Talat M. Othman
Encyclopedia
Talat M. Othman is a Palestinian-American businessman, investor, and Republican fundraiser. On July 31, 2000, he opened the Republican National Convention
session with a dua'a, or Muslim
benediction
, marking the first time a Muslim had addressed a major US political gathering. Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed Nov 1, 1997 Haj Talat M. Othman day in Illinois. In 2006, Talat received an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters from the Catholic Theological Union
.
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
session with a dua'a, or Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
benediction
Benediction
A benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service.-Judaism:...
, marking the first time a Muslim had addressed a major US political gathering. Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed Nov 1, 1997 Haj Talat M. Othman day in Illinois. In 2006, Talat received an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters from the Catholic Theological Union
Catholic Theological Union
The Catholic Theological Union, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, is one of the largest schools of theology in the world and trains men and women for lay and clerical ministry within the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Career synopsis
- 1947 – emigrated to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family. - 1956 to 1977, Othman served as an executive in the International Banking Department at Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago, Illinois, as Vice President and Division Administrator of the International Money Management Division, including the International Economic Research Unit.
- 1978 to 1983, Othman was General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Arab Finance Corporation, Luxembourg, and General Manager of the Saudi Investment Group, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- 1983 to 1995, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dearborn Financial Inc., Arlington Heights, Illinois.
- 1987 – joined the board of Harken EnergyHarken EnergyHKN, Inc., formerly known as Harken Energy Corporation, is a small American oil and gas production company, with ownership interests in other production companies. The company is headquartered in Southlake, Texas, near Fort Worth. There is a second office near Dallas, in the town of Paris. The...
to represent the interests of Abdullah Taha Bakhsh. Served as chair of the three member Audit Committee of which George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
was a member. - 1990 – among 15 Arab-Americans invited to the White House after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.
- 1995 – formed Grove Financial, Inc. of Chicago and currently serves as its Chairman and CEO< an international investment management firm located in Long Grove, Illinois, specializing in managing investment funds and U.S.-Middle East business.
- 2000 – opened the July 31, 2000 session of the RNC with a Muslim benediction.
- April 4, 2002 – Othman joins Islamic InstituteIslamic Free Market InstituteThe Islamic Free Market Institute is a Muslim outreach group founded by Khaled Saffuri and Grover Norquist in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.- Synopsis :...
head Khaled SaffuriKhaled SaffuriKhaled Saffuri is an Arab-American political activist of Palestinian origin, and the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute.- Background :...
in a meeting with Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (arranged by Grover NorquistGrover NorquistGrover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
) as representatives of the Muslim-American community, to voice complaints about the March 20 raid on the International Institute of Islamic ThoughtInternational Institute of Islamic ThoughtThe International Institute of Islamic Thought is a privately held non-profit organization.The Institution is concerned with issues of Islamic thought...
and 19 related entities. - President of Crescent Capital Management, LLC. Chicago, Illinois.
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amana Mutual Funds, Bellingham, Washington
Other affiliations
- former board member of the Illinois Finance Authority.
- member of the Chicago Council on Foreign RelationsChicago Council on Foreign RelationsThe Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public...
Independent Task Force. - Middle East Policy CouncilMiddle East Policy CouncilThe Middle East Policy Council or MEPC is a Washington DC based 5013 non-profit organization that produces analysis and commentary on issues impacting U.S. national interests in the Middle East. It was founded in 1981 under the stated mission to "expand public discussion and understanding of issues...
, boardmember. - American Muslim CouncilAmerican Muslim CouncilThe American Muslim Council is an Islamic organization and registered charity in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois....
, founding chairman. - Chairman, Islamic Free Market InstituteIslamic Free Market InstituteThe Islamic Free Market Institute is a Muslim outreach group founded by Khaled Saffuri and Grover Norquist in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.- Synopsis :...
founded by Khaled SaffuriKhaled SaffuriKhaled Saffuri is an Arab-American political activist of Palestinian origin, and the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute.- Background :...
. - Boardmember, Amana Mutual Funds TrustAmana Mutual Funds TrustAmana Mutual Funds Trust , headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, is a mutual fund company offering investment products consistent with Islamic banking principles. - Founding principles :...
, along with Jamal al BarzinjiJamal al BarzinjiDr. Jamal al Barzinji is a Muslim Arab-American businessman, associated with the International Institute of Islamic Thought, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, and the SAAR Foundation....
and Yaqub MirzaYaqub MirzaM. Yaqub Mirza is a Herndon, VA -based businessman and Islamic activist.- Background :Mirza holds a M.Sc. from University of Karachi , a Ph.D. in Physics and M.A. in Teaching Science from University of Texas at Dallas...
. - Others: Bank One Wisconsin Corp, Dansk International Design, Hartmarx Corp, Tejas Power Corp and PathoGenesis Corp.
- Advisory Board Member St. Jude Children's Research HospitalSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
- Deans Council of Advisors of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government
- Served on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois State Universities Retirement SystemState Universities Retirement SystemState Universities Retirement System serves over 68 employers in Illinois. Employing agencies include public universities, community colleges, and other affiliated state agencies. The State Universities Retirement System of Illinois provides retirement, disability, death, and survivor benefits...
and the Illinois State Finance Authority.