Wayne Kocourek

Board Member

Wayne is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Mid Oaks Investments LLC, a private investment firm founded in 1997. Mid Oaks invests its own capital and focuses on acquiring equity positions in established businesses. Since Mid Oaks invests its own capital, it does not have a set timeframe for holding an investment but will provide support for growth as necessary. Ownership usually lasts for 10 years or longer. Since 1997, Mid Oaks has invested in twenty companies.

Wayne received a degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1959. It was here that he had his first exposure to the military by enrolling in the University’s ROTC program. Shortly after graduation, he began his active duty of two years as an officer in the Army Ordnance Corp. After 21 months, he was extended for an additional year of service because of the Berlin Wall crisis and transferred to Germany. 

After his military service, Wayne started his business career with the auditing firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. After eleven years, he moved into the industry as Director of Finance for Nekoosa Papers. Six years later he became Vice President and CFO of a public company in the building materials business in need of significant improvements. After a successful turnaround, the company was taken over and no longer needed the CEO and CFO. After this event, Wayne and the CEO decided to pursue buying their own company, which occurred in 1986 and was owned until 1997, at which time Wayne founded Mid Oaks Investments LLC. 

In 2015, Wayne and his wife Nan established a private Charitable Foundation. Grants support cancer research, hospital support, children's programs, animal support, and arts and culture. 

Wayne and Nan were introduced to Big Sky Bravery in 2018 by Nan’s son, Hunter Parks. Hunter had been providing his homes in Moonlight Basin, Montana, for lodging for the Special Operations participants. He introduced them to Josh, and once they learned about the Big Sky Bravery mission, they immediately felt the need to support the program. Wayne and Nan remain so inspired by the men and women in Special Operations Forces and the sacrifices they and their families make for us and our country.  

Wayne and Nan reside in Chicago, Illinois. They enjoy traveling the world and spending time at their lake home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.