America's Greatest Sales Trainer

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During his college years, Tom embarked on a transformative journey with the Southwestern Company of Nashville, Tennessee. This renowned institution employs a legion of college students each summer, tasking them with the door-to-door sale of books. Tom's prowess in sales quickly propelled him to the top spot for three consecutive summers, earning him a position as a Southwestern sales manager. In this capacity, he masterfully recruited and trained thousands of students in the art of book sales.

Departing from FISI*Madison, Tom ventured into the realm of entrepreneurship, birthing Private Business, Inc. Under his strategic leadership as CEO, the company burgeoned into the nation's premier provider of accounts receivable programs for community banks. Over six years, he piloted the company to the pinnacle, culminating in a successful public offering in May 1999. Tom's role as the first employee and sole CEO remained steadfast until the company's eventual sale.

Tom's influential footprint expanded further with co-founding endeavors like Bank Director, All Points ATM Network, and IPayments. His dynamic leadership extended to the acquisition of Tecniflex/Bancsource, Inc. in January 1999. He concurrently established Imagic Corporation, a sister company specializing in check-imaging systems for community banks. In his capacity as CEO, Tom propelled both entities from local providers to national sales and service powerhouses. Notably, Imagic's swift ascent culminated in a merger with OSI, leading to its public status. During this time, Tecniflex/Bancsource soared from 27 employees to nearly 500, catering to 4,000 banks across 49 states.

Tom's literary prowess shines through in his acclaimed books "Boxcar Millionaire" and "Doing Business at the Table." In a more recent endeavor, Tom established the Tom Black Center for Excellence. A distinguished member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), the center is a hub of customized training and coaching services tailored to national clients of all sizes and industries. Educated at Missouri State University, Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and Public Address. His profound impact extends to his role as Chairman of the Nashville Wine Auction, where he has orchestrated the raising of over $20 million for cancer-related causes. His dedication to community service is further evident in his role as Chairman of the Library Foundation Book Campaign, which successfully raised $5.4 million for books. Tom's contributions extend to the Founders Club of the Nashville Symphony and his 16-year tenure as T.J. Martel Co-Chairman of "Best Cellars." A passionate advocate for numerous causes, Tom's generous donations have touched organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Missouri State University, Vanderbilt University, Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors, Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center, Education Equal Opportunity Group, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Frist Center, Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Jude for Children’s Research, among others.