Βι¶ΉΣ³» Us
The Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship was founded in 2014 and was made possible by a generous gift from Eren and Fatih Ozmen, owners of Sierra Βι¶ΉΣ³» Corporation. Eren and Fatih are exemplary entrepreneurs and alumni of the Βι¶ΉΣ³».
Our Founders
Eren Ozmen is the President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Chairwoman of the Board of , a world-class prime systems integrator and electronic systems provider known for its rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions.
More than 30 years ago, Eren and Fatih came from Turkey to embark on a new adventure as graduate students at the Βι¶ΉΣ³». Eren earned her MBA in 1985 and Fatih earned his master’s in Electrical Engineering in 1981. With education and determination, the couple launched their entrepreneurial vision into a global high-tech aerospace company, Sierra Βι¶ΉΣ³» Corporation (SNC). They acquired SNC in 1994 when it was a small engineering firm with 20 employees. Today, Sparks-based SNC has a workforce of nearly 3,000 personnel worldwide, and is setting off toward new frontiers. Earlier this year, NASA announced that SNC’s Dream Chaser® spacecraft – whose folding wings allow it to be launched by different rockets and land on airport runways just like space shuttles of a generation ago – will join NASA’s commercial fleet, as part of a multi-billion-dollar contract award, in servicing the International Space Station starting in 2019. Remarkably, through these many years and accomplishments, Eren and Fatih remain the sole owners of SNC.
Eren joined SNC in 1988, shortly after receiving her MBA from the Βι¶ΉΣ³». With a strong vision of the future, Eren Ozmen and her husband Fatih acquired SNC in 1994 and set their plans in motion to expand and grow. As a direct result of their strategic planning efforts, to include the successful acquisition of ten electronics firms, and their strong financial and technical management SNC has grown into the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States.
Through the Ozmens' vision and decisive leadership, SNC has expanded its seven business areas in 31 locations in 16 states. SNC employs over 2,100 people - most of whom are scientists, engineers, or technical personnel - and all of whom are dedicated to meeting and exceeding the needs to SNC's diverse customer base. Multidimensional and extremely dynamic, Eren Ozmen is actively involved in all key aspects of SNC's business management.
Sierra Βι¶ΉΣ³» Corporation
Sierra Βι¶ΉΣ³» Corporation (SNC) is created by Eren and Fatih Ozmen. Eren Ozmen was a former UNR student, and to learn more, visit the Ozmen Center Βι¶ΉΣ³» Us page. Eren and Fatih have donated $5 Million dollars to UNR to have a permanent center on campus, it is now known as the Ozmen Center. SNC is a trusted leader in solving the world’s toughest challenges through advanced engineering technologies in Space Systems, Commercial Solutions, and National Security and Defense.
Under the Ozmens’ leadership, with Eren as president and Fatih as CEO, SNC has received numerous awards for innovation, growth and employee satisfaction. The company was included in the World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space by Fast Company, among the Top 10 Fastest-growing Companies by Inc. for revenue growth for billion-dollar companies, as second on the list of Top 50 Fastest Growing Woman-Owned Companies in North America by the International Women Presidents’ Organization, and as one of Greater Reno-Tahoe’s Best Places to Work. Passionate about giving back, in particular to the institution that helped them fulfill their dreams, in 2014 the couple established the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship at The College of Business. Opened in 2014, the Center’s purpose is to encourage collaboration across educational, professional and geographic boundaries. Beyond the campus, the center benefits the community, region and state through the development of ideas that translate to job growth.