A Little About Me
👋 Hey, I'm Tom and there are several of you that I've connected with recently, but haven't met yet.
I'm father to the two amazing children and future world leaders, Devyn (12) and Matthew (soon to be 7), a big-time NY Yankees fan (I loved them when they sucked and Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter and lost so don't @ me),Chicago Bears and Carolina Hurricanes (my first hometown sports team).
My hobbies include playing ice hockey (our team just won the championship at PNC ARENA), deep sea fishing, reading leadership books and watching my kids play sports. I also love living like a tourist (my #1 life goal). This means wherever I go I typically never order my own food, I seek to visit a unique or historical landmark and I hardly have a clear agenda!
I've completed five marathons, one ultra marathon. Notice I said completed and not ran. Today I love yoga and haven't run for a few years (The ultra got me).
This goal aligns perfectly to my work as a human behavior consultant and teacher of leadership. I spend tremendous amounts of time traveling in my car (which was recently stolen) and love listening to personal/professional development lessons and Howard Stern.
I met my wife in 7th grade homeroom (30 years ago now), although we didn’t really talk until our senior year of high school.
My entire career has been in education. First as an Exceptional Children’s teacher, then Project Leader at UNCW. This is where I earned my Doctorate in Education Leadership which has carried me over my last ten years. Three as a Middle School Principal, then the last seven as a consultant. Three years with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (Office of Charter Schools) and in 2014 I launched my own business (Leaders Building Leaders), working alongside school leaders and governing boards across the country to increase the impact their school has on the community they serve.
I spend a good deal of time helping principals build their teams, identify and solve problems to improve the school’s they lead.
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina but drive on average 33,000 miles per year to serve our clients. I love the mountains and really miss the ocean. We moved from Wilmington, NC in 2012.
I am a personal development junkie and you will not find me without a self-improvement book in my bag, a leadership lesson playing in my ears or an Empowerment Mentoring CD in my car.
On the DISC leadership profile I am a Chancellor (CDI blend style). Which means I am an energetic leader and thinker. High energy, who spurs activity and can multitask with the best of them. It also means I am great under crisis. Which my clients appreciate!
I took the Myers Briggs but to be honest, I cannot recall my letters!
The most valuable thing I've learned in the last year is that if you want to go fast, go alone. But if I want to go far, I need to build a team.
It's nice to meet you, and I hope you have a great week. If we have never met in person, or even if we have, please say hi when get the opportunity.
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