Tom Norquist is a member of PlayCore’s Strategic Services team. He leads the culture of innovation and business development activities in addition to guiding GameTime’s PlayWorx custom play division. He works closely with over 50 direct/indirect reports to lead successful product and program innovation. He joined PlayCore as Sales and Marketing Director in 1993. Tom has more than 35 decades of industry experience and 25 with the Company. Before joining PlayCore, Tom worked as Sales Manager at the Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Cascade Company from 1983-1993 where he was responsible for overall company sales. He also worked extensively in new product development and custom projects for both the commercial play and site amenities. Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance/Law and Marketing from Portland State University. As a founding board member in 1995, and current President of the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and long-term representative for active American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Over the past 35 years, Tom Norquist has been involved in all aspects of the play industry. Over a decade ago, under his leadership, the IPEMA developed the voiceofplay.org initiative, conveying the message of the importance of play to millions. He served from 2002-2004 on the Advisory Board for the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS). For over a decade, he actively served in the (Access Board) Recreation Access Advisory Committee and Regulatory Negotiation meetings and additionally served on the advisory panel for the Access Board’s on-line Technical Assistance and Training for Play Area Accessibility. Tom served for over 15 years on the Board for the International Playground Contractor’s Association (NPCAI) and is a founding steering committee member and active leader on the U.S. Coalition for Play. Tom is one of a few recipients of the coveted Joe L. Frost Play Research Collection National Play Advocate Award in April 2008. Additionally, over the past eight years, Tom has led Dr. Stuart Brown’s National Institute for Play (NIFP) Board. He is the project co-leader of the first known on-line database of scientific and academic research creating a cohesive picture about the proven scientific benefits of play. Tom received a Distinguished Service Award from Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design for his leadership on fourteen design studios over the past fourteen years.