Tom has more than 35 years experience with startup, early-stage and growth companies.  His business experience spans multiple career tracks — management consultant, business executive, entrepreneur, teacher and author. As a consultant, Tom worked with three leading management-consulting firms: A.T. Kearney (ATK), Arthur D. Little (ADL), and Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath (an affiliate of KPMG Peat Marwick).  In the combined 10 years at ATK and ADL, he worked on more than fifty projects, where he dealt with complex operations management issues in many different businesses. At PRTM/KPMG, Tom was a leader in the interim executive practice and directed turnaround or divestiture projects for six different technology companies.

As a business executive, Tom was Vice President of Operations for Anova Electronics, the consumer electronics division of Dart & Kraft.  There he established manufacturing operations in the Far East as well as distribution and supply chain functions in the U.S..  He was also Vice President of Operations for Digital Systems International (now a division of Lucent) where he led a group of more than 260 engineers and technicians who installed and supported complex call center systems in large financial institutions.

As an entrepreneur, Tom has started four successful companies:  Kyan Software which developed programming language compilers and development tools for Apple computers and served the education market (purchased); Absolute Business Services which specialized in optimization and outsourcing of administrative functions (purchased); and Momentum Systems which developed software to support distribution of large format construction drawings and specifications via the Internet.  This company developed the de facto standard adopted by Federal and State agencies and many large architectural firms for distribution of construction bid sets (purchased).

In 2005, Tom founded Greenwood Technologies to develop clean-burning, biomass heating solutions for homes and business.  Within 3 years, Greenwood became a leader in this rapidly growing industry with more than 170 dealer locations and sales exceeding $10 million per year. 

In early 2009 Tom founded AllGreen Renewables to focus on renewable biomass heating for homes, businesses and institutions.  We have licensed some of the top biomass (hot water) boilers from Europe and taken them through the rigorous safety and emission testing protocols necessary to sell them throughout North America.  The weak economy and related lack of purchase finance alternatives has slowed progress for this venture.  However, we still have great hopes that demand for these products will grow as the economy recovers and the country moves toward a national energy policy that levels playing field for climate-friendly, alternative fuels.

Because of his work at Greenwood and in the clean-tech community, in early 2008 Governor Gregoire invited Tom to join Washington State’s Climate Action Team.  This group was chartered with developing programs and incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and building the “green economy” in Washington State.

His latest start-up is GoGirl Academy which offers career advancement programs for women.  It helps them gain a competitive edge in the workplace and become their very best selves.  Seattle classes are receiving very positive feedback from students, partner organizations, and others who have an interest in helping women succeed in the workplace.

Tom is author of An Interpreneur’s Journey: The Birth of a “New Economy” Business.  The book is a fictionalized account of a typical start-up and describes many of the typical misadventures and lessons-learned. It is also a how-to guide, which describes the steps involved in starting a new venture.

Tom is also on faculty at the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in innovation and entrepreneurship.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network where he held numerous posts including Chairman.  NWEN is a non-profit organization with more than 800 members and pursues of mission of “helping entrepreneurs succeed.”  He is an advisor to several early stage companies and is a frequent judge at business plan competitions in the Seattle area.

Tom earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the University of California in Berkeley.