Meet James Thom

1 Be yourself – but introduce yourself and tell us who are right away. Show us the fun personality. 

At risk of sounding like I am auditioning for the Bachelor, my name is James A Thom and I’m from Cleveland, Ohio. For those reading this, yes, I have caught a wall-eye bass and yes, on my 3rd birthday I was given my first dirt bike. However, having lived in both Florida and Massachusetts for over last 15 years, I like to think that on top of the country guy I am, I can also be classified as a Snowbird or Masshole.

2. What are your passions, accomplishments, talent and/or hobbies? 

What I am most passionate about is time together with my family. There’s nothing in the world more important to me than family.  I am also passionate about living life, absorbing all of the knowledge I possibly can, and taking care of those around me.

3.  Share a fun or memorable story/experience that says something about you. (Make the story quick)

I have a dog Maximus (yes, like Russell Crowe in Gladiator), whose been my wingman for nearly ten years. It’s quite hysterical seeing us go for bike rides; him harnessed with his head lamp and beacon chest light, riding at night, because why not… safety first, right?

4. Are you married? Do you have children? How many? Boy / Girl / both? 

I am not married, but hopefully someday soon. Family is one of the most important things to me, so I’m looking forward to starting my own. I’ve been helping raise and look after my siblings since I was about twelve years old, which is probably why I feel so much like a father now. It’s also probably why (on top of excessive exposure to sunlight) I have frown lines at only 36 years old.

5.  What is the strangest thing that has happened to you? 

Growing up my friends and I would pick a new hobby every summer. Whatever it was, it would be the focal point until the following year. One summer we decided to take up golf. Having grown up on a golf course, you would think I played all my life but that’s not the case here. My first time teeing off, I shot the club up and over the clubhouse as many onlookers stood in amazement.

Later that summer, our friend Jeff who was a MUCH better golfer than us, suggested a wager stating, “Whoever can gets closest to the green wins a hundred bucks”. Feeling good, we all pitched in twenty-five bucks and began teeing off. Clint sliced a hard right, Jeff only a few feet from the green and I’m up next. With my adrenaline pumping, while also feeling a strange sense of collective calmness, my club meets the ball. With our heads all raised with excitement we watched the ball met the green and slowly rolled into the hole.

How in the world I managed that is still beyond my knowledge but it made for a great local news article and many future stories amongst friends.

6.  What do you do for work? How long have you been doing it? 

When I moved to Florida about 15 years ago, I worked in the restaurant business and quickly moved my way up from bartender to bar manager to general manager. Having worked in various establishments in both Ohio, Florida and throughout New England and absorbing all the knowledge I could, I felt as though I wanted to challenge myself with a bolder, potentially more rewarding career. Though the mortgage business is a relatively new venture for me, I have nothing but confidence that the reward of this career will outweigh the risk of starting anew.

7.   How did you get into the industry?

After having much success in the service industry and working at the world-renowned Daiquiri Deck, receiving a four-diamond award at an establishment that’s been induced into the fine dining hall of fame and having the pleasure of running a private yacht club in Marblehead, I was ready to pivot into something new, challenging, and exciting.

Thankfully, a lifelong friend of mine Travis Nicolaysen introduced me to this business and has been a major inspiration in my life both professionally and personally. Having so much fulfillment and success in the industry, Travis recommended me for the career I’m in today.

8.  What sets you apart from your competition?

Humbly, I have been told that I could sell water to a whale. That’s not because of how persuasive or deceptive I am, but because I’ve always been the type of person that 1: sets their mind to something and 2: achieves it. In that order. It’s important for my clients to know that I will not settle for less than satisfactory and will do so with integrity, wits, and determination. Failure has never been an option for me, and I do not intend on adopting new patterns now.

9.  How do you go above and beyond for your clients?

As a loan officer, I am aware that getting the lowest rates, offering credit tool  programs, fast underwriting, and being available to clients 24/7 is of the utmost priority. However, what separates me is that when I meet a client, I ask myself “How can I add value to the relationship? What problems can I solve and how can I do so with minimal effort from my client?”

My work colleagues will tell you I am often quoted saying “there’s a solution to every problem, we just have to work to find the answer.”

10.  What are your favorite activities? 

If you ask my friends or family, they will say it’s relaxing at the beach. While I do enjoy a corona (and lime) by the water, I also crave 18 holes with my buddies, 22 inch lake trout, or finding the end of a highway in my mustang.  

11.   What makes you proud of yourself? 

Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was a young boy. Immediately, I took the role of father figure in my household at a very young age and, though it was a drastic change in day-to-day life, it was instrumental in molding me into the man I am today. I am a proud boyfriend, son, brother, father figure and friend to many people whose approval mean the world to me. No matter what path I take in life, I’m proud of how far I have come and the lives I’ve affected along the way. For that, I can be forever proud of myself and know that others will be as well.

12.  What makes you stand out? 

I grew up being called “the Politician”. And no, not because I spewed political sermons at Thanksgiving or praised Clinton’s economic surplus at Sunday dinners, but because I could converse with anyone at anytime; whether it was my long-distance-cousins-unwanted-plus-one or pungent uncle Bob that my siblings and I drew straws to not sit next to. I found that regardless of age, gender, or political standpoint, I discovered at a young age I found common conversation amongst anybody I talked to. I believe that I have adopted enough life experience and knowledge to confidently make decisions that not only benefit me but also those around me.

13. List three interesting facts about yourself.

I have visited almost all 50 states, I obsess way too much over the stock market, and I’m the oldest of five children.  Somewhat of a renaissance man, self-taught graphic and web design, attended business school, career tech for construction, and raced cars at over hundred and sixty miles an hour.

14. Do you have any celebrity or famous family connections? 

Though I do not have any famous family connections that I’m aware of, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few celebrities including 

Lebron James, Eddie Money, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Billy Crystal and Rafael Nadal. 

15.   What groups or organizations do you belong to / involved in?

I’m currently active or had been recently active in the following: Green Beret Foundation, Sarasota In Defense of Animals, SRQ chamber of commerce, young professionals group, Turning Points for the homeless, Children’s Healthy Pantry, and the American Wine Society. 

16.  Have you ever received any awards? If so, please list. 

I have succeeded in receiving a “Four Diamond AAA” award while working in Florida. Two “best bartender” awards and three “top producer” awards. While working in sales, I was twice named “Sales Associate of the Year” and “Top Leader” which awarded me a trip to the Dominican Republic. I also placed first in both the “American Red Bull Race” and the “Sarasota SWAT Team Challenge”. 

17. Where have you traveled to? Any good stories?

During the BP oil spill back in 2010, my friends and I were visiting Siesta Key Beach. Unbeknownst to us, the spill was causing many fish to migrate to places they typically would never be found.

While on the beach, I noticed a large dark shadow in the water approaching my friends sister as she laid on a pool float in the water. Concerned, I motioned to my friend who was native to the area that there was something beneath the water. He claimed it was only a sting ray, and his confidence eased everyone on the beach.

A few moments later I needed a drink of water and curiosity was kind of getting to me.

As I walked in her direction, I noticed a wave break on what appeared to be a large fin. Panicked I ran towards her and began shouting for her to get out of the water. Confused by the screaming she sat up, looked around and saw what I was seeing. You could see the fear set in on her face, she was panicked and completely frozen. Without hesitation (likely due to some liquid courage) and now in a full sprint I dove in the water. Before I knew it, I was pulling her raft back to shore. As we got to land, we watched as the rest of our group ran up and down the beach yelling everyone else to get out of the water.

Later it was confirmed by mote marine that the shark spotting was not the typical nonaggressive sharks sometimes seen in the area but a Tiger Shark, considered one of the most dangerous sharks in the world and not native to gulf coast. It was a lucky day for everyone!

18. What’s on your bucket list? 

My top three bucket list items including meeting Mark Cuban, Marcus Lemonis and Gordon Ramsey. To own my own business, and to stay-vacation at a vineyard in Italy. 

19. What is one place that you would like to visit and why?  

Though I’m Italian (also half Irish), I have never been to Italy. Between my love for fine foods, palate for wine tastings, Tuscany vineyards, and all the history a buff like me can get, Italy is on the top of my list of places to visit. 

20. Have you ever been on television? If so, please explain.

Briefly on a local news station interviewing for the American red bull race

21.  What are your greatest achievements? 

My greatest achievement and what I am most proud of myself for is taking on a new and exciting career path during the midst of a global pandemic. Having overcome the fear of change and succeeding at something new one will never be lackluster in my life.

22.  What do you do in your spare time?  

Nothing makes me happier than friends, family, good music, and better food. I try to let the little things in life like barbecues, road trips, good movies and long nights takeover the free time that I have.