Thomas K. Wilson - Biography

Real Estate. Mr. Wilson bought his first property in 1971 in California and bought several investment properties through the 70’s. After thirty years in some of Silicon Valley’s pioneering companies, Mr. Wilson turned his focus in 1999 to real estate investments and development, while continuing to consult in the high tech industry. Since then, he has bought and sold more than a eleven hundred units, mostly in DFW, including three condo conversion projects, two syndications, and seven multifam properties. Currently Mr. Wilson is focusing on a program of reselling rehabbed and leased DFW foreclosures to investors. He is active in real estate investment clubs, and provides mentoring to new investors. His DFW real estate investments provide his primary income.

Thomas K. Wilson is an eleventh generation native of the Eastern Shore of Virginia (1946). His mother was a schoolteacher and his entrepreneurial father and grandfather role models had fourteen businesses between them. After graduating from the University of Delaware with an Electrical Engineering degree in 1969, he and his bride, Weegi, a registered nurse, followed their adventuresome spirit west to the yet-to-become Silicon Valley.

High Tech. Mr. Wilson’s high tech career roots were planted at Fairchild in 1969 where he deeply learned first hand the principals of being market and cost driven within the still Cinderella and pioneering father of the new semiconductor industry. He had design, product and program responsibilities for pioneering projects including the first consumer camera electronics (Polaroid SX70), the first electronic automotive ignition (Delco), and the first airline multiplex audio system (Boeing 747).

In 1973 Mr. Wilson became the manager of the first microelectronic manufacturing facility of Watkins-Johnson Co. in Stanford Industrial Park in Palo Alto, a leading supplier of military communications equipment. He then formed and managed the custom device product line for satellite, missile and aircraft equipment and co-founded the highest volume and most profitable device product line in the company’s history.

In 1984 Mr. Wilson joined KLM Electronics as VP and General Manager of the world’s first consumer satellite TV system volume manufacturer. During his leadership they were the largest producer of C Band TVRO systems, and he led the engineering division with fourteen new receivers and products designs in 120 days.

Mr. Wilson accepted a position in 1986 at Watkins-Johnson Co. as the first Marketing Manager, and led the company in new directions including surface mount technology devices, high dynamic range frequency mixers, and more standardized and cost effective high reliability satellite devices. As Regional Device Sales Manager, his business development work resulted in five of the company’s largest device contracts.

In 1995, he became Western US Sales Manager of the pioneering RF and Microwave circuit simulation company, Compact Software. After a merger with Ansoft Corporation, Mr. Wilson led the company in the largest contract, and the highest annual sales of the company’s history. True to his roots, he also provided marketing leadership for many of the company’s new product features and directions.

Mr. Wilson became the VP of Sales and Marketing of Xpedion Corporation in 1997, a start up company for microwave circuit simulation software, a direct competitor of Hewlett Packard and Ansoft Corp. The new company featured better compatibility with the market’s existing design tools.

Mr. Wilson and his Registered Nurse wife of forty years live in Saratoga, Ca. and have a daughter in veterinary school in S.Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are active in their community, church, and several charitable organizations.