Tom Compton (background) - Page 2

mcink · 08-26-2009, 08:43 PM

From Drag Racing Online, circa' 2000:
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DRO: Tom, could you give us a little background on yourself?

Tom Compton: I'm married with two beautiful girls, Rachel, 5, and Nicole, 7. I've been living in the L.A. area for the last 20 years since I graduated from UCLA. I went to college at UCLA and USC and I have a Master's degree in International Finance.

Before coming to NHRA I worked for Heron Communications. They are a video entertainment company with four video divisions, which include sports programming, theatrical, movies in Spanish language, and a children's company. My first job there was to help start up the sports programming company and the children's company. I worked my way up there from business manager on the start-ups to director of strategic planning for the whole company.

DRO: How did you end up at NHRA?

TC: Through an unlikely chain of events I found out about this "accounting" job at NHRA. At first I didn't apply because I'm not an accountant; then I heard that there were people at NHRA who were disappointed I hadn't sent my resume. I found out through some conversations that the position they wanted filled would be as the first Chief Financial Officer in NHRA history and it was a position that involved just about every business and operation aspect of the NHRA. That got my interest and I applied for and got the job.

mcink · 08-26-2009, 08:47 PM

from Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal, July, 2004
(out of context of interview with Tom Compton)
************************************************** ******

You previously worked at Mars. What’s your favorite candy bar?
Compton: Well, Mars is both confectionery and pet food. I worked in the pet food.

I assume you don’t have a favorite brand of pet food.
Compton: No. Snickers is my favorite.

JD Smith · 08-27-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcink

From Drag Racing Online, circa' 2000:
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....then I heard that there were people at NHRA who were disappointed I hadn't sent my resume.

Now, this is suspect??

340Cuda · 08-29-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 340Cuda

I am pretty sure he worked for Kal Kan. I have friend who just refers to him as the dog food salesman.

From 2/2/2001 LA Times Article by Shav Glick:
Compton, as is the case with many in his administration, does not come from a drag-racing background. He joined the NHRA in 1993 as vice president and chief financial officer after working at Kal Kan Foods and Heron Communications Inc., both in the L.A. area.

08-26-2009, 08:43 PM	#1
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tom Compton (background) From Drag Racing Online, circa' 2000: ********************************************* DRO: Tom, could you give us a little background on yourself? Tom Compton: I'm married with two beautiful girls, Rachel, 5, and Nicole, 7. I've been living in the L.A. area for the last 20 years since I graduated from UCLA. I went to college at UCLA and USC and I have a Master's degree in International Finance. Before coming to NHRA I worked for Heron Communications. They are a video entertainment company with four video divisions, which include sports programming, theatrical, movies in Spanish language, and a children's company. My first job there was to help start up the sports programming company and the children's company. I worked my way up there from business manager on the start-ups to director of strategic planning for the whole company. DRO: How did you end up at NHRA? TC: Through an unlikely chain of events I found out about this "accounting" job at NHRA. At first I didn't apply because I'm not an accountant; then I heard that there were people at NHRA who were disappointed I hadn't sent my resume. I found out through some conversations that the position they wanted filled would be as the first Chief Financial Officer in NHRA history and it was a position that involved just about every business and operation aspect of the NHRA. That got my interest and I applied for and got the job. Last edited by mcink; 08-26-2009 at 08:48 PM.

08-26-2009, 08:47 PM	#2
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tom Compton (background) from Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal, July, 2004 (out of context of interview with Tom Compton) ************************************************ **** You previously worked at Mars. What’s your favorite candy bar? Compton: Well, Mars is both confectionery and pet food. I worked in the pet food. I assume you don’t have a favorite brand of pet food. Compton: No. Snickers is my favorite.