Tom is the founder, President/CEO of Veteran Community Initiatives Inc. (VCI) since 1993. VCI has been providing economic and social programs and services throughout fourteen (14) counties within Pennsylvania and has served over 15,000 clients (veterans, family members of vets, and dislocated workers) with it’s veteran focused services and programs .
A United States Army Vietnam Veteran, Tom has been involved with many veteran/ disabled community projects and groups including the Lead Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Disabled Veterans Rehabilitation/Vocational Retraining Project (PDVR/VRP), a comprehensive community program that addresses the needs of returning veterans since 2005.
Tom has been active with many veteran service organizations (VSOs) and is a member of the American Legion, VFW, PVA, Conemaugh Valley Veterans, and is a former officer/board member with the PA Vietnam Veterans of America State Council and VVA Chapter 364. For over twenty-five (25) years Tom has been working with veterans incarcerated at SCI Cresson; preparing and serving the Salvation Army Christmas Dinner in Johnstown with other chapter members; establishing scholarship stipends to sons and daughters of Vietnam Era Veterans. As an original member of the Conemaugh Valley Veterans, he has been involved in the Veterans Day Parade and Veterans Day Breakfast as well as the 2008 Salute to WW II Veterans Recognition Ceremony. Tom was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Rendell as a Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Board member. He is also a former member of the Cambria County Private Industry Council, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority, SKILLS Group Board of Directors, the PAID Board, and the Cambria County Special Olympics Board. Tom currently is on the SCI Cresson Vocational Advisory Board, Van Zandt’s VA Medical Centers Veterans Advisory Council, CERMUSA Advisory Board, Defense Veterans Brain Injury Center – Johnstown as Board Chairman, Penn Highlands Community College/John P. Murtha Scholarship Committee Chairman, and is a member of the Cambria County Business and Education Consortia as well.
Recent recognition and awards include 1990 VVA Chapter 364 Veteran of the Year, 1994 SCI Cresson Volunteer of the Year, 1997 Cambria County Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year, 2001 “Chapel of the Four Chaplains” Award Honoree, 2005 Pennsylvania VVA “Veteran of the Year,” 2006 PAID “Outstanding Service Award,” 2008 Johnstown Magazine’s “Movers and Shakers” recognition, 2011 Salvation Army ‘Appreciation’ Award, and the 2016 Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award. Tom’s employment history includes 25 years in the Human Resources/Labor Relations/Program Management area with large utility organizations.
He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, with a BS in Business Administration. With the help of the GI Bill, Tom was fortunate to receive an MBA in Labor-Management Relations from Pace University.