Biography
Tom Supra has more than 16 years’ experience as an entrepreneur, working in fields ranging from web development and database design to business intelligence, from CRM to more advanced analytics. His background in software and database construction is coupled with experience assisting businesses with their e-business/e-commerce needs. He has been teaching for more than 26 years, 14 of which have been at the college and university levels. Tom has designed the George Brown College post-graduate certificate Marketing program computer applications courses, including technology for entrepreneurs and new offerings in analytics, and delivers advanced computing classes using data mining software solutions for select post-graduate certificate programs. Tom has an intense drive to see others succeed. With this in mind, he took over stewardship of the George Brown College’s chapter of Enactus’ social innovation projects. In this faculty advisor role, Tom received global recognition as a John Dobson Enactus Fellow for his “commitment to enabling progress through entrepreneurial action.” He was also chosen to be the Centre for Business’ inaugural beadle, carrying the newly minted mace for George Brown’s chancellor, Sally Eaton.
Academic Credentials
Master of Business Administration, E-Business specialization, Lansbridge University, Fredericton, 2008
Applied Information Technology diploma, (Oracle, Visual Basic, Java, ASP, PL/SQL specialization) ITI Information Technology Institute, 2000
Bachelor of Arts, English, Communications, University of Western Ontario, 1992
Areas of Specialization
Analytics
Management
Social Media
E-Business
E-Commerce
Management of Information Services
Computer Applications
Marketing
Areas of Expertise
Analytics
Management
Social Media
E-Business
E-Commerce
Management of Information Services
Computer Applications
Marketing
Theology
Career Highlights
2000-Present – Full-time Professor, George Brown College, Centre for Business
2004-2011 – Instructor (CITM 350, 360, CMKT 530 live and distance education), Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University
2010-2011 – Subcontractor/Data Analyst (marketing, special projects), Research in Motion
2007 – Corporate Trainer (computer business applications), Event Spectrum Incorporated
2000-2005 – Owner/Director/Project Manager, TOMA solutions (an e-business venture employing teams that created winning electronic solutions for small and medium enterprises)
1999-2005 – Project Manager/DBA (sub-contract), USC University Hospital Sports Medicine Foundation, Los Angeles
2002 – Marketing Project Manager (contract), Headline Media Group
1993-1998 – Senior Manager, Trainer, Recruiter, GEOS Corporation, Tokyo
Other Activities
Brand Manager – Tom the Prof (platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest)
Faculty Advisor – Enactus, 2012-present
Co-creator – Two full charity runs, 2013 and 2014
Moderator: LinkedIn Uniresearch Global group and various George Brown College program-focused groups (i.e. specific B409 group)
Coach/Practice Judge – Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (various years)
Support – For several student entrepreneur teams, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation
Member – Various sub and steering committees: Academic Computing Working Group, DLI, mobile tech group, business exploration day presenter (video creation workshop)
Presenter – Via publishers and at other colleges (i.e. Centennial) on topics as diverse as: “Experiments in Interaction Using Social Media”
Program Coordinator – School of Management and Computer Faculty
Vendor selection/analysis – To bring new technologies onto campus
Awards
John Dobson Enactus Fellow Award, John Dobson Foundation, 2013 and 2014
Inaugural Beadle, George Brown College, Centre for Business, convocation, 2014