Since Brad Tilden took the reins as CEO at Seattle’s hometown airline in 2012, Alaska Airlines has grown to become the nation’s fifth largest airline, serving 119 destinations throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba. The airline has won numerous awards, including “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America” 10 years in a row.
Tilden is quick to give credit to the airline’s employees, who at 20,000 strong are fulfilling Alaska’s mission of creating an airline people love. This focus on people proves that Tilden’s achievements are not just due to his financial acumen, but also to his deep-seated human values and pure persistence — qualities he honed at PLU while earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting.
While Alaska Airlines has grown in leaps and bounds — and Tilden’s responsibilities with it — he’s never too busy to devote time to his alma mater, recently completing eight years of service on the Board of Regents.
