NATA’s Highest Honor Awarded to Aviation Business Leader and Past Association President Martin H. Hiller
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announces the recipient of its highest annual honor. The William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award is to be presented to NATA director emeritus and former president, Martin (Marty) H. Hiller. Hiller will be recognized June 18 during the Awards Presentation Luncheon held in conjunction with the NATA 2019 Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference.
The William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award is named in honor and memory of the Association’s co-founder and first president and given for extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry. This year’s award recognizes Marty Hiller, a renowned entrepreneur with nearly 40 years of experience in owning and managing aviation businesses.
Hiller is the owner of Marathon Jet Center and Marathon General Aviation. He also serves as the chief executive officer of Hiller Carbon, a leading supplier of carbon to steel mills and foundries, and as a principal in North Shore Holdings, LLC, with interests in aviation, carbon and minerals.
In 2016, after six years of service on NATA’s board of directors, Hiller took on the role of NATA president at a pivotal time for the Association and industry — ensuring a steady financial future for NATA and guiding its membership on several fronts, including opposing ATC privatization, addressing workforce shortages, and combating illegal charter. As an FBO owner and aviation business leader, Hiller consistently demonstrated his immense value to the Association through a keen understanding of its membership’s needs and by offering insight in the development of innovative products and services to help the general aviation community succeed in the marketplace.
“NATA and its membership are proud to recognize Marty Hiller with the Ong Award for his illustrious aviation business career and his devotion to NATA as a former president and long-time member of the Association and board of directors,” says NATA president, Gary Dempsey. “We have worked closely on NATA’s board of directors, and even more so during last year’s leadership transition. Marty did yeoman’s work in setting a steady course for myself, the NATA staff, and members. I have a deep respect for his business acumen and propensity for giving back to NATA and the industry. He is a great friend of mine and the entire general aviation community.”
In 1982, Hiller’s career began with his family’s coal-mining company, Hiller Fuels, Inc., which was sold in 1983 to Nerco Coal Company. He managed the coal processing and the joint venture entity, Nerco Hiller Coal Company. From 1985-2010, he led The Hiller Group’s aviation-fuel distribution activities, initially as vice president and, eventually, becoming the company’s president and CEO.
Under Hiller’s leadership, The Hiller Group grew to become one of the largest aviation-fuel distribution companies in the United States, representing the Chevron, Texaco and Phillips 66 brands. Both Hiller and the company received many awards for business excellence, including recognition as one of the top 150 privately held companies and the 100 fastest-growing companies in Florida.
In 2010, Hiller sold The Hiller Group to World Fuel Services, where he acted as executive vice president of Business Aviation until September 2013, before returning to Hiller Carbon. He also sold his Michigan-based FBO Harbour Air Services to Avfuel in 2016.
Hiller currently serves as a member of Duncan Aviation and Capital Aviation Group’s advisory boards. He also participates on the Notre Dame University Undergraduate Experience Committee. He previously held board positions with the Alliance for Catholic Education and Page Avjet Fuel Company (PAFCO). He holds a bachelor of business administration and finance from Trine University, where he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of national honor societies, Delta Mu Delta and Alpha Chi, which recognize scholastic leadership.
Contact NATA at events@nata.aero or (202) 774-1535 ext. 6 for more information on the Industry Excellence Awards Presentation Luncheon and to secure tickets. Registration is also available for the full Aviation Business Conference at www.nata.aero/abc.