 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Newhouse Development Co. ©2010 All rights reserved. |
After graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Accounting and a minor in
Economics, Tom DiGiovanni began his business career with “Big 4” accounting firm Ernst & Young,
working on financial and operational audits for a diverse group of business clients that included banks,
technology firms, manufacturers, wholesale/retail distributors, hospitals, government agencies and
multinationals.
He passed all four parts of the CPA exam on the same try, and a short time later was recruited into private
industry as the National Finance Manager for the Laird Group, plc. At the age of 25, Tom was promoted
and became the youngest Controller in the history of that company, helping to oversee 3 different
acquisitions, more than 500% sales growth and the creation of a national brand in a two year period.
Economics, Tom DiGiovanni began his business career with “Big 4” accounting firm Ernst & Young,
working on financial and operational audits for a diverse group of business clients that included banks,
technology firms, manufacturers, wholesale/retail distributors, hospitals, government agencies and
multinationals.
He passed all four parts of the CPA exam on the same try, and a short time later was recruited into private
industry as the National Finance Manager for the Laird Group, plc. At the age of 25, Tom was promoted
and became the youngest Controller in the history of that company, helping to oversee 3 different
acquisitions, more than 500% sales growth and the creation of a national brand in a two year period.
Tom DiGiovanni, CPA
Tom next took on the role of Chief Operating Officer for Teradius, a Seattle based high tech start up where he led the successful effort to
secure a launch client and raise over $1 million in seed funding. Shortly thereafter, he acquired an equity stake in Zebra Hill Marketing,
another brand marketing firm. Tom assumed the role of CFO, and subsequently President of Zebra Hill, and over the next two years he
guided the company to profitable growth of more than 70%, before ultimately helping to negotiate its sale to a larger competitor.
In 2003, Tom founded Newhouse Development Co. With an emphasis on smart, sustainable building projects, he quickly built the company
into an early leader in “green” development in the Seattle marketplace. At the same time, he maintained a consulting practice that focused
on the business, tax, financial and complex accounting issues experienced by market leading companies - including sales growth,
infrastructure needs, internal controls, SOX issues, enterprise risks and cash flow improvement strategies.
In 2008, Tom relocated to the Atlanta area where for two years he devoted a large portion of his time to public service as the Chief Financial
Officer for the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA). In his role at ADA, Tom oversaw finance and operations for more than 40 different related
business entities which together generated more than $1 billion per year in development related deal flow and held a combined commercial
real estate portfolio worth more than $650 million.
Tom has a strong belief in the need for more energy efficient and sustainable buildings. Toward that end, he has added to his green
building background by completing the Passive House Consultant training courses offered by the Passive House Institute US. His energy
efficiency work also includes developing a multi-family residential project that is slated to be the first in the US built from the ground up to
meet the Passive House Building Energy Standard, providing 75-90% greater energy efficiency than typical construction. As the Acting
Executive Director for the National Passive House Alliance, Tom also took on the responsibility of launching a nationwide non-profit
organization that promotes the Passive House Standard through public outreach, education, support of industry professionals and advocacy.
In addition to the above, Tom is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia State University CFO Council and the Advisory
Board for the Georgia State University Executive Master’s Degree in Finance program. He is a licensed CPA in the states of Washington and
Georgia and he specializes in putting together complex development capital structures which include tax credit equity, mezzanine debt and
other financial instruments; along with providing top notch strategic advice and enterprise risk assessments for market leading businesses.
Please feel free to contact Tom for more information about Newhouse Development, his background, or any of our services.
secure a launch client and raise over $1 million in seed funding. Shortly thereafter, he acquired an equity stake in Zebra Hill Marketing,
another brand marketing firm. Tom assumed the role of CFO, and subsequently President of Zebra Hill, and over the next two years he
guided the company to profitable growth of more than 70%, before ultimately helping to negotiate its sale to a larger competitor.
In 2003, Tom founded Newhouse Development Co. With an emphasis on smart, sustainable building projects, he quickly built the company
into an early leader in “green” development in the Seattle marketplace. At the same time, he maintained a consulting practice that focused
on the business, tax, financial and complex accounting issues experienced by market leading companies - including sales growth,
infrastructure needs, internal controls, SOX issues, enterprise risks and cash flow improvement strategies.
In 2008, Tom relocated to the Atlanta area where for two years he devoted a large portion of his time to public service as the Chief Financial
Officer for the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA). In his role at ADA, Tom oversaw finance and operations for more than 40 different related
business entities which together generated more than $1 billion per year in development related deal flow and held a combined commercial
real estate portfolio worth more than $650 million.
Tom has a strong belief in the need for more energy efficient and sustainable buildings. Toward that end, he has added to his green
building background by completing the Passive House Consultant training courses offered by the Passive House Institute US. His energy
efficiency work also includes developing a multi-family residential project that is slated to be the first in the US built from the ground up to
meet the Passive House Building Energy Standard, providing 75-90% greater energy efficiency than typical construction. As the Acting
Executive Director for the National Passive House Alliance, Tom also took on the responsibility of launching a nationwide non-profit
organization that promotes the Passive House Standard through public outreach, education, support of industry professionals and advocacy.
In addition to the above, Tom is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia State University CFO Council and the Advisory
Board for the Georgia State University Executive Master’s Degree in Finance program. He is a licensed CPA in the states of Washington and
Georgia and he specializes in putting together complex development capital structures which include tax credit equity, mezzanine debt and
other financial instruments; along with providing top notch strategic advice and enterprise risk assessments for market leading businesses.
Please feel free to contact Tom for more information about Newhouse Development, his background, or any of our services.
| Smart. Sustainable. Structures.™ |
Mr. DiGiovanni then moved on to head up Finance and Operations at Bensussen Deutsch & Associates (BD&A), a Seattle based branding,
marketing and merchandising firm. Over a six year period as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, he helped BD&A manage
explosive 1,700% growth to more than $125 million in annual sales. The company became a leader and innovator within its industry and
was twice recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the US.
marketing and merchandising firm. Over a six year period as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, he helped BD&A manage
explosive 1,700% growth to more than $125 million in annual sales. The company became a leader and innovator within its industry and
was twice recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the US.