Thomas joined the Environmental Council Board of Directors in January 2026 and serves on its finance committee.

As a board member of HeadWaters Land Conservancy, Thomas chairs the lands committee and supports the protection of open spaces in Northeast Michigan. His dedication to conservation is also evident through his past leadership as vice president and founding member of the Friends of the DeWitt Nature Center, where he worked to protect old-growth forests.

Thomas brings decades of executive experience to the board. He was a founding partner and senior vice president of Triton Industries, a Lansing-based manufacturer of Manitou Pontoon Boats. During his 34-year tenure, he oversaw a diverse range of operations including product engineering, safety compliance and specialty equipment design.

A lifelong enthusiast of Michigan’s heritage, Thomas is an accomplished historian. He has co-authored numerous articles for Michigan History Magazine and the Historical Society of Michigan’s Chronicle, and he authored a local history of Nester Township titled “Stumped.”

Thomas expertise is backed by a Bachelor of Science in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in forest wildlife from Michigan Technological University.

Thomas lives with his partner, Kathy, in Roscommon County. An avid outdoorsman, he can often be found running, biking, swimming, fishing or hunting in the northern Michigan landscapes that first sparked his passion for the environment.