Eren Ozmen
Born1958 or 1959 (age 64–65)[1]
Izmir, Turkey
Alma materUniversity of Nevada, Reno (MBA)
OccupationBusinesswoman
Known forOwner and president of Sierra Nevada Corporation, Dream Chaser mini space shuttle
SpouseFatih Ozmen
Children2
Websitewww.sncorp.com/AboutUs/ErenOzmen

Eren Ozmen[2] (Turkish: Eren Özmen; born 1958/1959) is a billionaire Turkish-American businesswoman, and the majority co-owner and president of the private aerospace and defense company, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).

Early life and education

In the early 1980s, Eren Ozmen came to the US from Turkey to pursue higher education. In 1985, she earned an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno and in 1988, she joined SNC.

Career

Ozmen and her husband Fatih Ozmen acquired Sierra Nevada Corporation in 1994.[3] Under the Ozmens, SNC has acquired 19 companies in 34 locations in 19 US states, England, Germany and Turkey, and has grown to include a workforce of over 3,000 personnel.[4]

Ozmen has prioritized maintaining a healthy work-life balance by promoting family-friendly policies within the corporate culture. In 1991 she established an on-site daycare for employees.[5]

In 2017, Eren and Fatih Ozmen launched Ozmen Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Reno. The $5 million fund aims to invest in young and dynamic local startups and cultivate the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.[6]

Philanthropy

In 2014, Eren and Fatih Ozmen donated $5 million to the University of Nevada, Reno to create a permanent center for entrepreneurship at the university’s college of business. The Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship supports and enhances the university’s entrepreneurial programs in order to stimulate the creation of new business ventures.[7]

In May 2016, the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship launched a Women's Initiative aimed at connecting innovative female entrepreneurs with leaders and established professionals and business owners in the community. It also highlights female business achievements in and around the community.[8]

Awards and recognition

  • "Meet the woman behind this spaceship" — ShareAmerica.gov (Aug 2017)[9]
  • "America’s Richest Self-Made Women" — Forbes (May 2017)[10]
  • Aviation Entrepreneurs of the Year[11]
  • Living Legends of Aviation[11]
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York, "Great Immigrants, Great Americans" (2017)[12]
  • Most Influential Turkish-American Woman, No. 2 TurkOfAmerica[13]
  • Top 10 Most Influential Turkish Americans, TurkOfAmerica[14]
  • Honorary doctorate, University of Nevada, Reno (2016)[15]
  • Ozmen was selected for the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50; made up of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists and creators who are over the age of 50.[16]

Personal life

She is married to Fatih Ozmen, they have two children, and live in Reno, Nevada.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Forbes profile: Eren Ozmen". Forbes. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "SNC'nin Başkanı Özmen zenginler listesinde – Hürriyet Ekonomi". Hurriyet.com.tr. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  3. ↑ "Entrepreneurial Success Stories". Unr.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  4. ↑ "About SNC - Sierra Nevada Corporation - Sierra Nevada Corporation". 25 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Biographies | Embassy of the United States Ankara, Turkey". Turkey.usembassy.gov. 2013-03-24. Archived from the original on 2015-06-06. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  6. ↑ "Ozmen Ventures Launches $5 Million Fund To Spark Local Entrepreneurial Ecosystem". Northern Nevada Business Weekly. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Sierra Nevada Corporation's Ozmens pledge $5 million for new Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Nevada, Reno, by UNR College of Business, posted Wednesday September 10, 2014
  8. ↑ "Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship launches Women's Initiative". unr.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Hartman, Leigh (8 August 2017). "Meet the woman behind this spaceship". Share America. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  10. ↑ "Eren Ozmen". Forbes. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  11. 1 2 "2014 NCET / RGJ Award Winners - NCET: Business. Technology. Events". NCET. Archived from the original on 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  12. ↑ Paynter, Ben. "Here Are 38 Amazing Immigrants Worth Celebrating On Independence Day". Fast Company. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  13. ↑ "turkofamerica.com". www.turkofamerica.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "Sierra Nevada Corporation Owners Named in Top 10 Most Influential Turkish-Americans by TurkOfAmerica Magazine". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  15. ↑ "Honorary Degree Nomination Form" (PDF). nevada.edu.
  16. ↑ Gross, Elana Lyn; Voytko, Lisette; McGrath, Maggie (2021-06-02). "The New Golden Age". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
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