A lifelong advocate for play, Tom brings over four decades of leadership experience at the intersection of play science, design, innovation, and public life. Tom is Senior Vice President of Innovation and Business Development at PlayCore, where he has played a central role in shaping the modern play industry — advancing design, safety, accessibility, and the integration of research into real-world environments. His career began in sales and marketing at GameTime in the early 1990s and has since spanned executive leadership, product innovation, standards development, and global advocacy. In addition to his industry leadership, Tom serves as the first named Professor of Practice in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design at Auburn University where he has mentored designers, bridging imagination with application. His contributions to education have been recognized with multiple Distinguished Service Awards.Tom has held numerous leadership roles across the field, including founding board member and two-time past president of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), where he launched the Voice of Play initiative — bringing the message that play is essential to human development to millions worldwide. He has also served on boards and advisory committees, including the National Program for Playground Safety, the Recreation Access Advisory Committee, the International Playground Contractors Association, and the U.S. Play Coalition. As a long-standing representative to ASTM International, Tom has helped shape safety and design standards that influence play environments globally. Beyond his professional roles, Tom is known for living his values. His home in Fort Payne, Alabama, features the “Boneyard,” a hands-on play laboratory filled with prototypes and experiments, and the “Garagemahall,” a workshop and creative studio, serving as gathering places for family, students, and collaborators. A grandfather of five, Tom continues to model a life where play is not a phase, but a lifelong practice.