Tom Gildred is a multi-generational San Diegan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from San Diego State University. Tom started his career at Ernst & Young in its audit and consulting practices.
Professional Background
In 1995, Tom founded FMT Consultants, where he is currently Chairman of the Board. FMT Consultants is a recipient of the Microsoft Partner of the Year award and the San Diego Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” award (in 2011 and 2012). In 2016, FMT Consultants was ranked the No. 7 “software-as-a-service” (SAAS) company by the San Diego Business Journal.
In 2010, Tom founded Emerald Textiles with the goal of establishing a laundry service for Southern California hospitals and healthcare centers that was technologically advanced, environmentally conscious, met the highest cleanliness standards and provided exceptional service. As CEO he focused on employee comfort, safety and innovation. Tom was named Most Admired CEO by the San Diego Business Journal a year after Emerald opened its doors and was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, recognized at both the regional and national levels.
Since opening their first location, Emerald Textiles became the leading high-tech, environmentally responsible facility in the region. Within a short time in the market, Emerald earned the business of the majority of large health networks in San Diego and expanded into Los Angeles County becoming the leading provider in Southern California. Tom sold the company in mid-2018 in one of the most significant transactions in the industry. Since the sale, the Emerald brand has been rolled out across all of the acquirer’s locations based on the solid reputation for quality and cleanliness that the team built with Tom’s leadership.
Board of Directors and Organizations
- American Heart Association – Heart Walk Chair
- Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club – Founding Member
- Emerald Textiles Board of Directors – Past Chair
- Emerald Textiles Chief Executive Officer – 2010-2018
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards – Judge, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- FMT Consultants Board of Directors – Chair
- FMT Consultants Chief Executive Officer – 1995-2011
- Mission Valley YMCA Board of Directors – Past Member
- Plaza de Panama Board of Directors – Past Treasurer
- San Diego State University, College of Business Administration Board of Directors – Member
- San Diego Museum of Art Board – Past President, Member
- San Diego Museum of Art Executive Committee – Member
- San Diego Museum of Art Strategic Planning Committee – Past Chair
- San Diego Museum of Art Finance Committee – Past Chair
- San Diego Museum of Art Audit Committee – Chair
- San Diego Museum of Art Development Committee – Past Chair
- San Diego Museum of Art Compensation & Benefits Committee – Past Chair
- San Diego Museum of Art Governance & Nominating Committee – Past Chair
- San Diego Software Industry Council – Past Member
- Sharp HealthCare Board of Directors – Past Member
- Sharp HealthCare Information Technology Committee – Chair 2005-2020
- Sharp HealthCare Marketing & Communications Committee – Member
- Sharp HealthCare Audit Committee – Past Member
- Sharp HealthCare Growth Planning Committee – Past Member
- Sharp HealthCare Nominating Committee – Past Member
- Sharp Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees – Member
- The Gildred Companies Board of Directors – Chairman
- The Gildred Companies Audit Committee – Chairman
- The Gildred Companies Compensation Committee – Member
- Vistage Group 3080 – Founding Member
- Vistage Member Advisory Committee – Past Member
Awards
Mr. Gildred is a serial entrepreneur, and has been honored twice by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year™ awards. First as a regional winner and national finalist in 2012 and then again as a national finalist in 2014. The prestigious award is given to entrepreneurs in recognition of their professional accomplishments and contributions in the community.
Gildred was also awarded the Most Admired CEO by the San Diego Business Journal and won the Millennium Award from the Friends of Balboa Park in 2014.
FMT Consultants, founded by Tom, is a Microsoft Gold Certified business software firm which has received the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award and was named one of San Diego’s “Best Places to Work” in both 2011 and 2012 and was recently nominated as one of San Diego’s fastest growing companies by the San Diego Business Journal.
Personal
Tom Gildred is a respected entrepreneur and member of the community, striving to make a difference in San Diego. In his free time, Tom spends a lot of time on his bicycle along with the occasional round of golf, windsurfing at the beach and joining in on some friendly-yet-competitive beach volleyball. Tom and his wife Carolina Gildred belong to the Wine & Food Society of La Jolla and Chevaliers du Tastevin of San Diego. He is a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Farms Country Club and a past member of Fairbanks Ranch Country Club where he served on their finance committee. Tom Gildred is an art patron and appreciator, and he’s a Circle Member at the San Diego Museum of Art. Mr. Gildred is well-respected by his employees and by his peers and teams. He raises the bar for business in San Diego County.