In 2010 Pinnacle's CFO Peter Hunt issued a press release stating that 2011 would be a year of loss, solely due to the "one time only expenses of buying Mesaba, and integrating three airlines into one." Yet, when it was all said and done, the NW and DL contracts would pay 18-20 million dollars during the first quarter of 2012 to cover these expenses, per an agreement to merge the airlines together.

This was no different than when Fred Smith, CEO of FedEx issued a similar press release a few years back saying that the "one time only expenses of buying Kinko's, would send FedEx into a financial loss. Then when it was all said and done would make FedEx a stronger better business." So, FedEx lost millions of dollars, as predicted, and bounced back with no problem.

Fred Smith is a good CEO because he didn't freak out investors and send the stock into the toilet.

Sean Menke on the other hand is focusing on the negatives, and not the positives. He states that Pinnacle had to lay off all these people in Memphis. DUH! That's because all the flying was shifted to JFK!!! Why not talk about how many hundreds of jobs were CREATED in JFK???!!! Sean Menke, is going through all the motions to file bankruptcy, spending money to hire various firms to help try to prevent the airline from going into bankruptcy when it's unneccesary. He is asking everyone to take a paycut after they fought for years to get a small payraise. He's also stating that he had to cut all these manager jobs due to how bad the airline is doing. NOT TRUE!!! When you merge 3 airlines into 1, you DO NOT NEED 3 Vice President's of Flight Operations. This was all part of the merger plan! All he has to do is just wait until the first quarter of 2012 and the NW and DL contracts will provide MILLIONS of dollars to Pinnacle!!! The Aircraft Service agreement is a "cost-plus" meaning that it pays for the operation (cost), and if labor groups get a payraise (plus) extra money will be provided for that. That extra money is coming in just a few months.

What the HELL is the problem then? Why does Sean Menke have to go through the corporate headquarters screaming FIRE FIRE FIRE, Pulling every fire alarm, acting like the ship is sinking....when there is really no problem!!!??? Did Fred Smith do this when he bought Kinko's and cause FedEx to have a financial loss a few years back??? NO!!!

Doesn't sound like a good CEO to me!

Maybe his pathetic mangement style is what led Frontier into bankruptcy. SWA, JetBlue, AirTran and Virgin have all grown as Low cost carriers and done just fine over the past years........except Frontier. Hmmmmm, what is he doing different?




Phil Trenary's approval rating was 21% before he was canned.

 

The kind of person it would take to right this profession. Figure i would fill in the blank.

 

I don't think Menke is doing to bad bearing in mind how bad some CEO, board members etc. can truly be. Do I agree with everything he has said or done, no, but no one person ever will. I do think his total body of work will be better than most when it is all behind us. Wanna know how bad it can be, go talk to some USAir guys...they had some real winners leading them!

 

Or ..... he could, just reassure employees and investors by saying "Everything will be just fine, this was all planned and expected. No need to panic. It's going to be a tough year, but when we are finished merging the airlines, we'll be making more money than we ever were....."

That's what a good CEO would do. But instead, the stock price is now 79 cents thanks to his out of irrational behavior.

Watch, last week he wanted 5%. This week he wants 7%. Next week he will want 10%. He is on drugs.

 

 

Or maybe Peter Hunt was going around blowing sunshine up everyone's can so he, PT, and DS could keep raking the bonuses in, only to hit the silk last year knowing what a crap storm was coming.

PT's crew was shown the door because the BOD woke up and finally realized what a mess they created last spring. New Menke is running the cleanup crew to try and fix the cluster they created.

 

Lower than the bowels? Yes... Picture Hitler holding a pineapple.

 

thanks man. I was thinking about this today. and f it. i hope this sh hole goes out of business and i hope some other regionals salivate over our flying and take it. i no longer give a crap. Let these scumbags know that the threat of losing our jobs no longer has power over us.

I had a fantasy today that sean menke made a press release stating that he refuses to cut his fo pay to 22k per year and his fa's pay to 15 k per year while the executives that destroyed this company walked away with millions. that he is sacrificing his career and putting this place out of business to make a statement to america and to uncover the dirty truth about UAL and Delta and the squeeze they are putting on regional airlines. Now that would make me rate him highly. but alas like every other CEO he is profits before people and share holders before workers. aka, scumbag corporate elitist with no real human soul.

I'm done, i'm taking my stand for this industry and against corporate greed. i vote to liquidate.

 

While I honestly respect your stance to hold strong and vote no on the pay cuts....

Why do you continue to work here if you despise this company that much? Other airlines ARE hiring.

 

I can't speak to his recent actions; but I can share a few items with you about him (Sean Menke) from where he came.

He has worked his way up from the 'ground floor' from a simple csa agent / ramper (where he met his wife - another basic csa agent), all the way to the TOP of the corperate chain to CEO. Starting from the ground floor, and working at most all the levels in between, is something most CEO's have NOT done.

At F9 he was thrown a 'hot potato.' Our previous piece of sh!t ceo Jeff Potter, who sqaundered Millions of dollars, basically dumped the company in his hands, at the last minute. If it wasn't for Sean Menke, we would have been done.

Sean within his Second Week of becoming our Ceo, managed to turn the company around (Leading by example, and taking a 20% pay cut First, weeks before ASKING us to do the same) - leading by example. He positioned us to not only survive, but return stronger, more efficent, and Profitable. Yes, 9 or 10 Strait months of Profitability, During bankrupcy, amazing.

After that, with the new owners, well Menke was on the way out. But it was Him, that lead us through those rough times, it was him in so many ways, that achieved our success. He did get Several Standing Ovations from ALL the F9 employee's present on several occasions in the airport terminal. They are mostly on U-tube - do a search and watch with your own eyes. That doesn't usually happen for a slacker or someone that is disliked.

I challenge you to find a Single F9 pilot that does Not think Very Highly of him. IMHO - you are Very lucky to have him.

You will soon figure out what type of cat, this Mr Menke is. I sincerely hope that you find the same Quality person & leader we did. Give this guy a fair shake - he might actually be worth it.

Imho.