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Aerotek president joins Marketing Hall of Fame

April 17, 2006

KALAMAZOO--The head of the largest privately held staffing company in the world will be on campus this week to be inducted into Western Michigan University's Marketing Alumni Hall of Fame.

Thomas M. Thornton, president and chief executive officer of Aerotek Inc., will be honored during the Department of Marketing's annual awards banquet, set for 6 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the Fetzer Center. The event also will honor students receiving scholarships as well as graduating seniors and MBA students being recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.

The Marketing Alumni Hall of Fame was established to recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding professional achievements, community leadership, and dedicated service to WMU.

Thornton earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in marketing from WMU in 1978. Following graduation, he worked for Salem Engineering Services in Chicago. His career with Aerotek began in 1990 in Chicago when he was hired as the central regional manager for Aerotek Telecommunication Services. He then served as the national sales manager for Aerotek Energy Services, which later became Onsite Energy & Environmental Services in 1993. After serving as vice president of Onsite Companies, Thornton moved to Baltimore, Md., to become president of Onsite. In 2001, Onsite Companies merged with Aerotek Inc.

A leader in technical and commercial staffing, Aerotek is a component of the $5 billion Allegis Group Inc., the largest privately held staffing company in the world. Aerotek is now composed of six divisions and three subsidiaries: Aerotek Automotive, Aerotek Contract Engineering, Aerotek Scientific, Inprax, Aerotek Aviation, Aerotek Commercial, Aerotek Energy Services, Aerotek Engineering & Environmental and Aerotek Professional Services.

Thornton is actively involved in the community and advises the use of charitable dollars through the Allegis Foundation.

The Marketing Awards Banquet is open to the public. The cost is $25 per person, and reservations are required by Tuesday, April 18. For more information about the banquet or to make reservations, please contact Gail Orta at gail.orta@wmich.edu or (269) 387-6132.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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