely introduced to this important part of the story of humanity. He does not take his responsiblity of "damat" lightly.
Emine Zeren
Emine Zeren is 22 years old and currently attending Wayne State majoring in Education. Her plans for the future are to continue on to graduate school to major in Educational Administration. During the school year she worked at the Advanced Technology Academy in Dearborn. She has also taken part in several youth organizations including the Giant Step Teen Conference, and she organized an athletic program for the City of Dearborn. She is a Turkish descendent from her father’s side. This is her first year in TACAM and her main objective is to help in whatever way possible as a Turkish-American youth.
Board of Trustees
Two year term, end-year alongside name
Feridun Bek 2011
Feridun Bek (35) is a Turkish-German, who was born in Munich. He relocated to U.S. in October 2007 with his family due to his job transfer.
He studied Business Administration of Management in different universities in Germany, U.K. and Turkey. He has a master degree for Management from the Henley Management College (Henley/U.K.) and is currently at the end of his Executive MBA program. Furthermore, he has a post-degree in commercial IT technology.
Feridun worked for the Business Management & Strategy division of the Volkswagen Group Global Headquarters in Wolfsburg/Germany. Here he wrote the first “Sales Organization Handbook” (341 pages) which was distributed to approx. 100 Volkswagen markets. Furthermore, he developed a Business Management Analysis concept which in year 2000 had a market value of approx. 1 million German mark.
Since 2001, he has been working for an American Management Consulting Company/Group (Focus: Business Management & Strategy) and had different roles, such as Consultant, Trainer, Account Manager, Senior Account Manager, Senior Manager - Business Development etc. In Europe he was responsible for 25 markets. Currently, he is responsible for global Business Development & Strategy projects.
Also, Feridun has dedicated background with Turkish-German & Turkish-European Associations. In the last six years until he came to U.S., he was in the Executive Board of the German Atatürk Association (Atatürk’cü Düşünce Derneği) and actively worked for the European Headquarter as well (www.ataturk.de). He was the head of youth activities and also worked to organize different conferences where high profile people were invited, such as Yıldız Kenter, Talal Halman, Mumtaz Soysal, İstemihan Talay, Yasar Nuri Öztürk, Erdal İnönü, Şukru Sina Gürel, Alpaslan Işıklı, Vural Savas, Onur Oymen, Emre Kongar etc (see www.he-add.org for the entire list). Feridun acted as the moderator at these events as well and presented the Turkish Community in diverse TV programs, radios and newspapers. Furthermore, he was the Public Relations manager of Turkish Theater Group, “Umran Ertok Frankfurt Oyuncuları” for three years. In addition, he was one of the founders and a board member of the Turkish-German Student Organization ITEA (www.itaeonline.de) in the Frankfurt University.
Feridun has a special interest in Anatolian history, archeology and art. Therefore, in 1997 he paused his study for one year and joined a full-time Cultural Tourist Guide program at Antalya University and traveled with an archeology group three months the main historical places in entire Turkey.
Serkan Özdemir 2011
Serkan Özdemir was born in Witten, Germany in 1977. He graduated from İstanbul Technical University (İTU) in 2000, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Serkan was involved in several student organizations during his university education. He was a member of the Engineering Orientation Club in which he organized numerous activities such as field trips, career days, concerts and student festivals. He played a major role in establishing the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) student chapter and TEMA (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) ITU-Section.
Following his graduation, he started to work as a Project Engineer at TRW Automotive in Germany, where he specialized in NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). After 4 years service, in 2005, he was transferred to TRW Headquarters in Livonia, Michigan. His current position is Lead Product Engineer, responsible for NVH research and development of vehicle brake systems. He is fluent in Turkish, German and English.
Serkan has been an active member of TACAM (Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan) since 2006. He was elected to the Board of Directors for the 2006-2007 term and served as the Vice President for 2007 – 2008 term. He recently was elected again for Vice-President position for 2008 – 2009 term.
Güner Sarıoğlu 2011
Long before becoming a Turkish-American, Güner was born in Munich spending his early years in life in Germany. Not knowing he himself would become a “Gurbetçi” one day like his parents Güner started his education in Eskişehir, Türkiye where his family settled after “Kesin dönüş”. Graduating from Anadolu Üniveritesi with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering he started his career as a research assistant at the same university.
Moving to the United States in 1996 Güner graduated from the Ohio State University with a master of science degree in electrical engineering in 1998 from where he moved to beautiful Michigan for a career in the automotive industry. Güner is currently heading the Exterior Electronics Systems department at Magna International developing new camera vision technologies for automotive safety applications.
Married to Beyza for 13 years, Güner is the proud father of daughter Melodi. An active member of the Turkish-American community in the greater Detroit area, Güner most enjoys the outdoors, biking and jogging.
Ali Kayaalp 2010
Mine Özalp 2010
Aslı Yashın 2010
Born and raised in Mersin, Turkey, Aslı has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey. She moved to London, England in 1988 right after getting married to her high school friend Murat Yashın. While being eager to learn about a western culture, the two years in London actually taught her the great value of understanding and representing Turkey’s rich culture and values. She and Murat moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1990, then to Charlottesvile, Virginia, in 1991. Aslı received an MBA degree from James Madison University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1996. They moved back to Michigan in 1997 when she started her career in banking. She is a Vice President and Relationship Manager in Business Banking. Her job focus is commercial lending. Living in South East Michigan, Aslı finds herself fortunate to work with businessmen and businesswomen from different ethnic backgrounds, whose cultural treasures she truly likes to learn and celebrate along with her Turkish heritage. Aslı served on the TACAM Board as a Vice President in 2002. She appreciated being welcomed by TACAM as a new comer and continuously enjoys being involved in cultural and community activities of TACAM.
Aslı received a Cultural Bridge Ambassador award representing Türkiye, from the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit at “Who’s who in Michigan’s Professional Women Gala”in June 2009.
Aslı and Murat have a son in high school and a daughter in first grade.
Audit Committee
Two year term, end-year alongside name
Birsel Küsefoğlu 2011
Hâlide Koçak 2010
Yesim Kayaalp 2010
Cihangir Taşdemir 2010
Cihangir Tasdemir was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and he has lived in the Metro Detroit area ever since. His parents, Server & Nurhan, have always shown Cihangir and his twin sister, Deniz, the importance of their Turkish culture. Cihangir has been an active board member of TACAM since 2000: Treasurer 2000-1, Secretary 2001-2, Director from 2002-5, Secretary 2005-6, Trustee 2006-7 & Director 2007- Present. In addition, Cihangir had been the main webmaster for TACAM.org from 2002 until 2006.
Cihangir has numerous degrees from several colleges: Michigan State University, BA in Economics 1996, BS in Neuroscience Psychology 1998; Wayne State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering 2001; University of Michigan-Dearborn with a MS in Engineering Management and currently studying towards another MS in Mechanical Engineering. Since 1999, Cihangir has worked for the US Army TARDEC as a mechanical engineer in the area of engine research where he has co-authored 6 technical papers.
Cihangir has been married to Dr. Kimberlyn Kucharczyk since 2003 where they live in Livonia with their 3 dogs and 1 cat. In addition, Cihangir and Kimberlyn are happy to announce they are growing their family by adopting a baby from China.
President Emeritus
TACAM president for 2008 – 2009
Didem Şeyhoğlu
Development & Marketing (Non-Board)
Developers of the Anatolian Voice and Web site
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