About Kadri

Muhammad Kadri Umay was born on April 27, 1968, in Ankara, Turkey to an intellectual family with government ties; his father worked for the Ministry of Finance. Early in his life he moved to Libya due to his father's work at the embassy, where he was introduced to the American education system. He went on to attend Ankara College, a prestigious private school in Turkey, and later graduated from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, receiving a masters in electrical engineering. There he met his wife, and they got married and had children at a young age. After his education, Kadri worked on various projects in Turkey, including modernizing production facilities and consulting for a rocket factory in Noshir. In 2005, Kadri moved to Saudi Arabia with his family, choosing it over a job offer in the UK due to better schooling opportunities for his daughter. In 2014, seeking career growth, he moved to the United States with his family and joined Microsoft's energy industry organization​​. Kadri, now a U.S. citizen, reflects on the smooth transition to American life, supported by his wife, with their daughter following them to Seattle after studying in Boston and London. He has significantly contributed to the Turkish community in Seattle by serving on the board of the Turkish American Cultural Association, where he played a crucial role in organizing cultural activities and events. He facilitated the visit of Turkish artists and theater groups to the area, enhancing cultural representation and engagement.