Since he started building computers at the age of 15, J. Smith Thomas has always been an entrepreneur.
“I’m inherently a problem solver,” Thomas tells Business Report in its new Executive Spotlight feature. “That’s what keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning.”
That philosophy has carried over into his business. The president and CEO of BIG Networks aims to be an IT business partner that gets tasks done without “all the nonsense.” He understands that people are too busy today to have to deal with extra communication and clutter. BIG Networks prides itself on super-serving its handful of carefully selected customers.
Although Thomas is an IT expert, he says he’d much rather conduct business in person than via technology.
“I’m all about technology and 21st century stuff, but good old-fashioned business practices never die,” he says.
He also finds it crucial not to overcommit or set unreal expectations regarding technology. “Networks and equipment will go down from time-to-time, and IT will break,” he says. “The key is to be prepared for it.”
In his 20 years with BIG Networks, Thomas has witnessed countless changes in the IT industry, but perhaps the most significant shift is that IT has become “business critical,” he says.
“It is as important as the lights and telephones. Businesses cannot be competitive or successful without an effective IT plan,” he explains.
Read the full Executive Spotlight Q&A with Thomas. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:
How do you define “success”?
“Part of being successful in business is to be profitable. I’m not afraid to say it. Just like my clients, and this publication, and most everyone else, we’re in business to make money. But to be successful in that area, our customers need to be successful first. That’s where our IT partnership comes in.”
