Thomas (Tom) Bland is a Certified Public Accountant who was the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer from inception until his retirement in 2017. He has extensive knowledge of all facets of business operations, and assisted the original founding Board in building and establishing financial operations, governance, human resources, risk management and facilities operation. Now semi-retired, he owns and operates Sequoia Financial Consulting, PC, a tax and financial management company, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In his spare time, he sits on the boards as treasurer and financial advisor of a number of environmental organizations, including the Leach Botanical Garden, Oswego Lake Watershed Council, Friends of Springbrook Park, the Uplands Neighborhood Association, as well as the performing arts organization, Big Horn Brass. He also enjoys spending as much time as he can with his five grandchildren, and continues to travel extensively. His next trip is to Thailand, Bhutan and India. A scientist who became a CPA, he has a BS in Genetics from the University of California, and an MS in Genetics from the University of Arizona. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Oregon, and a member of the Oregon Society of CPAs.