Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> June 10, 2002
THOMAS C. MADSEN is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Key
Technology, Inc. In July 1993, he led Key Technology through a
successful initial public offering of its common stock, which is traded
on the NASDAQ National Market System. Key Technology has a long history
of providing automation machinery to the food processing industry. Mr.
Madsen leads Key Technology, Inc., with over 30 years of engineering and
management experience. In 1972, he moved to Walla Walla, Washington, to
work for Key Electro Sonic in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Three years
later, Mr. Madsen and a small group of investors organized a management
buy-out of the company and formed Key Technology, Inc. He has held
various positions with the company, including Vice President of
Engineering (1975), Vice President of Operations (1979) and President
(1980). He holds a Bachelor of Science-Mechanical Engineering degree
from Oregon State University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer
and a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. Active in his
community, Mr. Madsen serves as a Board member for Key Technology, Inc.,
the Association of Washington Business, and the Community Center for
Youth in Walla Walla. He also serves on the Walla Walla College School
of Engineering Advisory Board. He was named 1997 Small Business Person
of the Year for Eastern Washington by the U.S. Small Business
Administration. In the fall of 1999, he was inducted into the Oregon
State University Academy of Distinguished Engineers. He is past Chairman
of the Board of Directors for the Food Processing Machinery and Supplies
Association, and was the 1985 recipient of Food Engineering's Innovator
of the Year Award. Profile
Mr. Madsen: Key Technology is a $75 million revenue manufacturer of
process automation systems that are marketed primarily to the
