Professional Career
Following his education, Tom worked 8 years at 3M Company in sales (Dallas, TX three years), marketing communications and corporate public relations capacities (returning to St. Paul, MN in 1989). In 1990 he founded a photography business covering reunions, events and other on-location photography that he continues doing today. He also invested in real estate properties and small entrepreneurial ventures, as well as forming Conlon Associates Inc. where he conducted contract communications and human resource management for HealthPartners, Northwest Airlines as well as small clients. He occasionally did free-lance writing for neighborhood newspapers in St. Paul on human interest, features and historical topics.
In 1999, a friend approached him about teaching human resource management classes at Cardinal Stritch University’s Twin Cities’ campus , leading to an academic career. Soon after, Tom enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s Work and Human Resource Education doctoral program, earning his Ph.D. in June 2009 while researching Minnesota School Board Member learning. He also was selected as a 1994-95 Humphrey Policy Fellow at the University.
In ensuing years, he taught management, human resource development, sales/customer service and related courses at the University of Minnesota and other local institutions. He currently teaches management and organizational behavior courses for Metropolitan State University.
