Yes, indeed, the stars passed through Gaziantep.

Of course, many people didn't even know.

Maybe we had much more important things to do, good health.

We hosted and tried to host approximately 260 academicians from the marketing community from 70 universities from Turkey and abroad for 5 days in Gaziantep.

We visited Gaziantep, went to Halfeti-Rumkale, visited Urfa, Mardin, Midyat.

I will not write much.

I will only share one of the messages received with you.

Armağan Portakal, one of our Gaziantep lover participants, shared his feelings about the congress.

I leave you alone with these lines.

Stargate!

Those who watched the science fiction movie Stargate, which was made in 1994, will remember it. When the symbols on the Stone Ring are adjusted, it is possible to pass through, interplanetary travel, and millions of light-years can be covered in a few seconds. Those who have not watched can find it by searching on Youtube or Google.

*** *** ***

On 18-19 June 2014, the 19th National Marketing Congress was held at the Dedeman Hotel, hosted by Gaziantep University. It was filled with the papers of academicians from about 70 universities. The theme of the opening panel of the congress, which was held with the concept of "The effect of marketing on the branding of local economies", was "Gaziantep" as the host city. I felt the pride of seeing my name among the honorary guests in the first pages of the congress proceedings book and enjoyed it.

Moderated by Prof. Dr. Ömer Torlak (Karatay University Rector) in the special session, Prof. Dr. Yavuz COŞKUN (Rector of Gaziantep University)

, Eyüp BARTIK (President of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce), Ahmet ZİYLAN (Businessman) and myself as photographer-writer. Fatma Şahin (Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality) was also named on the panel, but it was reported that she could not come due to the change in her schedule. I especially wanted to see him at the opening panel on Gaziantep. I talked about Gaziantep in the panel. I went last December and came back with very good stories. Since I did not want to travel like a tourist, I was not satisfied with baklava and kebab. I had some amazing stories. I described Gaziantep, a hardworking city that glorifies labor, with manual labor such as kutnu, hemp, Yemeni and rolling. *** *** ***

Now you're wondering what congress has to do with the stargate, right? Let me explain.. I have been in the profession as a marketing professional since 1992. I received research services for various brands. During this process, neither I nor the companies I worked for contacted the marketing departments of universities. For my research needs, I did not seek service from faculties. For two days I thought about this:

Why?

All this time, we have worked with research companies that exist in our country, mostly as suppliers of international brands. Each with well-established, professional companies. But at the convention, I thought I was in the Stargate. So in the middle of two separate planets... I felt that the private sector and academic marketing were living on two separate planets. Even if I prick myself on this subject, I will prick the academic planet. I expect them to open themselves up to the private sector and even living social media. I want them to share their very deep and valuable work, to grow by sharing, and to touch more people. I want them to succeed in being the first supplier that comes to mind for our needs. I expect this academic wealth to be accessible, shareable and sustainable. I wish that projects that come to life will be realized by working closely with the private sector, and that students and academicians will produce rich local resources. And while doing these, I wish to produce solution-oriented, time-sensitive projects that are compatible with the pace of the private sector, not like undergraduate education. *** *** ***

During two days, nearly 60 research and papers were presented in parallel sessions at the congress. I met many valuable academics. Congress Organizing Committee Chairman Assist. Assoc. Dr. Ahmet TAN and his sincere team worked with us at all times with their pistachio colored T-shirts and each one of them worked like a solution center. The chairman of the board of PPAD (Marketing and Marketing Research Association) Prof. Dr. Bahtişen Kavak has been a role model that I admire. I would like to thank them for all their efforts and the management of Gaziantep University.

Aside from the professional benefits of the congress... I met very valuable people. I became friends with both valuable and strong women... Hardworking people... Knowledgeable, modest and entertaining women who are professors in their careers. These memories are enough for me for a lifetime...

The real wealth is here...