In 1982, Tom co-founded TUFF to help colleges and universities acquire facilities and equipment via third party, tax-exempt bond financing.
His efforts were instrumental in introducing the concept of a state-backed one-year lease with multiple renewal periods to the tax-exempt bond market.
A 1958 graduate of Georgia Tech’s industrial engineering program, Tom spent 13 years assisting with alumni development for his alma mater, founding and directing the Office of Resources Development. He served as Technology Park Atlanta’s Vice President and Director before joining White-Weld in the Municipal Markets program, where he participated in the firm’s management of institutional and retail public finance offerings. In 1978, he joined Korn/Ferry, an international executive search firm, serving on the firm’s Executive Committee and as Managing Director for the Southeastern Region.
Tom proudly served as TUFF’s Chief Executive Officer from 2001 until March of 2018 when he formally retired. Today, he remains an active Board member, serving as Vice Chairman, and consults frequently in the deliberations of staff and directors. He also represents the Board of Directors in qualifying TUFF’s interest in new opportunities. In addition, he is a Trustee Emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation and a past member of the Board of the Georgia Tech Facilities Corporation.
Education
- Georgia Tech, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, 1958
Professional Associations
- Association of University Research Parks
- Urban Land Institute
- Lincoln Land Institute
Project Experience
- Northwell Hospital – Upper Eastside Manhattan – $250 million
- Atlanta University Center – Central Plant Upgrade – Atlanta, Georgia – $22 million
- Georgia Tech – Centennial Research Building – Atlanta, Georgia – $17 million
- Georgia Tech – Cobb County Research Facility – Marietta, Georgia – $8 million
- Georgia State University – Rialto Theater – Atlanta, Georgia – $4.7 million
- Auburn University – Research Campus Master Development
- Kennesaw State Center – Marietta, Georgia – $16 million
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Housing – Chattanooga, Tennessee – $18 million
- Savannah State University – Housing – Savannah, Georgia – $21.6 million
- Georgia State University – Housing – Atlanta, Georgia – $40.4 million
- State of Georgia and Clayton State University – Georgia Archives – Morrow, Georgia- $41 million
- Georgia Tech – Yamacraw Facility – Atlanta, Georgia – $75 million
- Georgia Gwinnett College – Classroom Building – Lawrenceville, Georgia – $10 million
- Georgia Gwinnett College – Lab Space – Lawrenceville, Georgia – $2 million
- Clemson University – Research Campus Master Development
- Morehouse College – Housing – Atlanta, Georgia – $20.7 million
- Georgia Tech – Regional Engineering Program, Building 1 – Savannah, Georgia – $4.2 million
- Georgia Tech – Regional Engineering Program, Building 2 and 3 – Savannah, Georgia – $18.6 million
- DTAE/Savannah Technical College – Purchase of building for classroom and office – Savannah, Georgia – $4.4 million
- Georgia Tech – Advanced Technology Development Center, floors 1-3 – Atlanta, Georgia – $28 million
- University of Delaware – Research Campus Master Development
- DTAE/QuickStart and Georgia Tech – Centergy, floors 4-5 – Atlanta, Georgia – $28 million
- Georgia Tech – Technology Enterprise Park – Atlanta, Georgia – $65 million
- Florida Institute of Technology – Campus Redevelopment – $60 million
- Georgia Tech – Cobb County Research Facility energy renovation – Marietta, Georgia – $19 million
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science – North Chicago,Illinois – $50 million