Executive Profiles

The 2016 Executive Excellence Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award

By Gianni Truzzi January 28, 2016

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This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.

When John Meisenbach launched MCM, the 727 was Boeings newest aircraft and the Seattle Worlds Fair was still a year away. Fifty-five years later, he still leads the privately held employee benefits consulting and insurance brokerage firm that serves some of the regions largest brands.

Its been a big journey for Meisenbach, who grew up in rural Buckley. He founded the company fresh out of Seattle University. One of the things Ive learned, he reflects on his long tenure, is that Ive never learned enough. Still, he believes firmly that there is always a right choice to be made in business and that the most successful people are those who work hard at taking care of employees and clients.

Meisenbach has followed that advice himself, granting MCM employees annual vacation bonuses and a $10,000 bonus for 10 years of service. While thats helped build a devoted, long-term team, Meisenbach shrugs off the largesse. The benefits are nice, he admits, but the fact that youre doing it is whats important.

With his late wife, Ginny, he devoted much time to community work, such as co-chairing a United Way campaign and supporting student scholarships at his alma mater. Under Meisenbachs leadership, MCM has given generously to local charities, ranking high in philanthropy for similarly sized firms.

Jon Fine, CEO of the United Way of King County and a member of the judging committee for the Executive Excellence Awards, notes, John knows how to get a deal done, is persistent and creative. He sticks with it until he finds a way to make things happen, both in business and in his community activities.

Like his company, Meisenbach is committed to building for the long run, providing a steadiness that clients, employees and charities can depend on.

Its been a long time, he muses, and Im going to do it much longer.

With his late wife, Ginny, he devoted much time to community work, such as co-chairing a United Way campaign and supporting student scholarships at his alma mater. Under Meisenbachs leadership, MCM has given generously to local charities, ranking high in philanthropy for similarly sized firms.

Jon Fine, CEO of the United Way of King County and a member of the judging committee for the Executive Excellence Awards, notes, John knows how to get a deal done, is persistent and creative. He sticks with it until he finds a way to make things happen, both in business and in his community activities.

Like his company, Meisenbach is committed to building for the long run, providing a steadiness that clients, employees and charities can depend on.

Its been a long time, he muses, and Im going to do it much longer.

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