Dr. Dan R. E. Thomas

Dan Thomas is the founder and president of FOCUS Inc. Dr. Thomas' background includes experience as an educator, author, entrepreneur, corporate director, and consultant.

After completing a B.S. in Engineering Management and Economics as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.B.A. at Ohio State University, and a Ph.D. at the University of Washington, Dr. Thomas served on the faculties of the Harvard and Stanford Business Schools. He continues to teach a limited number of executive seminars for Stanford and selected major corporations.

Dr. Thomas' first publication was an article in the Harvard Business Review titled "Strategy is Different in Service Businesses." The article reflects one of his major interests: the strategic management of service companies. A second major interest is the strategic management of high technology companies. In his book, BUSINESS SENSE, Exercising Management's Five Freedoms (The Free Press, 1993), Dr. Thomas has explored the five management processes that make the most difference between success and failure in business.

As an entrepreneur, Dr. Thomas has been a co-founder of three companies and principal founder of FOCUS.

As a director, Dr. Thomas has served on the boards of six public and private corporations. In addition to the full range of usual duties, he has experience in acquisitions and divestments.

As an independent consultant during his teaching career, and later as head of FOCUS Inc., Dr. Thomas has worked with more than 500 businesses in more than 125 companies.