Tom built his first pond in the early 70s. After graduating college with a degree in Psychology, he spent a summer with a friend building ponds as a small business. With little experience and no guidance, he quickly decided one summer of that was enough. (There were no companies making pond specific products at that time.) He went into sales in the home audio business, then the Audio Visual industry, eventually founding a successful AV Rental Company, and a Pro Audio Business.

Later he worked a few years selling computers and consulting, then became the Sales and Production Manager for KOI USA Magazine, which he did for 15 years, with his wife Cindy.

When the Koi Club of San Diego was founded in 1985 Tom and Cindy joined, and both have served as President at least once, and Tom was the Koi Show Chairman for three of their shows. They also belong to the Southern California Water Garden Society, the Inland Koi Society and the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club.

Tom has been consulting retailers and manufactures in the garden pond trade for many years and has a great passion for the industry. He has been a guest speaker at many industry events, written dozens of articles and has had many of his photos published in a number of magazines, books, calenders and guides.

In July of 2008 Tom (and Cindy) purchased Pondkeeper/Pond & Garden Lifestyle magazine, and re-launched it as Pond Biz Magazine in November of 2008. With the July issue of 2009, the title evolved to become Pond Trade Magazine. The magazine has seen steady growth and Tom now serves as the Owner and Editor.