Tom started his professional career as a Landscape Architect after earning his BLA in 1987 from Iowa State University. While he was an undergraduate, Tom had internships with firms in Chicago and Des Moines. Each firm specialized in a different area of landscape architecture and helped in the process of determining which area he would prefer to work in.

After graduation, Tom joined James Martin Associates where he has worked since June of 1987. In May, 2011 Tom received his MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

His duties initially included residential project installation, production management and supervision. This included onsite supervision of work contracted by JMA and management of material vendors and subcontractors. In 1989, Tom moved from site production management to project design development and customer management. These responsibilities included developing multiple landscape design and budget recommendations for each project, and managing the customer throughout the process.

Tom has had the opportunity to work on several residential design & installation projects with budgets in excess of one million dollars and has been an integral team member of projects that have received over 30 state and national landscape association awards.

Throughout his career at JMA, Tom has worked in and managed all areas of JMA businesses including commercial maintenance and snow operations. Tom has been a member of the senior management team since 1993, and in 2007 Tom began his role as JMA’s General Manager.

Most recently, Tom has focused his efforts on the commercial maintenance and commercial snow areas of the business. He has been integral in growing the business and maintaining long-lasting client relationships. Tom has both his CLP Certification (Certified Landscape Professional) and his CSP Certification (Certified Snow Professional). In addition, Tom is a key member of the privately-owned company, Chicago Snow and Landscape Partners (CSLP), which was formed in 2006 to serve the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas with comprehensive commercial landscape maintenance, snow removal and ice control services.

He has been the team leader on many new company-wide initiatives, including the implementation of lean management principles in our day-to-day landscape and snow operations. To date, JMA has conducted over 20 lean events since Tom was introduced to lean management principles by the Airens Company in Brillion, Wisconsin.

Tom has a passion for JMA’s work and believes the landscape industry has a significant impact on the quality of the lives of the people who live in the communities we serve.

His interests outside work include improving his golf game and snow skiing. Tom is a fan of the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and White Sox.