Join Us for the ATAA 2026 Annual Conference & Gala
at the Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, Frisco, TX
Online Registration| Program | Sponsorship & Advertisement Kit | Hotel Information
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) will hold its 2026 Annual Conference on May 1–2, 2026 , at the Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, 1549 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX, 75034, featuring the theme “Stronger Together, Building Tomorrow.”
The annual conference will bring together ATAA members, Turkish Americans, community leaders, youth members, and scholars from across the nation, Canada, and Türkiye. The conference will start with registration and special events on Friday, May 1, and end with a gala dinner on Saturday, May 2, in the evening.
The ATAA Annual General Assembly Meeting will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the same venue. Delegates—including the ATAA Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and representatives of active component associations—will receive further details via email.
Current full-time students (high school and undergraduate only) will receive special discounts for the 2026 Annual Conference. Valid proof of student id is required. ATAA reserves sole discretion to determine eligibility. Please contact our central office at assembly@ataa.org and/or 202.483.9090 for details.
Sponsors
ATAA expresses its sincere appreciation to the sponsors of the 2026 Annual Conference.
Program Overview & Online Registration
**Friday, May 1, 2026 – City Experience Tour
**A guided Dallas–Fort Worth excursion, including visits to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Sold-out), and Southfork Ranch (Sold-out), followed by dinner and cultural entertainment at Turkish Café & Lounge, 8412 Preston Rd #450, Plano, TX 75024.
**Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Conference Day
**A full day of conference sessions, networking, and professional engagement.
Click the appropriate button below to purchase tickets for Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 events.
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Program
Friday, May 1, 2026
| 9:30 am | Dallas City Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| (Dallas city tour on the way to Forth Worth) | ||
| Transportation will take guests from the hotel at 9:30 am) | ||
| 11:00 am- 12:00 pm | Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District Tour | |
| Find Your Wild West Spirit at Fort Worth Stockyards – Texas with Cattle Drive at 11:30 am- It is recommended to arrive 30 minutes early to secure a viewing spot, as streets close shortly before the drive begins), lunch, western shopping. | ||
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch | |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Visit (Sold-out) | |
| The Museum, located within the former Texas School Book Depository building, chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The main exhibit is on the sixth floor. | ||
| 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm | Southfork Ranch Tour – Experience the World’s Most Famous Ranch! (Sold-out) | |
| Famously home to the Ewing family from the TV series Dallas , Southfork Ranch is a premier event venue just 30 minutes from downtown Dallas. Known as “The World’s Most Famous Ranch,” it offers 60,000+ square feet of indoor space and 200,000+ square feet outdoors. Visitors can enjoy daily guided tours of the Ewing Mansion, ranch grounds, and the Dallas Legends Exhibit, exploring the history and legacy of the iconic show. | ||
| 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Student Networking Event (Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa) | |
| 7:30 pm- 10:30 pm | Dinner and Entertainment | |
| Immerse yourself in the rich flavors and traditions of Türkiye at the Turkish Café & Lounge. Guests will enjoy a sumptuous dinner of authentic Turkish cuisine, from savory mezes to perfectly spiced entrees, all served in a warm and inviting atmosphere. |
Saturday, May 2, 2026 _
_The Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa
1549 Legacy Drive, Frisco, Texas 75034
(Program subject to change)
| 7:00 am – 7:45 am | Registration & Breakfast | |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 8:45 am | Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks | |
| Alev Wieland , _President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations | ||
| _The Honorable Ahmet Akıntı , Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Houston | ||
| The Honorable Susan Fletcher , County Commissioner, Precinct 1, Collin County, Texas | ||
| 8:45 am – 9:00 am | Art Exhibits Announcement | |
| **Vega Sankur , Ph.D., Founder & President of ATAMLA-AKM | ||
| Olcay Soymen Seçilmiş** , Interior Architect & Industrial Designer | ||
| 9:15 am – 9:50 am | Keynote Messages | |
| Cengiz Şişman , Ph.D., Professor of History, University of Houston-Clear Lake | ||
| 9:50 am – 10:00 am | Break | |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | **Session 1 | |
| Moderator: | ||
| Speakers: | Yiğit Han Yıldırım _, Senior, Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas | |
| _Cengiz Şişman , Ph.D., Professor of History, University of Houston-Clear Lake | ||
| Dorukhan Korkut Oğuz , Esq., Founding Attorney, Oguz Law | ||
| Brian Dixon ,Founder of Devolutionists, AI & Digital Transformation Advisor | ||
| Elif Özkan , _M.S. (Business Analytics & AI), University of Texas at Dallas | ||
| _ | ||
| 10:50 am – 11:00 am | Break | |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | **Session 2 | |
| Hülya Erol Garvett , Realtor, Treasurer, Turkish Coalition USA PAC | ||
| Hülya Koç ,Co-Founder & Co-President, Empowering the Turkish-American Community USA | ||
| Murat Taş , Ph.D. , Past President, American Turkish Association of San Antonio | ||
| Gonca Usta , Ph.D., President, Turkish American Association of North Texas | ||
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Luncheon | |
| 1:15 pm – 2:05 pm | **Session 3 | |
| Moderator: | ||
| Speakers: | Selim Erhan ,Ph.D., Co-Chair, ATAA UN Relations Committee & ATAA Trustee | |
| Kaan Güleryüz , Freshman, Neuqua Valley High School, IL – (Video message) | ||
| Bartu Milci ,Freshman, Harker School, CA | ||
| Sean Özalpaşan,ATAA UN Representative** | ||
| Yasemin Knott** , ATAA UN Youth Forum Member | ||
| Ece Yenigün ,TWLA UN Youth Representative | ||
| Berna Gürdal , President, Turkish Women’s League of America | ||
| Canan Özaktay , ATAA Southeast Region VP | ||
| Gizem Şalcıgil White , Founder & CEO, Turkish Coffee Lady | ||
| Alev Wieland ,President, ATAA | ||
| 2:05 pm – 2:15 pm | Break | |
| 2:15 pm – 3:05 pm | **Session 4 | |
| Moderator: | ||
| Speakers: | Nilüfer Esen-Bilgin , M.D., Ph.D., Chair, ATAA Advocacy & Outreach Committee and Past President | |
| Mehmet Efe Taşcıoğlu ,Co-Founder & Chair, ATAA Youth Committee | ||
| Saime Atakan , Attorney at Law, GlobalB Law Firm | ||
| Bora Özalp , Vice Chair, ATAA Youth Committee | ||
| İlayda Yeni ,Secretary, ATAA Youth Committee | ||
| Ela Turanhan ,Member, TURANT Youth Committee | ||
| Erke Sayın , Member, TURANT Youth Committee | ||
| 3:05 pm – 3:15 pm | Break | |
| 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm | **Session 5 | |
| Speakers: | Ayça Altıntığ , Ph.D., Ayça Altıntığ, Ph.D., President, Turkish Women’s Initiative (TWI) | |
| Saime Atakan ,Attorney at Law, GlobalB Law Firm | ||
| 4:00 pm – 4:10 pm | Break | |
| 4:10 pm – 5:00 pm | **Session 6 | |
| Speakers: | Burçak Küçükusta , Institutional Partnerships Lead, Turkish Philanthropy Funds | |
| Todd J. Bornstein ,Attorney at Law, Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C. | ||
| 5:00 pm – 5:25 pm | Closing Remarks | |
| 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | **Reception | |
| Piano Recital – **Featuring Pianists Batu &**Lila Uster | ||
| Piano Recital – FeaturingDalya Doğru, Piano, **&**Mine Taşcı Özalp , Vocals | ||
| ** | ||
| 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm | 2026 Annual Gala | |
| Welcoming Remarks _ | ||
| _ Dinner _ | ||
| _ Annual Awards Ceremony _ | ||
| _ Live Music Performance/Entertainment by Nova Band-Houston TX |
_Sunday, May 3, 2025
_
| 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | General Assembly Meeting (ATAA Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and representatives of current component associations only) |
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Hotel Information
Special Room Rate Available!
Emerging from an extensive property rejuvenation, The Westin Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa in Frisco, TX is a versatile haven for both business and leisure travelers, conveniently located near the top attractions of Frisco, Plano, and Dallas. Click here for more information.
A discounted hotel room rate is available for attendees of the 2026 Annual Conference. To secure the discounted conference rate of $**199 per room **,per night , plus applicable taxes , please click the booking button below.