Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> August 3, 1998

Jacques Kohn – Baltek Corporation (btek)

JACQUES KOHN is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Baltek Corporation. Mr. Kohn has built the company from a tiny family- owned business to a multi-million dollar, international company. He has been a leader in the composites industry for four decades and has pioneered the use of balsa in many industries. He was recently featured in 'Composites Fabrication' magazine as someone who has helped shaped the industry. Mr. Kohn helped create the first balsa wood plantations in South America. These plantations developed balsa as a renewable resource and created tree raising and harvesting techniques that have become standards in forestry. He has also spearheaded Baltek's diversification efforts into aquaculture in South America and expansion of its main business from balsa into other components of the composite industry. During his tenure Baltek has received numerous awards including 'Supplier of the Year' from its customers. He is a member of the Forest Products Association. Profile
TWST: Give us a brief summary, a bit of a background sketch on the

company, enough information to bring us into a context as you see your

company today.

Mr. Kohn: Baltek was created quite a