Stan Geiger

Kivisto the Great?

Last week, Urban Tulsa Weekly published its list of Tulsa's "absolute best." Below is an excerpt.

Business Leader

Tom Kivisto

Tom Kivisto is the CEO, president and co-founder of the Tulsa-based international crude oil service company SemGroup. He was featured in one of our cover stories in May, just after his company sponsored the LPGA Championship. Along with his business acumen and golf patronage, Kivisto is also a modest but avid benefactor of Project Single Parent, the Tulsa Ballet and a host of other endeavors in both charity and art.

It was about, oh, 15 minutes after the above hit the stands that reports came out about SemGroup being in financial trouble. Yesterday, it was reported that SemGroup has filed for bankruptcy. Kivisto has been fired. And, if I'm not mistaken, George Kaiser has bounced him off the BoK board to boot.

If this guy can get voted the best business leader in town, I'd say we have a serious problem.

I'd be very interested to know how much Kivisto was paid, say, last year, as he was calling the shots that financially destroyed SemGroup. I'd also like to know how much money he walked away with after getting fired from the top spot in a bankrupt company.

What say you, KOTV?

---