Thom was born into a working-class family with his father and mother and five siblings. During his childhood, his family was frequently forced to relocate depending on where his parents could find work. After graduating from high school, Thom was unable to afford college, so he took a job as a warehouse records clerk earning minimum wage. He knows firsthand how difficult it is to raise a family while attending school at night, struggling to make ends meet.
Through hard work and dedication, Thom quickly moved up the corporate ladder, earning his degree at 36 and becoming a top-level executive at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM. Thom’s 29-year private sector career in technology and management consulting provided him with a deep understanding of policy-making and the management of complex organizations.
Federal spending is out of control and continues to grow at an unsustainable rate. One of the greatest threats to the U.S. economy and national security is our national debt. During President Obama’s tenure, the national debt has ballooned to more than $18 trillion. It is imperative we rein in federal spending and balance the budget in order to ensure a stable economy.