Sixel Consulting Group

The Sixel Consulting Group team brings a collection of varied backgrounds to the field of air service development. We’re former airline and airport executives, airline analysts, data junkies, and even former aviation journalists. We use all these skills to make the best cases for additional service in more than 50 current client markets around the country.

	Mark Sixel, President and Owner Mark Sixel is a nationally recognized leader in air service development. Mark has been working on behalf of airports since graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with his Master Degree in Business Administration. In 1996 he formed “Transportation Solutions, Inc.” in Austin, his first fully owned airport and air services consulting firm. In 2001 he renamed the company Sixel Consulting Group, Inc. to better reflect the recognition that he had received in the industry. Mark has represented hundreds of airports of varying sizes at airline corporate headquarters, industry conferences and at local community forums. He also has been a featured speaker at numerous aviation conferences, both on the regional and national level and is frequently asked by regional and national media from around the nation for his expert views on the industry. Mark has developed strong, personal relationships with top airline route decision makers and continues to work with them on behalf of airports across the country. Mark’s innovate solutions to air service challenges have made him a favorite in airline boardrooms around the country.
	Michael Lum, Air Service Strategy and Development Consultant Michael joined Sixel Consulting Group in November 2008. He currently works with clients on air service strategy and development. Michael brings more than a dozen years of airline planning experience to the Group. He offers clients his insight into how airlines make new route decisions and how airlines project the financial performance of each route. Prior to joining SCG, Michael spent nine years at American Airlines where he worked in American Eagle Planning and Marketing. His responsibilities included route and schedule planning, network, fleet and competitive analysis, codeshare relationships, negotiating minimum revenue guarantees with airports, and ad hoc corporate development projects. Michael has been a key negotiator between American Eagle and many airports seeking to partner with the airline for new and expanded service. He understands air service development from “the other side of the table.” In his last three years with the airline, American Eagle launched 118 new routes. In addition to his career at American, Michael also spent time at both KPMG and Andersen Consulting. He managed projects in transportation and travel services industries, working for clients who included United Parcel Service (UPS), Airborne Express, Trans World Airlines (TWA), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), and Norfolk Southern. Michael has an MBA in Corporate Finance. He is based in Dallas, Texas.
	Kris Nichter, Director of Business Development Kris joined Sixel Consulting Group in September of 2008. He is responsible in assisting airport clients in developing both passenger and cargo service. Kris is well known nationally, maintaining top level connections at most airports, and all major airlines. Kris has more than 14 years of aviation/travel related experience and knowledge. Kris started his career in the airline industry in 1995 where he worked for Delta Airlines in customer service at Toledo Express Airport. Kris then gained corporate travel experience with a Northwest Ohio travel management company in 1996. He was responsible for all aspects of travel agency management and operations. In 1999, Kris began his airport career with the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority as an air service development analyst where he worked for nine years. Kris successfully developed one of the first air service development programs and then grew his knowledge to gain the position of Director of Business Development, Marketing and Community Affairs. During his tenure at Toledo, Kris was responsible for attracting six new airlines. Kris was also involved with promoting the development of Toledo’s air cargo assets. Today, Toledo Express holds the title as one of the world’s top 50 air cargo airports. Kris is currently actively involved with various airline/airport/marketing organizations where he has been a featured speaker at industry conferences and events such as AAAE’s National Air service conference, ACI’s marketing and communications conference, Airport Ground Handling 101 conference and the Midwest airline marketing roundtable. Kris also is interviewed by national media including ABC News and various well known newspapers such as the Detroit News/Free Press to provide comment and quotes.
	Jack Penning, Director of Market Analysis Jack has had a life-long love for all things aviation, airline, and airport related. He brought that love and dedication to Sixel Consulting Group in 2001. Jack is now the firm's Director of Market Analysis – overseeing the Group’s many research projects. Jack also has wide-ranging responsibilities including developing case studies for new air service, producing airline recruitment videos, and writing federal Small Community Air Service Development Grant (SCASDG) proposals. Considered an expert in grant development, Jack's proposals have won SCG client airports more than $5 million in the since 2007. Jack is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest for his previous work as the Aviation Reporter for KGW-TV, the NBC affiliate in Portland, Oregon, and NorthWest Cable News (NWCN), the 24-hour news channel covering five Northwest states. His aviation-related journalism has been featured on major networks such as CNN and MSNBC. Jack has also been honored with an Emmy nomination for his work on a story about air service development in Oregon. Jack has also been a featured speaker at various air service conferences. Jack holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
	Mike Mooney, Air Service Strategy and Development Consultant Mike Mooney joined the Sixel Consulting Group team in August 2009. Mike works with clients on air service strategy and air service development. Mike is well known in the industry, with 33 years of airline and air service development experience. Mike started in the industry straight out of college as a ramp and ticket agent for various commuter airlines. Mike then gained his dispatcher license and learned the fine art of air crew scheduling and planning. Mike was one of the original employees of Midwest Airlines, hired in 1984. At Midwest, he rose from Chief Dispatcher to Vice President of Planning, Pricing & Revenue Management. He spent 20 years with the airline, from 1984 to 2003. Mike then moved to air service development consulting, spending more than five years with another firm before joining Sixel Consulting Group. Mike has a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Transportation from the University of Dubuque.
	John Gunderson, Information Systems Manager John has worked for Mark Sixel since 2000. John’s primary role is to keep SCG on the leading edge of the current technology. John created SCG’s network operating system and is responsible for keeping all hardware and software optimized. John has developed websites for airport clients and is in charge of quality control on all projects. He also ensures the integrity of the data acquired to study markets and new route opportunities.
	Jeff Hayes, Director of Marketing Jeff joined SCG in 2007 as the Director of Marketing. Today he has wide ranging responsibilities including assisting with airline presentations, research projects, and working with communities to build air service. Jeff has worked in the airline industry for 19 years. His experience includes airline and airport management, route planning, airline schedule analysis, air traffic forecasting and six years working for the US Government in the Department of Homeland Security. Among other positions, Jeff has worked in upper management for BAA-Indianapolis International Airport and American Trans Air (ATA). Jeff attended Purdue University majoring in Aviation Management.
	Josh Stone, Research Associate A numbers whiz, Josh joined the Sixel team in May of 2009. Josh uses SCG's vast library of resources to locate and supply the other team members with data necessary to solidify cases and is responsible for maintaining the SCG website. Josh currently is pursuing a BSBA in Aviation Management from Auburn University.
	Matthew Derrick, GIS Analyst Matthew joined the Sixel team in 2007. Matthew melds practical technical skill with a breadth of knowledge in geovisualization theory to provide expertise in geographic information systems (GIS). He is called upon to transform layers of data into efficient, easy-to-read geographic analysis, including detailed catchment area studies, route maps, spatially modeled market research, and other products. Matthew holds master's degrees in Geography and Russian Studies; he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography.