Timothy E. Hoeksema
Encyclopedia
Timothy E. Hoeksema was the chairman of Midwest Air Group
who transformed the air fleet of the Kimberly Clark paper mill company into Midwest Airlines
. He retired in July 2009 after the company was sold to Republic Airways Holdings
after running into financial trouble.
Hoeksema was a flight instructor at the University of Illinois at Champaign in 1968. Hoeksema joined Kimberly-Clark in 1969 serving as first officer of the company's air fleet -- the same year that Kimberly-Clark started its K-C Aviation subsidiary. He graduated summa cum laude from Western Michigan University
in 1972 with a bachelor of science in aviation engineering technology.
In 1974 he became chief pilot for Kimberly-Clark. In 1977 after receiving a master’s degree in business administration while on a Kimberly-Clark scholarship to the University of Chicago
Executive Program.
he was named director of air transportation for the company and president of K-C Aviation.
In 1984 he was responsible for transforming K-C Aviation into a commercial company Midwest Express which started out with two DC-9 planes.
In 1988 he was named head of Kimberly Clark's transportation sector.
In 1995 the airline's parent Midwest Airgroup was listed on the American Stock Exchange
.
In 2007-2008 he fought a takeover attempt by AirTran Airlines in the "Save the Cookie" campaign (a take off on the company's signature service of providing on board baked chocolate chip cookies to its passengers) before ultimately agreeing to a private takeover from a consortium led by TPG Capital with a minority investment by Northwest Airlines
. He remained the chief executive of the airline under its new owners. TPG bought the company for $452 million in 2008. In July 2009 it sold it for $31 million.
He is also a director at the Marcus Corporation
and is on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin
.
Midwest Air Group
Midwest Air Group, Inc. was an American airline holding company based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin which owned Midwest Airlines. It was ultimately controlled by parent company, TPG Capital Texas Pacific Group. Delta with the merger of Northwest Airlines Inc,...
who transformed the air fleet of the Kimberly Clark paper mill company into Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines
Midwest Airlines was a U.S.-based airline and was also an operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. operating from Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport...
. He retired in July 2009 after the company was sold to Republic Airways Holdings
Republic Airways Holdings
Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. is an aviation holding corporation based in Indianapolis, Indiana, which owns six airlines operating in the United States: Chautauqua Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Republic Airlines, Shuttle America, and the former Lynx Aviation....
after running into financial trouble.
Hoeksema was a flight instructor at the University of Illinois at Champaign in 1968. Hoeksema joined Kimberly-Clark in 1969 serving as first officer of the company's air fleet -- the same year that Kimberly-Clark started its K-C Aviation subsidiary. He graduated summa cum laude from Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in 1972 with a bachelor of science in aviation engineering technology.
In 1974 he became chief pilot for Kimberly-Clark. In 1977 after receiving a master’s degree in business administration while on a Kimberly-Clark scholarship to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
Executive Program.
he was named director of air transportation for the company and president of K-C Aviation.
In 1984 he was responsible for transforming K-C Aviation into a commercial company Midwest Express which started out with two DC-9 planes.
In 1988 he was named head of Kimberly Clark's transportation sector.
In 1995 the airline's parent Midwest Airgroup was listed on the American Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
NYSE Amex Equities, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange situated in New York. AMEX was a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known as the New York Curb Exchange. On January 17, 2008, NYSE Euronext announced it would acquire the...
.
In 2007-2008 he fought a takeover attempt by AirTran Airlines in the "Save the Cookie" campaign (a take off on the company's signature service of providing on board baked chocolate chip cookies to its passengers) before ultimately agreeing to a private takeover from a consortium led by TPG Capital with a minority investment by Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
. He remained the chief executive of the airline under its new owners. TPG bought the company for $452 million in 2008. In July 2009 it sold it for $31 million.
He is also a director at the Marcus Corporation
Marcus Corporation
The Marcus Corporation is a publicly held company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company operates two principal divisions: Marcus Theatres and Marcus Hotels and Resorts. One of the company's principal assets, Baymont Motels, was sold to La Quinta Corporation in 2003...
and is on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin is a private, freestanding medical school and graduate school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was formerly affiliated with Marquette University....
.