![ATA-Houston Logo](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/atahouston-logo-white-bg-resized.png)
Mission Statement
ATA-Houston, founded in 1979, is a non-profit organization created to promote better understanding and friendship between the people of the United States and Turkey through social, educational, cultural and charitable activities. It also aims to provide assistance to Turkish citizens living in Houston.
ATA-Houston is an IRS Section 501(C) 3 tax-exempt, charitable, educational and cultural organization.
History
ATA-Houston contributes to the society by organizing, sponsoring and hosting cultural and social events such as Turkish classes, seminars, picnics, music nights, concerts, and many other activities, which help build a bridge between the two cultures. Among the year-round activities organized by ATA-Houston, Turkish Festival is the most attended, with participation around 10,000 guests.
The first Turkish Festival in Houston was held in the year 1991, which was a first in the United States and has become a tradition since then. ATA-Houston has been able to expand and enrich its festivals every year in terms of the number and scope of its activities (musical and dance performances, arts and crafts displays and workshops, children’s activities, vendors, presentations, and food selection) and number of attendees it attracted. Houstonians are a wonderful mix and there is great interest in exploring different cultures.
As a non-profit organization, ATA-Houston relies on donations and gifts to have the financial capability to carry out its activities throughout the year.
Board of Directors
![Dogan Baysal](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/dogan_baysal-200x200-1.jpg)
Doğan Baysal
Chairperson
![Mustafa Tunc](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/mustafaTunc-scaled-e1667875446933.jpg)
Mustafa Tunç
Vice Chairperson
![Ebru Ak](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ebruAk.jpg)
Ebru Çimen Tarhan
President
![Cengiz Şişman](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cengiz_sisman-e1702933351492.jpeg)
Cengiz Şişman
Director
![Gurur Biliciler Denktas](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/gururBilicilerDenktas-e1618156010105.jpg)
Gurur Biliciler Denktaş
Director
Executive Committee
![Ebru Ak](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ebruAk.jpg)
Ebru Çimen Tarhan
President
![Michelle Haskin](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/michelleHaskin-e1667876110211-1024x1024.jpg)
Michelle Haskin
Secretary
![Burak Bostancı](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/burak_bostanci.jpeg)
Burak Bostancı
Treasurer
![Sami Eyüboğlu](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/sami_eyuboglu-150x150.jpeg)
Sami Eyüboğlu
VP of Cultural Affairs
![Elif Ansari](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/elif_ansari.jpeg)
Elif Ansari
VP of Development
![Nida Yılmaz](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nida_yilmaz.jpeg)
Nida Yılmaz
VP of Communications
![Ozlem Sisman Madi](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ozlem-madi-e1620917145659.jpg)
Özlem Şisman Madi
VP of Education
![](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/damon_paull.jpeg)
Damon Paull
VP of Community Outreach
Past Presidents
![Sevgi Keskin](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SevgiKeskin-e1609712117428.jpg)
Sevgi Keskin
2019 – 2021
![Photo of Ozlem Adra](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ozlem_adra.jpg)
Özlem Adra
2015 – 2019
![Ebru Erdini](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/EbruErdini.jpg)
Ebru Erdini
2014 – 2015
![Jason Williams](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/JasonWilliams.png)
Jason Williams
2013- 2014
![Deniz Demirors](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DenizDemirors.jpg)
Deniz Demirörs
2011 – 2013
![Gurcan Gulen](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GurcanGulen.jpg)
Gürcan Gülen
2009 – 2011
![Esen Erdemir](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/esenErdemir.jpg)
Esen Erdemir
2008 – 2009
![Oguz Orhon](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/OguzOrhon.jpg)
Oğuz Orhon
2007 – 2008
![Sukran Kadipasaoglu](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SukranKadipasaoglu.jpg)
Şükran Kadıpaşaoğlu
2006- 2007
![Tanju Obut](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Tanju Obut
2004 – 2006
![Serhan Secmen](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SerhanSecmen.jpg)
Serhan Seçmen
2002 – 2004
![Coskun Caglar](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CoskunCaglar.png)
Coşkun Çağlar
1999 – 2002
![Photo of Erhan Uskup](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/erhanUskup-150x150.png)
Erhan Üsküp
1995 – 1999
![Photo of Randy Burdett](https://www.atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/randyBurnett-150x150.png)
Randy Burdett
1990 – 1995
![Demir Karsan](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DemirKarsan.jpg)
Demir Karsan
1989 – 1990
![Yildirim Beyazitoglu](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/YildirimBeyazitoglu.jpeg)
Yıldırım Bayazıtoğlu
1987 – 1989
![Yener Olmez](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Yener Ölmez
1986 – 1987
![Altan Erdil](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Altan Erdil
1985 – 1986
![Ahmet Gumuser](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Ahmet Gümüşer
1984 – 1985
![Velit Seyfettin](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Velit Seyfettin
1983 – 1984
![Kemal Gungor Dundar](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)
Kemal Güngör Dündar
1981 – 1983
![Ilhan Tezel](https://atahouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/unknown_person-200x200-1.png)