Goeke 8W0 Joins Williamson’s Board of Trustees

Thomas J. Goeke 8W0, president and CEO of Milacron LLC, a leading industrial technology company serving the plastics processing industry, has joined Williamson’s board of trustees, announced William J. Bonenberger 7W9, board chairman.

Bonenberger said, “I’ve been around Williamson a fairly long time and I have yet to see anyone connect with our students like Tom did when he visited each of the shops with his wife and when he addressed our entire student body at a recent assembly. He might be the CEO of a publicly traded company doing business on several continents, but Tom definitely remembers where he came from. I’m honestly not sure who was more energized – Tom or our students; we’ll call it a draw. This guy cares deeply about Williamson’s future and is ready to roll up his sleeves to help ensure we continue the mission for future generations of Williamson men.”

President Michael Rounds said, “We are so excited to have Tom Goeke join our board. He brings not only a wealth of business experience, but amazing energy and enthusiasm for our mission. As a graduate of Williamson, he understands the challenges of being a student here, but also the things that make Williamson men so successful after graduation. Tom appreciates what Williamson has done for him and wants to share that with our current students. He is happy to have an opportunity to give back to Williamson by devoting his time and energy to leading us into the future as a member of our board. I know that he will make a huge positive impact here.”

Goeke said, “It is an honor to serve on Williamson’s board of trustees. I am indebted to Williamson for the education I received and I look forward to ensuring future generations are privileged with the same opportunity.”

Goeke has supported Williamson in numerous ways over the years, including serving as a trustee from 2005 to 2008. He was recognized for his efforts by the board of trustees with the Isaiah Vansant Williamson Award in 2004.

Goeke, who studied machine tool technology at Williamson, began his career as a technical service engineer at ICI, in Wilmington, DE. He then was a technical service engineer, and later, a sales and marketing manager for food, pharmaceutical, and medical packaging films, at Hoechst Celanese, in Delaware City, DE. While at Hoechst, he spent two years with their German film division, Kalle Folien, in Wiesbaden, Germany.

He then joined Klöckner Pentaplast of America, Inc., as an assistant to the president, and later was appointed general manager for Klöckner Barrier Films. He then served as vice president of operations for Klöckner Pentaplast of America, and then as chief operating officer and executive vice president, responsible for the daily operations of the company and its subsidiaries. He then served as president and CEO and later was appointed chief operating officer and then chief executive officer of the Klöckner Pentaplast Group. He went to Milacron in 2012.

Goeke, who was born in Trenton, NJ, earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering at Widener University, and a master’s degree in business administration at the College of William and Mary.

He and his wife Lucy, a nurse, educator and humanitarian, have four children, Katy, Jacob, Michael, and Annie, and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.