OFFICERS
Nevzer G. Stacey: President and Founder
Marianne Kayan: Chair
Richard Hall: Treasurer
Okan Duzyol: Secretary
Achilles G. Adamantiades
Dr. Achilles G. Adamantiades is currently working as an independent energy and environment consultant for the World Bank and ICG Aeolian Energy. He previously worked at the World Bank as the Principle Power Engineer in the Industry and Energy Department where he acquired extensive experience in international energy matters. Prior to working at the World Bank, Dr. Adamantiades spent ten years with the Electric Power Research Institute, the major United States research and development organization for electric power utilities, where he focused on nuclear power safety issues. Dr. Adamantiades holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT and a Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. He has taught at Iowa State University, University of Patras in Greece, Stanford University, and The George Washington University.
Osman Bengur
Osman Bengur is CEO of PJPA, LLC, a company that he started. PJPA is one of the largest Papa John’s Pizza franchisees in the U.S. He was previously a public and corporate finance investment banker with a national securities firm and subsequently with Bengur Bryan & Co., Inc. an advisory firm he co-founded and where he now serves as senior advisor. In addition to being chairman of PJPA, Mr. Bengur is a director of the Securities Finance Trust Company. He was a candidate for the U.S. Congress and Maryland House of Delegates and has served as a special assistant to the Governor of Maine. Mr. Bengur has additionally been a board member of several non-profit arts and education organizations. He currently writes an editorial column on business and politics for an online business publication – citybizlist.com – and has published articles and columns in both Turkish and U.S. journals and newspapers. Mr. Bengur is a graduate of Princeton University and received a graduate degree from the University of Cambridge.
Mehmet Betil
Mehmet Betil is a respected and innovative businessman in Turkey as well as a strong voice for disadvantaged people. He worked as an economist at the Turkish Industrial Development Bank from 1967 to 1987. He is a long time supporter of Anatolian Artisans in the U.S. and Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG) in Turkey. His research on investment projects were published in a newspaper from 1975 thru 1987. Mehmet retired in 1987 and founded Karma A.S., a computer and construction company, the same year. He is also a partner of the Taraf newspaper in Turkey. He is a graduate of Robert College in Turkey.
Michael Castellano
Michael Castellano is vice president for government relations at the Walt Disney Company. Previously, Michael worked as senior counsel and senior policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid where he was responsible for issues of international trade and related international economic policy, cyber security, and intellectual property rights, among other areas. Michael started Castellano Law & Policy, LLC, a trade law and policy consulting practice, in 2005, before which time he was Trade Counsel for the Committee on Ways & Means and Tax & Trade Counsel for the office of Representative Sander M. Levin at the U.S. House of Representatives. Michael received his B.A. with honors in political science with significant coursework in economics from Johns Hopkins University, his M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and his J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.
Louis W. Goodman
Louis W. Goodman became dean emeritus and professor of International Relations at American University’s School of International Service in August 2011, having served as the School's dean since July, 1986. Under his leadership the School of International Service became the largest school of international relations in the world. Previously Dr. Goodman served on the faculty of Yale University’s Department of Sociology and as director of the Latin American and Caribbean Programs of the Social Science Research Council and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The author of numerous books and articles, Dr. Goodman’s current research focuses in democracy building and civilian control of the armed forces in Latin America and on the rise of Asia and 21st century international relations.
Richard Hall
Treasurer
Richard Hall has practiced law for over 30 years as a government lawyer, a public interest lawyer, and as a private lawyer. In addition, Mr. Hall has several years of experience in the nonprofit world. He was founding Executive Director of Capitol Area Asset Builders, a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC that helps low-income families to purchase homes, pay for post-secondary education or start a small business. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ayuda, a nonprofit organization, also in Washington, DC, that offers free legal services on immigration issues to refugees and immigrants. Mr. Hall has an A.B. and LI.B. from Columbia University in New York City.
Ozgur Karaosmanoglu
Ozgur Karaosmanoglu is senior vice president, investments and international sales, at Raymond James and Associates, a financial services firm in Washington, DC. He has been in the investment field for over 25 years and at Raymond James for more than a decade. He manages approximately $200 million for individuals, associations, and small businesses. Mr. Karaosmanoglu is the past chair of the Tulane University Associates Board (alumni fundraising board). He is a Trustee of the McLean School of Maryland and a board member of Results for Development. He has a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A. from Tulane University. Mr. Karaosmanoglu was born in Ankara.
Marianne Kayan
Chair
Marianne Kayan is Senior Manager for Individual Global Tax Planning with Ernst & Young LLP, located in National Tax, Washington, DC. Marianne supports the Personal Financial Services practice on issues of US estate and gift taxation and reporting of foreign assets. She enjoys helping foreign clients understand the implication of US tax law. Before joining Ernst & Young LLP she worked as a tax attorney for seven years focusing on trust and estate matters. She received her Masters of Laws in Taxation degree and Estate Planning Certificate at Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's William H. Bowen School of Law and B.A. from Hendrix College with a degree in Business and Economics, Accounting emphasis. While completing her undergraduate education, she spent a year studying international relations, the European Union and economics at the University of Malta; this time in Malta created the foundation for her interest in supporting HasNa.
Mary Ann Kibarian
Mary Ann Kibarian has an extensive background in philanthropy and development, both domestically and internationally. Previously, Mary Ann served as Executive Director of the Children of Armenia Fund where she directed all of the organization’s operations to alleviate pressing development challenges, especially in rural areas. There, she raised funds to complete the Landmine Removal Initiative in Armenia, developed and implemented the concept for Comprehensive Rural Development in Armenia, and managed negotiations with agencies and partners including USAID, USDA, World Bank, UNDP, private foundations, corporations, and NGO's. From 1997 to 2002, she was Executive Director of Armenia Fund USA, directing the U.S. affiliate of Armenia’s largest non-governmental development organization which implements major infrastructure, healthcare, education, and technology projects in Armenia. By building relationships, focusing on sustainability, and raising over $9 million during her tenure, Mary Ann elevated the organization to its current position of fiscal soundness, public presence, and international credibility. Mary Ann also founded the Culinary School of Washington, the first and largest professional culinary arts school in the nation’s capital, and has served as Associate Producer of WETA-TV (PBS). Most recently, as Director of Development for the Platelet Disorder Support Association, she spearheaded new fundraising strategies to support information, education, advocacy, and research for patients and medical professionals. Mary Ann has additionally worked as an international advisor for governments, U.S. agencies, and NGOs.
Madelyn E. Spirnak
As a career Foreign Service Officer, Ms. Spirnak held senior positions supporting U.S. policy toward Turkey and the Middle East and international development assistance. Ms. Spirnak served as National Security Council Director for Energy, Middle East and Development, playing a key role in developing the Millennium Challenge Account, and as Director for Middle East and the Mediterranean at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). As Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, she led the Middle East Partnership Initiative’s (MEPI) $500 million programs. She was responsible for economic, humanitarian and development assistance issues and human rights as Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. As Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, she coordinated U.S. aid following the 1999 earthquake. Ms. Spirnak holds degrees from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (BSFS), and Edinburgh University (LL.M.).
Nevzer G. Stacey
President and Founder
Nevzer G. Stacey founded HasNa, Inc. in 1998. Her background comprises five years as a study director for international labor standards at the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science, where she was also the resident expert on transitions from education to the workplace; twenty years of service as a volunteer mediator in the Washington, DC court system; and thirty years at the U.S. Department of Education, where she worked on school-to-work issues and represented the U.S. in international projects sponsored by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the World Bank. She has a master’s degree in international organizations and Middle East area studies from American University’s School of International Service. Ms. Stacey was born in Istanbul.
