Thomas L. Kivisto
Encyclopedia
Tom Kivisto co-founded SemGroup, L.P. in April 2000 and served as the company’s president and chief executive officer until July 18, 2008. Under his leadership, SemGroup completed more than 40 acquisitions and its total assets grew from $227.4 million in 2000 to more than $3.6 billion at year-end 2005. Kivisto was replaced by Terry Ronan on July 18, 2008, after news surfaced that SemGroup, L.P. was experiencing liquidity issues and considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
near Chicago. He then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas
, majoring in pre-med/psychology and playing for the basketball team from 1970 to 1974. While there, Kivisto was a member of KU’s 1971 and 1974 NCAA Final Four
teams. He was named Academic All American, All Big 8 and Academic All Big 8. He holds the single game assist record for the Kansas team. His post-graduate work was in urban planning. He is a member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.
in 1993 after having lived in Wichita, Kansas
for 15 years working for Koch Industries
. He started his own services company, SemGroup, which became one of the largest privately held companies in the United States before filing for bankruptcy in 2008.
Kivisto donated over $15 million to his alma mater, the University of Kansas
, to help finance the building of new football facilities at the school. Kivisto serves on the board of directors of Saint Francis Health System, Family & Children’s Services, and Project Single Parent, a nonprofit organization of which he is a cofounder. In 2006, Kivisto also was named to the University of Tulsa Board of Trustees. In 2006, The Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa recognized Kivisto with its President’s Award. In January 2007, TulsaPeople Magazine named Kivisto "Tulsan of the Year" for 2006.
Education
Kivisto's father, Ernie, was a successful high school basketball coach who won more than 1,000 games in his coaching career. Coached by his father, Tom Kivisto was a star point guard at East Aurora High SchoolEast Aurora High School
East Aurora High School, or EAHS, is a public four-year high school located in Kane County, at the corner of Smith Boulevard and Fifth Avenue in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the sole high school in East Aurora Public School District 131...
near Chicago. He then earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, majoring in pre-med/psychology and playing for the basketball team from 1970 to 1974. While there, Kivisto was a member of KU’s 1971 and 1974 NCAA Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
teams. He was named Academic All American, All Big 8 and Academic All Big 8. He holds the single game assist record for the Kansas team. His post-graduate work was in urban planning. He is a member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.
Career
Kivisto moved his family to Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
in 1993 after having lived in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
for 15 years working for Koch Industries
Koch Industries
Koch Industries, Inc. , is an American private energy conglomerate based in Wichita, Kansas, with subsidiaries involved in manufacturing, trading and investments. Koch also owns Invista, Georgia-Pacific, Flint Hills Resources, Koch Pipeline, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals and Matador Cattle Company...
. He started his own services company, SemGroup, which became one of the largest privately held companies in the United States before filing for bankruptcy in 2008.
Kivisto donated over $15 million to his alma mater, the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, to help finance the building of new football facilities at the school. Kivisto serves on the board of directors of Saint Francis Health System, Family & Children’s Services, and Project Single Parent, a nonprofit organization of which he is a cofounder. In 2006, Kivisto also was named to the University of Tulsa Board of Trustees. In 2006, The Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa recognized Kivisto with its President’s Award. In January 2007, TulsaPeople Magazine named Kivisto "Tulsan of the Year" for 2006.