Tom has been interested in bromeliads since his first bromeliads purchased for landscaping his home in 1964. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Bromeliad Guild of Tampa Bay. Tom promotes the local society’s importance as a beginning point for introduction to bromeliads and it is there that interest in growing bromeliads and enthusiasm for bromeliads is encouraged. Tom has served the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies as a rep for many years and under the umbrella of the FCBS, the Florida societies working together have accomplished much to educate the public, lead the fight in preventing the weevil problem, and promoting bromeliads around the world.