Tom began in the US natural and organic foods industry in 1972, with a small seed company in San Francisco.  The company supplied edible sunflower and pumpkin seeds to the first US makers of trail mixes and granolas. For 28 years, Tom worked as a national brand and sales manager to several companies in the natural and specialty channels of food and beverage:  Arrowhead Mills, R.W. Knudsen's, Crystal Geyser Water Co., Seventh Generation, and the Perrier Group/Nestle Waters. In 2002, Whole Foods Markets engaged him to develop several "green" programs. He organized the collaboration between WRI and Whole Foods that created the largest private wind REC purchase at that time (2005). In 2013, the project organized the process for 3 WFMs to become the first zero-waste certified stores.  Green Mission spearheaded the plan to promote re-useable bags, and to get rid of cheap flimsy plastic shopping bags. Key projects included a responsible packaging initiative, a non-gmo supply chain initiative, green accounting including carbon and ecological footprints, and several eco-literacy programs for leadership. Since 2010, Tom been engaged in project work with the Carton Council to develop greater curbside access to recycling for gable tops and shelf-stable aseptics -- which have been gaining popularity in the organic and natural and specialty foods industries.