Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 24, 2000
JOSEPH A. CZYZYK is President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercury Air
Group, Inc. After joining Mercury in 1984, he founded its Cargo Handling
Division and in 1985, became the President of Mercury Service, Inc.,
responsible for all of Mercury's activities at LAX. From 1985 through
1988, Mr. Czyzyk drastically restructured this subsidiary back to
profitability. In 1988, he founded and became President of Mercury Air
Cargo, Inc., which evolved into one of the major and most profitable
subsidiaries of the group. Since 1988, Mr. Czyzyk has expanded Mercury
Air Cargo Handling business to six US and Canadian locations where major
foreign and domestic airlines are handled. In 1994, Mr. Czyzyk was
appointed to the Board of Directors and became Chief Operating Officer
of Mercury Air Group, Inc. In December of 1998, he was appointed
President & Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Mr. Czyzyk was employed
by El Al Israel Airlines for 14 years. He served El Al in many
capacities, and prior to leaving, he was their Cargo Marketing Manager,
stationed in New York. During his years at El Al, he opened numerous
cargo stations for the company including Los Angeles and Chicago. Mr.
Czyzyk has earned a well deserved reputation in the aviation industry as
a tireless administrator and negotiator. His knowledge and reputation
has allowed him respected access to the executive suites of airline CEOs
as well as the boiler rooms of union locals. Mr. Czyzyk is a graduate of
California State University at Los Angeles and a decorated veteran after
serving in the US Navy from 1967 through 1969. Mr. Czyzyk is married. Profile
Mr. Czyzyk: Mercury Air Group has a long history. The company has been
around for quite a few years. We're going into our 45th
