Tom Collamore Joins Benedictine’s Board of Trustees

Thomas J. Collamore of Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been selected to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Benedictine Foundation. “Tom Collamore, as a parent of a current Benedictine School student, appreciates the spirit of Benedictine,” commented Benedictine Programs and Services’ Director, Sister Jeannette Murray, O.S.B. “With his experience and accomplishments in business, government and public affairs, he is a tremendous addition to our Board of Trustees.” The Benedictine Foundation's mission is to secure the resources needed to assure the success and future of Benedictine Programs and Services. All of the Foundation's fundraising, development, marketing and other activities are overseen by a volunteer Board of Trustees made up of parents, siblings, and community members with valuable expertise in educational, politicial, corporate, and other arenas.

Mr. Collamore is Vice President, Corporate Public Affairs, for Altria Group, Inc., and is responsible for the strategy, direction and management of the company’s public policy, public affairs, and charitable giving programs. Altria’s giving programs around the world are focused on making a meaningful difference in people’s lives by meeting undeniable human needs. He joined the company, at that time named The Phillip Morris Companies, Inc., in 1992. He was appointed to his present position in 1995, and recently led a company-wide corporate identity team that developed and implemented a strategy to change the company’s name from Philip Morris to Altria.

Prior to joining that company, Tom served as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the George H.W. Bush Administration. His responsibilities included serving as the Secretary’s representative with the White House, National Security Council and other Federal agencies, the Congress and private industry and overseeing the implementation and administration of policies and programs within the Commerce Department.

Previously, Tom was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration in 1989. He served as the Secretary’s principal advisor on administrative matters and as the Department’s Chief Financial Officer. Tom served in the White House on Vice President Bush’s senior staff from 1985 to 1989. During this time Tom traveled extensively with Mr. Bush and served as a senior traveling aide throughout the campaign for President, culminating in Mr. Bush’s 1988 election.

From 1981 to 1985 Tom was Special Assistant to Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, where he served as the Secretary’s advisor on Cabinet Affairs and White House Liaison. He received the Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service in 1985.

Tom serves on the Boards of many public affairs and philanthropic organizations, and is a committee co-chair of the capital campaign for the Benedictine School. A native of Connecticut, he graduated magna cum laude from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Tom resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife Jacqueline and their four children.