In the intricate landscapes of data analytics, some professionals shine in the spotlight, while others masterfully orchestrate the unseen foundations that make everything possible. Tom belongs to the latter category—a digital craftsman whose journey began not with code, but with canvas.
As a freshman at Illinois State University, Tom's hands were more accustomed to paintbrushes than keyboards. His initial path as a general art major seemed worlds away from the complex data pipelines he now designs. Yet, even then, the seeds of his future were taking root.
"I started helping university departments redesign their websites," Tom recalls, his eyes lighting up at the memory. "There was something satisfying about blending creativity with functionality—making something both beautiful and useful."
Drawn by the allure of digital creation, Tom transferred to the Illinois Institute of Art with dreams of game development dancing in his imagination. But reality offered a valuable lesson in self-awareness.
"I liked playing video games more than I liked designing them," he admits with a chuckle. That moment of clarity wasn't a setback but a redirect to his true calling—web development, where his artistic sensibilities could merge with growing technical prowess.
Tom's professional evolution began at a small firm on Chicago's South Side, where ColdFusion and Microsoft SQL became his new artistic mediums. But it was during his tenure at AccuQuote that the trajectory of his career found its defining angle.
With the humble title of "webmaster"—a term that significantly undersold his contributions—Tom had his first encounter with Omniture SiteCatalyst (now Adobe Analytics). This introduction wasn't just a new technical skill; it was a revelation.
"It was fascinating to see how the marketing team would light up when I gave them new ways to look at performance," he remembers. "That's when I realized I had found my sweet spot—building bridges between business questions and technical solutions."
At Liberty Mutual, where he invested over a decade of his career, Tom refined this talent with precision. His development of end-to-end solutions that extracted, cleaned, and channeled data to the company's AWS lake—affectionately dubbed the "data puddle"—became his signature achievement.
"I love building the systems that nobody sees, but that make everything else work," he shares, a glimmer of pride breaking through his typically modest demeanor.
After years of crafting data architecture at Liberty Mutual, 2023 marked the beginning of a fresh chapter. When Blend360 approached him with a consulting opportunity at Discover Financial Services, the timing felt almost orchestrated.
"It was everything I like doing; making sure the data flows correctly, building solid pipelines, and fixing the things no one else wants to touch," Tom explains. The coincidence wasn't lost on him—he had applied to Discover years earlier without success, but now, everything aligned perfectly.
Tom's current role at Discover is foundational in every sense. If the data pathway experiences disruptions—whether from tag manager misfires or AWS connection glitches—he's the quiet problem-solver who restores order without fanfare.
"I always say it's like plumbing," he explains, leaning into the metaphor with ease. "If the pipes are clogged, nothing else works. But when everything flows, no one even notices." This behind-the-scenes role suits his temperament and talents perfectly.
Throughout his professional journey, Tom's growth has been guided by influential mentors who recognized potential even before he did. Early in his career, a manager named Mike took a chance on him, offering opportunities that stretched his capabilities.
"He saw something in me," Tom reflects with gratitude. "That kind of belief sticks with you."
Later, a senior colleague named Dave challenged him to dive deeper into analytics and data strategy. "He had this calm, brilliant way of thinking through problems that made you want to raise your game," Tom says admiringly.
These relationships did more than enhance technical skills—they modeled professionalism, patience, and stakeholder trust-building. Now, Tom pays this investment forward by being a steady resource for newer team members.
"If someone's stuck or just needs to talk something through, I want to be that sounding board. It's how you build strong teams."
As a consultant, Tom has mastered the delicate balance between autonomy and collaboration. His engagement with Discover requires quick comprehension of existing systems paired with long-term strategic thinking, all while supporting diverse stakeholders across business units.
While primarily remote, his proximity to the company's Riverwoods office allows for occasional in-person connections. "It's nice to have that option," he notes. "Sometimes being in the room makes a big difference."
The support structure provided by Blend360 has proven invaluable in his consulting role. "It doesn't feel like I'm out here on my own," he shares with appreciation. "There's always someone I can call if I need help."
This sense of belonging transcends the typical consultant experience. "It's not just lip service, they actually show up," Tom emphasizes. "You're not just a contractor filling a seat, you're part of something, and they make you feel that way."
Away from the intricacies of data architecture, Tom's world centers around his family. As a father of two children—ages 10 and 8—his life maintains the same careful balance he brings to his work.
His daughter's soccer matches and his son's playground adventures keep him grounded in life's simpler joys. "He's fast," Tom laughs, speaking of his son's energetic nature. "He'll be halfway down the block before I even get my shoes on."
When rare moments of personal time emerge, Tom gravitates toward continuous learning. He's currently expanding his expertise in AWS tools and certifications while exploring how AI might reshape the landscape of data analytics.
"There's just so much to keep up with," he reflects. "But I love that. I like learning new things and figuring out how to apply them."
"I've always been more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy," he acknowledges. Yet, the impact of his work resonates throughout the organizations he serves, enabling business strategies, marketing insights, and elevated customer experiences.
In Tom's world, elegantly structured code and smoothly flowing data represent forms of artistry—a connection to his earliest passions that has never diminished. He may have exchanged paintbrushes for programming languages, but the creative spirit remains unchanged.
From art student to data architect, from creator of images to creator of insights, Tom's journey illustrates that sometimes the most impactful artistry happens behind the curtain—where data's quiet architect transforms complexity into clarity, one pipeline at a time.
In the intricate landscapes of data analytics, some professionals shine in the spotlight, while others masterfully orchestrate the unseen foundations that make everything possible. Tom belongs to the latter category—a digital craftsman whose journey began not with code, but with canvas.
As a freshman at Illinois State University, Tom's hands were more accustomed to paintbrushes than keyboards. His initial path as a general art major seemed worlds away from the complex data pipelines he now designs. Yet, even then, the seeds of his future were taking root.
"I started helping university departments redesign their websites," Tom recalls, his eyes lighting up at the memory. "There was something satisfying about blending creativity with functionality—making something both beautiful and useful."
Drawn by the allure of digital creation, Tom transferred to the Illinois Institute of Art with dreams of game development dancing in his imagination. But reality offered a valuable lesson in self-awareness.
"I liked playing video games more than I liked designing them," he admits with a chuckle. That moment of clarity wasn't a setback but a redirect to his true calling—web development, where his artistic sensibilities could merge with growing technical prowess.
Tom's professional evolution began at a small firm on Chicago's South Side, where ColdFusion and Microsoft SQL became his new artistic mediums. But it was during his tenure at AccuQuote that the trajectory of his career found its defining angle.
With the humble title of "webmaster"—a term that significantly undersold his contributions—Tom had his first encounter with Omniture SiteCatalyst (now Adobe Analytics). This introduction wasn't just a new technical skill; it was a revelation.
"It was fascinating to see how the marketing team would light up when I gave them new ways to look at performance," he remembers. "That's when I realized I had found my sweet spot—building bridges between business questions and technical solutions."
At Liberty Mutual, where he invested over a decade of his career, Tom refined this talent with precision. His development of end-to-end solutions that extracted, cleaned, and channeled data to the company's AWS lake—affectionately dubbed the "data puddle"—became his signature achievement.
"I love building the systems that nobody sees, but that make everything else work," he shares, a glimmer of pride breaking through his typically modest demeanor.
After years of crafting data architecture at Liberty Mutual, 2023 marked the beginning of a fresh chapter. When Blend360 approached him with a consulting opportunity at Discover Financial Services, the timing felt almost orchestrated.
"It was everything I like doing; making sure the data flows correctly, building solid pipelines, and fixing the things no one else wants to touch," Tom explains. The coincidence wasn't lost on him—he had applied to Discover years earlier without success, but now, everything aligned perfectly.
Tom's current role at Discover is foundational in every sense. If the data pathway experiences disruptions—whether from tag manager misfires or AWS connection glitches—he's the quiet problem-solver who restores order without fanfare.
"I always say it's like plumbing," he explains, leaning into the metaphor with ease. "If the pipes are clogged, nothing else works. But when everything flows, no one even notices." This behind-the-scenes role suits his temperament and talents perfectly.
Throughout his professional journey, Tom's growth has been guided by influential mentors who recognized potential even before he did. Early in his career, a manager named Mike took a chance on him, offering opportunities that stretched his capabilities.
"He saw something in me," Tom reflects with gratitude. "That kind of belief sticks with you."
Later, a senior colleague named Dave challenged him to dive deeper into analytics and data strategy. "He had this calm, brilliant way of thinking through problems that made you want to raise your game," Tom says admiringly.
These relationships did more than enhance technical skills—they modeled professionalism, patience, and stakeholder trust-building. Now, Tom pays this investment forward by being a steady resource for newer team members.
"If someone's stuck or just needs to talk something through, I want to be that sounding board. It's how you build strong teams."
As a consultant, Tom has mastered the delicate balance between autonomy and collaboration. His engagement with Discover requires quick comprehension of existing systems paired with long-term strategic thinking, all while supporting diverse stakeholders across business units.
While primarily remote, his proximity to the company's Riverwoods office allows for occasional in-person connections. "It's nice to have that option," he notes. "Sometimes being in the room makes a big difference."
The support structure provided by Blend360 has proven invaluable in his consulting role. "It doesn't feel like I'm out here on my own," he shares with appreciation. "There's always someone I can call if I need help."
This sense of belonging transcends the typical consultant experience. "It's not just lip service, they actually show up," Tom emphasizes. "You're not just a contractor filling a seat, you're part of something, and they make you feel that way."
Away from the intricacies of data architecture, Tom's world centers around his family. As a father of two children—ages 10 and 8—his life maintains the same careful balance he brings to his work.
His daughter's soccer matches and his son's playground adventures keep him grounded in life's simpler joys. "He's fast," Tom laughs, speaking of his son's energetic nature. "He'll be halfway down the block before I even get my shoes on."
When rare moments of personal time emerge, Tom gravitates toward continuous learning. He's currently expanding his expertise in AWS tools and certifications while exploring how AI might reshape the landscape of data analytics.
"There's just so much to keep up with," he reflects. "But I love that. I like learning new things and figuring out how to apply them."
"I've always been more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy," he acknowledges. Yet, the impact of his work resonates throughout the organizations he serves, enabling business strategies, marketing insights, and elevated customer experiences.
In Tom's world, elegantly structured code and smoothly flowing data represent forms of artistry—a connection to his earliest passions that has never diminished. He may have exchanged paintbrushes for programming languages, but the creative spirit remains unchanged.
From art student to data architect, from creator of images to creator of insights, Tom's journey illustrates that sometimes the most impactful artistry happens behind the curtain—where data's quiet architect transforms complexity into clarity, one pipeline at a time.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Sit sit vel eu sed proin. Arcu bibendum in mauris urna erat magna volutpat eget. Lectus commodo consectetur egestas quis ut lobortis nunc.
.png)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Sit sit vel eu sed proin. Arcu bibendum in mauris urna erat magna volutpat eget. Lectus commodo consectetur egestas quis ut lobortis nunc.
.png)
