▁Chair man ▁of ▁The ▁American ▁Turkish ▁Society . ▁He ▁assumed ▁this ▁position ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁after ▁the ▁passing ▁of ▁Ah met ▁Er te gun , ▁the ▁previous ▁chairman ▁of ▁The ▁Society , ▁a ▁prominent ▁Turkish - American ▁business man ▁and ▁music ian , ▁and ▁the ▁founder ▁of ▁Atlantic ▁Records , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁American ▁Turkish ▁Society ’ s ▁mission ▁is ▁to ▁enh ance ▁business , ▁economic , ▁diplom atic , ▁and ▁cultural ▁t ies ▁between ▁Turkey ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁The ▁Society ▁conven es ▁leaders ▁in ▁government , ▁business , ▁and ▁civil ▁society ▁to ▁discuss ▁and ▁advance ▁U . S .- T urk ish ▁relations ; ▁fost ers ▁understanding ▁and ▁co operation ▁between ▁the ▁two ▁countries ▁through ▁education , ▁cultural ▁exchange , ▁phil anth ropy , ▁and ▁networking ; ▁inform s ▁the ▁American ▁public ▁about ▁Turkey ’ s ▁current ▁affairs , ▁economy , ▁history , ▁and ▁society ; ▁presents ▁and ▁supports ▁programs ▁highlight ing ▁Turkish ▁arts ▁and ▁culture ▁through ▁its ▁cultural ▁out fit , ▁Moon ▁and ▁Stars ▁Project ; ▁organ izes ▁the ▁annual ▁New ▁York ▁Turkish ▁Film ▁Festival ; ▁and ▁n urt ures ▁the ▁next ▁generation ▁of ▁leaders ▁through ▁its ▁" You ng ▁Society ▁Le aders " ▁program . ▁ ▁Additionally , ▁The ▁Society ▁has ▁hosted ▁annual ▁g ala ▁d inners ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁to ▁highlight ▁and ▁celebr ate ▁successful ▁economic ▁partners hips ▁between ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁Turkey ▁and ▁honor ▁extraordinary ▁business ▁leaders ▁who ▁exempl ify ▁U .