Our Company |  |
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Environmental, Social and Governance |  |
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Community | |
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Executive Leadership |  |
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Board of Directors |  |
- William I. Koch, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
- Richard P. Callahan, Director
- John G. Coumantaros, Director
- Thomas W. Garges, Jr., Director
- Robert V. Hale, Director
- Robert J. Hurst, Director
- Darla Moore, Director
- Peter C. Morse, Director
- David A. Rosow, Director
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News & Information |  |
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William I. Koch
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Oxbow
William (Bill) Koch excels at many things. He is recognized as an entrepreneur, champion sailor (winner of the ‘92 America’s Cup and 4 world championships), art collector, and philanthropist, but he is, first and foremost, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oxbow Carbon LLC. Mr. Koch's business acumen has set the stage for the company's unprecedented growth, making it the world's largest marketing company of fuel grade and calcined petroleum coke. With annual sales of several billion dollars and offices across the globe, Oxbow Carbon is the world's largest producer of calcined coke, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of aluminum, and a key supplier of sulphur, sulphuric acid and fertilizers.
Mr. Koch's successes extend beyond the boardroom and into the realms of philanthropy, art, education and the community. He founded and funded for the state of Kansas an independent crime commission devoted to studying the root causes of juvenile crime; he has founded an innovative private high school; and he has loaned his world class art collection to museums around the globe.
An American Businessman
Mr. Koch comes from a family steeped in entrepreneurship. His grandfather, Harry Koch, a Dutch immigrant, settled in the town of Quanah, Texas, where he started his own newspaper, the Quanah Tribune Chief. Mr. Koch's father, Fred, with the help of a local businessman, went off to study chemical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and subsequently invented a more efficient way of converting petroleum into gasoline.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Mr. Koch graduated from Culver Military Academy before following in his father's footsteps by attending MIT, where he earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering. While a student at MIT, he was the recipient of the prestigious Roger de Friez Hunneman Prize awarded for outstanding scholarship and research in chemical engineering.
In 1968, Mr. Koch joined his family's business, running the carbon trading group and the chemical and venture capital divisions. He left in 1983 to start his own company in Dedham, Massachusetts which became the basis for Oxbow Carbon LLC. Through the years, Mr. Koch has created a multi-national business which has generated an annual rate of return of nearly 30 percent.
A Strategic Business Approach
Mr. Koch's approach to business stems from his "T3" philosophy - teamwork, technology and talent - to which he credits his victory in the 1992 America's Cup, the most coveted prize in professional sailing. This approach of building employee participation, rewarding teamwork and relying on scientific research to take calculated risks has helped Oxbow Carbon to become a market leader.
In 2003, Mr. Koch led Oxbow through a series of acquisitions, including Applied Industrial Materials Corporation ("AIMCOR"), SSM Coal BV, Great Lakes Carbon LLC and the International Commodities Export Corporation ("ICEC"). Under his guidance, Oxbow Carbon LLC is consistently ranked as one of the top 500 privately held companies in the United States by Forbes Magazine.
Education
Ranked as one of the 25 most generous individuals in the United States by The Journal of Philanthropy in 2011, Mr. Koch may be best remembered for his mission to help less fortunate children receive a high-level education. Mr. Koch's dream began as a child when he learned that a local Quanah businessman had financed his father's college education at MIT. Over the years, Mr. Koch has contributed money, time, and energy to help individuals, teachers and classrooms get the support they have needed. He has donated musical instruments and tutoring help to disadvantaged children in Palm Beach County, and computers and software for children with learning disabilities, and funded science programs around the world.
With a donation of $60 million to start Oxbridge Academy, a private high school in West Palm Beach, Mr. Koch's greatest satisfaction was seeing the doors open in 2011.
Additional Philanthropic Activities
As a companywide initiative, the employees of Oxbow Carbon LLC share Mr. Koch's commitment to philanthropy. Each year, employees contribute countless hours and financial support to a variety of organizations, scholarships, events and community projects including fire and police departments, public schools, hospitals, youth athletics, and more.
Awards
+ EDUCATION |
Bachelor of Science Chemical Engineering- MIT- 1962 |
Master of Science Chemical Engineering- MIT- 1963 |
Doctorate of Science Chemical Engineering- MIT- 1971 |
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+ HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES & ACADEMIC HONORS |
Tau Beta Phi (academic honorary society) |
Sigma Xi (research honorary society) |
Hunneman Prize for Outstanding Originality- MIT- 1962 |
Sustaining Fellow Founding Life Member- MIT- 1980 |
Honorary Doctorate Degree of Political Science- Massachusetts Maritime Academy- 1993 |
Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Arts, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas- 1993 |
Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters- Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kansas- 1999 |
Honorary Doctorate Degree- Northwood University- 2011 |
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+ SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS |
Winner of America’s Cup- 1992 |
Chief Executive Officer and Sponsor of the A3 Women’s Team- America’s Cup- 1995 |
Winner of Maxi Yacht World Championship- 1990 |
Winner of Maxi Yacht World Championship- 1991 |
Winner of 12 Meter World Championship- 1994 |
Winner of 12 Meter World Championship- 2009 |
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+ SAILING AWARDS & HONORS |
Citation in Recognition of Outstanding Victor at the Helm of Matador- Figawi Race- 1986 |
Nautical Personality of the Year Award- Mondo Barco- 1992 |
Yachtsman of the Year, Yachting Magazine- 1992 |
America’s Cup Hall of Fame- 1993 |
Culver Academy Athletic Hall of Fame- 1994 |
Turner Award U.S.S. Constitution-1994 |
Winner of Louie Vuitton Trophy- America’s Cup Jubilee Generation- Cowes, England- 2001 |
Gold Medal Award- Winning Helmsman of America’s Cup presented by Prince Phillip- Royal Yacht Squadron-2001 |
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame- Inducted- 2004 |
Mystic Seaport- America & The Sea Award- 2009 |
Medal of Honor- City of Newport, RI- 1992 |
Medal of Honor- Ellis Island Congressional- 1993 |
Medal of Honor- New York Yacht Club- 1993 |
Headliner of the Year- San Diego Press Club (A3 America’s Cup) - 1993 |
Kansas Man of the Year- 1992 |
Senate Resolution, State of Kansas- 1992 |
Citation from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts- 1992 |
State of Rhode Island Secretary of State- Greetings & Congratulations- 1994 |
Honorary Admiral of the State of Kansas Navy- 1994 |
Honorary Admiral of the State of Nebraska Navy- 1992 |
Honorary Admiral of the State of Alabama Navy- 1992 |
Women’s Sports Foundation Tribute Award for the Creation of America3- 1995 |
President’s Living Legacy Award San Diego by Women’s International Center- 1995 |
Proclamation City of San Diego- 1993 |
Kansan of the Year, The Topeka Journal- 1993 |
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+ BUSINESS AWARDS & HONORS |
Outstanding Business Leader- Northwood University- 1994 |
CEO of the Year Award- South Florida Business Journal 2009 |
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+ YOUTH & SCHOOL AWARDS & HONORS |
Boy Scouts of America National Office Exceptional Service to Youth Award- 2004 |
Gold Award- Partnership & Education Recognition from Palm Beach County School District for outstanding support- 2004 |
BAK Middle School of the Arts-Award of Appreciation- in honor of generous support- 2006 |
Honorary Admiral- Boy Scouts of America- 2006 |
Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award- Devotion to the Ideals of Scouting- 2008 |
BAK Middle School of the Arts- Star Award Medal- in honor of generous support- 2009 |
Bronze Award- Business Partnership Recognition from Palm Beach County School District for outstanding support- 2011 |
Palm Beach Police Foundation & Town of Palm Beach Police Dept.- 2011- Plaque: Appreciation for establishing scholarship program for their children. |
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+ CIVIC HONORS & SERVICE |
Man of the Year- River Kids, Wichita, Kansas- 1992 |
Man of the Year- Culver Military Academy- 1992 |
Medal of Outstanding Citizenship, City of Wichita, Kansas - Highest honor from the City- 1993 |
First Woman’s Choice Award by Miracle House- 1994 |
Kansan of the Year, Kansas Society of Washington, D.C.- 1994 |
Good Guys Award- National Women’s Political Caucus- 1995 |
Florence Crittenton Hall of Fame- Topeka, KS - 1999 |
The Black and Gold Presidents Award- Yellowstone Art Museum- 2001 |
Commission Badge- Inauguration of the President of the U.S. - SI. Amer. Art- 2005 |
Medal of Honor- American Hospital in Paris Foundation- 2009 |
The American Ireland Fund Leadership and Philanthropy Award- 2007 |
23rd Most Generous Man in America- Chronicle of Philanthropy- 2011 |
Maryland Preservation Award for Excellence in Programming and Exhibits: Seas, Lakes & Bay: The Naval War of 1812- 2014 |
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+ AWARDS FOR FIGHTING CRIME AND SUPPORT OF POLICE |
National Council on Crime, Prevention for a Safer Society- 1993 |
Karl Menninger Award, Kansas Department of Corrections- 1994 |
Governor of Kansas Appreciation Award for the State of Kansas- 1996 |
Koch Crime Commission Man of the Hour- 1999 |
Honorary Badge New Jersey Police Department |
Honorary Kansas State Trooper- 1995 |
Plaque for Gratitude, Vision and Leadership from Kansas Attorney General Carla Stoval- 1997 |
Palm Beach Police Foundation- Palm Tree Award- In recognition for outstanding civic contribution and inspiration to the community, and for founding the William I. Koch Scholarship Fund- 2009 |
Honorary Deputy Sheriff of Palm Beach Police Dept. – 2010 |
Honorary Badge New York State Police Dept.- 1997 |
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+ DIRECTORSHIP OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS |
Current |
Oxbridge Academy (high school) Founder and Chairman of the Board |
Palm Beach Police Foundation Director |
Palm Beach Crime Watch Director |
Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound Co-Chairman and Director |
Smithsonian American Art Museum Commissioner |
Museum of Fine Arts Boston Honorary Trustee |
Three Bays Preservation, Inc. Director |
Nat'l Academy of Science, Medicine & Eng. Member of the President's Circle |
America3 Foundation Founder, CEO, and Director |
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Past |
Koch Crime Commission for State of Kansas Founder and CEO |
Koch Crime Institute Founder and CEO |
Palm Beach Day Academy Member of Board of Trustees |
Palm Beach Day School Member of Board of Trustees |
Academy of the Palm Beach's (school) Member of Board of Trustees |
Dana Farber Hospital Boston Member of Visiting Committee of Dept. of Prostate Cancer |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Member of Visiting Committee of Dept. of Marine Engineering |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Member of Visiting of Student Affairs |
University Hospital Boston Member of Board of Trustees, Exec. & Strategic Planning Comm. |
Museum of Fine Arts Boston Member of Board of Trustees, Executive and Collections Comm. |
Spring Creek Art Foundation Founder, CEO, President and Director |
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