In 2009, Thomas (Tom) Porter started his own firm, Tom Porter Services, LLC, located in Grosse Pointe, Mich. Immediately before that time, he was an executive vice president for Barton Malow Company, where he worked closely with the President and the Chief Operating Officer to establish the company’s overall business direction. He had line responsibility for the company’s administrative functions, including Finance and Accounting, Legal, Safety, Risk Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, Corporate Affairs, Process Improvement and Office Administration. He also served on the company’s board and as the Chief Legal Officer.
Tom attended John Carroll University in Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan.
After law school, Tom was employed with the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C. There he handled civil court cases as the attorney for all manner of federal executive agencies, including the armed services and civilian departments. After five years of public sector work, Tom returned to Michigan in 1985 to be closer to extended family and to enter private law practice. He joined the Dykema Gossett law firm in Detroit as an associate attorney in 1985 and was elected partner two years later. He handled business litigation at Dykema and also served as President of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter. In 1997 he began work with Barton Malow as the company’s General Counsel.
Tom is the immediate past chairman of the national board for the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). He has earned a designation from DBIA as a Design-Build Professional. He has served as Secretary of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, a business-government partnership to promote regional cooperation within the Greater Detroit area. He is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Contract Documents Committee of the Associated General Contractors of America.
He resides in Grosse Pointe Shores with his wife Anne Ballew. They have three children, Devin, 24; Clare, 21; and Keith, 17. Tom enjoys hiking with his family in national parks, and he and Anne enjoy sailing on Lake St. Clair.