Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Tom is the descendant of grandparents from both the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes. Growing up, he also lived in Tahlequah, OK and was immersed in the Cherokee culture as well. Tom earned a B.S. degree from the University of Central Oklahoma before moving to St. Paul, MN where he now resides. There he studied photography, then started a community based rental photography studio in 2004. His passion for art and editorial style photography has led him to this new path and passion of feature film writing. He is attending Metro State university in St. Paul and will be graduating in the fall of 2026 with his B.A. in screenwriting. Tom has also studied the Choctaw language through Tribal nation on-line courses. Tom has always been an advocate for Native rights and culture, no matter the tribe or location. He has worked with indigenous chefs in the northern region and has traveled the Anishinaabe lands in northern MN. Toms goal is to tell stories from all walks of life that carry messages and inspiration through setting and characters that all can relate to. His passion lies in independent films that portray love and human compassion.