On Wednesday, March 21 the 2012 International Awards Ceremony was held where Kerim Ertan won the Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award at MSU.

Kerim Ertan earned his MBA in 1992 from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management with an emphasis in international marketing.  A career with numerous accomplishments, Kerim is now CEO and vice-chair of the board of directors of Ihtisas Jeothermal Enerji in Turkey and is directly responsible for developing geothermal fields as a significant power source for Turkey. 

Much of his career has been spent in the power generation industry, including strategic planning and business development projects in Turkey and throughout the Middle East.  His education at MSU proved to be a solid foundation for a career that involved every aspect of sales, customer relations, marketing and management. He has demonstrated leadership, not only within his company, but by assisting in the development of power plans for Turkey and several other countries in the region.

Ertan is a proud and loyal graduate of Michigan State. He has used his academic and political connections to further Michigan State’s mission as a World-Grant institution by encouraging prospective students, MSU alumni and his fellow countrymen to attend and support Michigan State in any way possible. He has been instrumental in fostering MSU’s Turkish alumni relations.

For the last several years Ertan has mentored alumni of Michigan State’s VIPP programs, and in the words of one of his nominators, “furthered the Spartan Spirit”. Recently, Ertan planned and coordinated an academic exchange between MSU and three universities in Ankara, Turkey. The visit strengthened MSU’s ties to the region and with institutions where strategic partnerships could enhance faculty exchanges.

Kerim Ertan is an excellent choice for the Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award for his professional achievements in Turkey and his continued devotion to Michigan State University.