Broadening Horizons with Multidisciplinary Expertise
The TACCS Advisory Council, with its diverse and accomplished members like Prof. Dr. Okan Tarhan and Hüsnü Oğuz Aydemir, epitomizes the blend of academic brilliance, industrial acumen, and cultural enrichment. Their collective wisdom not only shapes our strategic direction but also enriches our chamber with a depth of knowledge and experience.
Advisory Council
Prof. Dr. Okan Tarhan
Chemistry Professor,
Former Head of METU Career Planning Center
Professor of Organic Chemistry, Retired from Middle East Technical University (METU), currently serving as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at METU Development Foundation Schools. An alumnus of Istanbul Boys' High School (1957) and Istanbul University’s Department of Chemical Engineering (1963). He obtained his MSc (1965) and PhD (1968) degrees from the University of East Anglia (UK). In the same year, he joined the Department of Chemistry at METU as an Instructor, and later achieved the titles of Assistant Professor (1969), Associate Professor (1973), and Professor (1979). During his tenure at METU, he served as Head of the Department of Chemistry, Assistant Dean, and Vice President on three separate occasions. Between 1988-1991, he was the Founding Rector of Eastern Mediterranean University (TRNC). At METU, he established the first Career Planning Center (1986) and the Entrepreneurship Research and Application Center (2003) in Turkish universities. He also contributed to the establishment of the Narcotics Unit of the Ankara Gendarmerie Forensic Laboratory (1970). Between 1980-1982, he worked as a visiting professor at McNeil Pharmaceuticals, part of Johnson & Johnson (USA), where he achieved successful results in the synthesis of the painkiller Oxycodone. His other research interests include Organic Reaction Kinetics and Mechanisms, Natural Product Chemistry (Opium Alkaloids), and Polymer Chemistry. He has supervised 22 Master's and PhD students and has published 32 international papers.
Hüsnü Oğuz Aydemir
Industrialist, Educator,
Environmentalist
Born on December 23, 1950, in Ankara, Hüsnü Oğuz Aydemir's educational journey spans prestigious institutions such as TED Ankara College, Tarsus American College, and Istanbul University. His international studies at the University of Amsterdam further enrich his diverse experience. A seasoned industrialist since 1976, Aydemir has held significant roles in Istanbul's industrial sector, TÜSİAD membership, and various environmental and cultural foundations. His multifaceted career, combining industry, culture, and environmental advocacy, adds immense value to TACCS.
Yusuf Çapraz
Business Leader and
Philanthropist
Mr. Yusuf Çapraz, a renowned business leader and philanthropist, has recently enriched the TACCS Advisory Board with his presence. Distinguished for his significant contributions to education and health, Mr. Çapraz has been honored with one of Türkiye's most esteemed accolades, the TBMM Outstanding Service Award, bestowed upon him on April 5, 2007. His commitment to social development is evident through his numerous philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of the Keşan Yusuf Çapraz School of Applied Sciences, Anatolian High School, a health center in Hasköy/Enez, and a mosque. His generous support to various educational institutions further underscores his dedication to societal upliftment. Mr. Çapraz's vast experience and benevolent spirit are invaluable assets to TACCS, enhancing its mission towards community engagement and social responsibility.
Dr. Ömer Küçük
Omar Kucuk, MD brings to Emory an impressive track record of groundbreaking research in cancer prevention through nutritional components. He has been conducting clinical trials with lycopene and soy isoflavones in combination with standard therapy for prostate cancer since 1996. Nutrition and cancer therapy is Dr. Kucuk's primary research focus. Carotenoids, isoflavones, zinc, selenium, and folic acid are among the cancer-preventing compounds found in vegetables and fruits, says Dr. Kucuk. Our current investigations focus on the effects of micronutrients and phytochemicals on biomarkers of cell growth, differentiation, inflammation and oxidative stress in a variety of cancers. Dr. Kucuk conducted the first clinical trials with lycopene and soy isoflavones in prostate cancer and was the first to report the benefits of lycopene and soy isoflavones in the treatment of prostate cancer patients. He reported that lycopene and soy isoflavones have efficacy in patients with hormone-naïve as well as hormone-refractory prostate cancer. He was the first to report the sensitization of prostate cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation therapy by soy isoflavones and the first to report that soy isoflavones prevent the adverse effects of radiation in prostate cancer patients. These studies were done in collaboration with other investigators at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Future studies at Emory Winship Cancer Institute will continue to investigate the role of soy isoflavones and other nutritional compounds alone or in combination with chemotherapy and radiation in the treatment of prostate cancer. Dr. Kucuk is conducting innovative clinical trials to investigate new approaches to prostate and bladder cancer therapy using combinations of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and nutritional agents. He has also been very active internationally with collaborative research projects and international conferences conducted with scientists in Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Canada, and Norway. He organized the First International Congress on Nutrition and Cancer in Antalya, Turkey in May 2008. He was also the first to report that dietary lycopene intake prevents kidney cancer in Eker rat, ovarian cancer in laying hen and leiomyoma in the Japanese quail in collaboration with veterinary researchers at Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
Nurten Ural
CEO of the Turkish Resource Center
As CEO of the Turkish Resource Center and owner of Ural LLC, Ms. Nurten Ural leverages her extensive experience, including running a commercial architectural firm and advising at Michigan State University, to foster Turkey-U.S. economic, educational, and cultural exchanges, and represents Turkish Gastronomy Tourism in the U.S.
Mona Sunshine
Mona Tekin Diamond became the Turkish Honorary Consul General for the State Of Georgia in 2005. In the same year, she became the Founder and Chairman of The American Turkish Friendship Council, a not for profit organization for the promotion of close relations between the United States and Turkey. Ms. Diamond is one of the original founders of the Turkish Lecture Series at Emory University, an endowed lecture series. Being deeply committed to education, she is working with Emory University as a member of the President's International Advisory Council, with the aim of bringing Turkish Students to Emory University. She has obtained a grant from the Turkish government in order to have the Turkish language taught at Georgia State University. Mona also sits on the Advisory Committee of the Atlantic Council, Washington D.C. to connect and build constructive relationships between young professionals and future leaders from the United States and Turkey
After scoring in the top 100 in the Turkish university entrance exam, Atakan graduated with honors in Industrial Engineering from the prestigious Boğaziçi University, Turkiye. He later enhanced his academic credentials by completing an executive training program at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Atakan has built a successful career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, working with leading multinational companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and Abbott. His career highlights include hands-on experience in team management, project management, feasibility analysis, customer relationship management, business analysis, strategy formulation, marketing, P&L management, and key account management. Driven by a passion for expanding his professional impact, Atakan is focused on creating value on the international stage by unlocking commercial opportunities between the U.S. and Turkiye.
Erdal Donmez recently retired from the City of Coral Springs after 17 years of public service. Erdal is currently serving on the Broward County Independent Oversight Board which was created by the county-wide referendum in 2018. The Oversight Board is responsible for reviewing transportation projects for eligibility, monitoring revenues and expenditures, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of multi-billion dollar surtax funds. From October 2010 to May 2017, Erdal served as the City Manager/CEO for the City of Coral Springs, Florida. Located in Northwest Broward County, Coral Springs has a population of 130,000 residents and is known for its top public schools, award-winning parks and recreational facilities, low crime rates, low taxes with conservative financial practices, AAA credit ratings from Wall Street, and customer satisfaction ratings that are over 95% lfrom both residential and business customers. Prior to becoming the City Manager, Erdal served as the Deputy/Assistant City Manager for ten years. Coral Springs received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2007, the nation's most prestigious award for corporate excellence. In addition, Coral Springs is the first organization in Florida honored as a repeat winner of the Governor's Sterling Award for quality and organizational excellence (1997 and 2003) and is the first-ever recipient of the "Florida City of Excellence" Award from the Florida League of Cities (2004). During his professional career, Erdal held a number of key positions in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his tenure with the City of Coral Springs, Erdal served as the Director of Real Estate and Economic Development for the City of Miami, Florida. He also served as a Senior Consultant for the Real Estate Advisory Services Group of Arthur Andersen & Co. in Miami, Florida. Erdal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Florida State University and he completed all of the coursework requirements for a Master of Science in Economics degree from Auburn University. He obtained a Certificate of Economic Development Finance from the National Development Council in New York City, New York. He also completed the Senior Leadership Development Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Erdal served as the Acting Executive Director for the Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency since 2002. In addition, he served on the City of Coral Springs Police Retirement Board and the Coral Springs Community Chest. He holds membership with the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce Trustee Group, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Investor Council, Urban Land Institute (ULI), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), and the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA). Additionally, he volunteered as the Financial Advisor to the Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation.
