Meet our Members

Dena Sukaya

Ottoman Trading Company

Business Information:

Short description of your business: Boutique of unique imported drums, costuming, jewelry, fashion and gifts from Turkey and beyond.  School of Belly Dance and Middle Eastern Drumming.   Parties and Events

How many employees are there? 10

When was your business established? 2005

Who is your ideal customer? The curious about music, dance, culture of Middle and Near Eastern countries.  Generally well read or traveled, customers who are interested in unique gifts and fashion.

What is unique about your business that you feel distinguishes you among others offering similar products or services? We are the only dedicated Belly Dance, Percussion School and Turkish Import Business in the Pacific Northwest.

Tell us something that would surprise people about your business:   We teach over 624 classes a year.  Our dance and music students range in age from 4 to 87.  In addition to our shop in Country Village, we manage, produce or attend 50 additional workshops, dance shows, markets, or festivals every year.

Personal Information (Optional):

Family information (kids, pets, etc):

I am married to a Turkish Engineer for over 25 years,,,Our  grown children are scattered about the globe…so we do a great deal of traveling to visit them.

Personal interests or hobbies:  I run a shopping service in the historical district of Istanbul, specializing in the Grand Bazaar, called Know Istanbul-Shop Istanbul; and own, with my husband, Seattle International Engineering, a civil engineering and construction management company.  I am also a contributor to the anthology “Tales from the Expat Harem”    As you can see, my hobby is WORK.

Member of any other Associations or Clubs?

TACAWA…..Turkish American Association of WA

SCA ….Society for Creative Anachronism

AWI….American Women of Istanbul, Board Member

ABFT….American Business Forum in Turkey

If money were no obstacle, what would you do? Retire to our family tangerine farm near Ephesus, in Turkey….and continue to write, travel, and collect antique Central Asian textiles and jewelry.

Favorite entree: Bulgar Pilav with Yogurt

Favorite candy bar or snack: Pistashio

Favorite color: Red

Most exciting trip you’ve ever taken:     Too many to count…..

Tell us something that would surprise others to learn about you:  Before I fell in love with all things Turkish, I was a professional Quarter Horse trainer.  Who would guess ?