Wisconsin Aviation, Inc.

The beginning of Wisconsin Aviation, Inc., took place during one of the most challenging of economic times, the early 1980's. Only two weeks prior to the nation's first air traffic controller's strike, Jeff Baum and his partner looked at a bankrupt fixed base operator (FBO) and a stagnant municipal airport in Watertown, Wisconsin. However, their futuristic, positive vision overshadowed what they saw. Faced with daunting odds, which included interest rates of over 21%, skepticism on the part of the insurance carrier, and the country facing one of the worst recessions ever, Wisconsin Aviation, Inc., was born.

Wisconsin Aviation has received numerous local and regional awards, as well as national recognition for outstanding service. The corporation has been featured in many aviation publications, including Aircraft Technician, Airport Services, Aviation Maintenance Journal, Airport Business, and Midwest Flyer. Its president, Jeff Baum, is a founding member and serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Air Charter Safety Foundation. He is also currently on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Business Aircraft Association (WBAA), the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association (WATA), the Transportation Development Association, and Watertown Area Health Services. He also is a long-standing member of the prestigious Twenty Group, a national organization dedicated to providing outstanding service to air travelers. Previously Jeff has served on the Board of Directors of the General Aviation Task Force, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the National Learn to Fly Promotional Team, Inc., and the Governor's Airport Financing Committee. For his superior achievements in Wisconsin's aviation industry, Jeff was named "Business Person of the Year" twice (1988 and 1997) by the Wisconsin Aviation Transportation Association (WATA) and "Aviation Person of the Year" (2003) by the Wisconsin Airport Management Association (WAMA). He was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in the fall of 2013. Wisconsin Aviation also maintains memberships in the National Business Aircraft Association, Inc. (NBAA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), as well as many other local, regional, and municipal organizations.