Tom Taormina, CMC, CMQ/OE
Expert Witness in Product Liability and Organizational Negligence
With a unique perspective from having worked with over 500 companies in his 41 year career, Tom Taormina brings a rare talent for precision problem diagnosis, strategic thinking and outstanding written and verbal communications skills to any litigation team. His forte is assessing if, and how effectively, organizations are following their own manufacturing and quality practices and if they comply with required statutory, regulatory and industry standards.
Tom was a member of the Apollo 13 disaster recovery team at Mission Control in Houston. His experiences during his 14 years at NASA formed the foundation for him to be able to rapidly analyze problems, diagnose solutions and work with teams to implement successful outcomes. This skill set makes him a highly sought-after consultant and also is vital to his success as a member of a defense or plaintiff’s winning team of experts.
Tom is a Senior Member of the American Society for Quality and is a frequent speaker to professional organizations on topics ranging from quality management to organizational excellence. He has been so successful at synthesizing quality control and quality assurance techniques into mainstream business that the American Society for Quality recruited him to be Managing Editor for a series of publications entitled “Defining Quality Management.”
Recent noteworthy professional accomplishments include:
Tom attended the State University of New York at Farmingdale and The University of Houston, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Ford Aerospace and NASA granted him the degree equivalency of Quality Control Engineer in 1969, before it was a recognized university curriculum. He received additional training from Texas A&M, The American Productivity and Quality Center and Productivity, Inc. in the fields of quality and business management. He is currently a Senior Member of The American Society for Quality and internationally acclaimed as a subject matter expert in quality and ISO 9000.
After leaving NASA, he spent ten years working for a number of oil field service companies as quality manager and manufacturing manager where he turned the lessons learned as an auditor into practice as a business leader. His last industry assignment was as Director of Training for Schlumberger Anadrill.
In 1991, Tom founded Productivity Resources LLC and was the Managing Partner. He is a consultant in leadership development, business processes and strategic quality improvement. He has been a facilitator for companies such as Dell Computer, Ford Motor Credit and Burlington Northern Railroad. In 2004, Tom re-branded his business and is now President of The Taormina Group, Inc. The Group contains a growing cadre of exceptional subject matter experts in the fields of quality, leadership and business processes.
Tom has been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator since 1959 and has recently been inducted into the Ham Radio Hall of Fame.
Professional Certifications:
Certified Management Consultant by the Institute of Management Consultants, 1999
Certified Professional Consultant to Management by The National Bureau of Certified Consultants, 2000 (expired)
Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence, American Society for Quality, 1996
Subject Matter Expert in:
Books, Booklets and Articles
Implementing ISO 9001:2000; The Journey from Conformance to Performance (Chinese language), Pearson Education/China Machine Press (2003) ISBN 7-111-12311-5.
Implementing ISO 9001:2000; The Journey from Conformance to Performance, Prentice Hall (2002) ISBN 0-13-061909-4.
Introduction to ISO 9001:2000 Self Study Course, ABS Government Institutes (2001)
Assessing ISO 9001:2000 For Your Business, Key Elements and Strategies ABS Government Institutes (2001) ISBN 0-86587-828-5.
Successful Internal Auditing to ISO 9000, Prentice Hall (1999) ISBN 0-13-856808-1.
Assessing ISO 9000 For Your Business, Key Elements and Strategies, ABS Government Institutes (1999) ISBN 0-86587-648-7.
ISO 9000 Liderazgo Virtual, Prentice Hall (1997) (Spanish language) ISBN 970-17-0027-9.
Virtual Leadership and the ISO 9000 Imperative, Prentice Hall (1996) ISBN 0-13-237074-3.
Perfecting Mediocrity (11th book manuscript © 2007, currently being marketed)
The Essence of Quality Management, Anthologies 1,2 and 3, (1998-1989) (Managing Editor) American Society for Quality (ASQ), Quality Management Division.
What is a Quality Management System? (1997) American Society for Quality, Quality Management Division
Management or Leadership? (1997) American Society for Quality, Quality Management Division
The Internal Auditing Forum (January thru December 2004), Quality Systems Update Magazine
The ISO 9001:2000 Transition Workshop (January thru December 2003), Quality Systems Update Magazine
Quality to Business, (Spring 2002) Comstock’s Business Magazine
11 Ways to Increase Profit with ISO 9001:2000, (April 2002), Quality Systems Update
From Quality to Business Success, (April 2002), Quality Progress Magazine
I Know It When I See It: The True Meaning of Quality, (March 2002), Pearson Education’s InformIt.com
FS9000 – The New Quality Standard for The Financial Services Industry, (March 2001), Quality Systems Update Magazine
ISO 9000 – 2000, The Journey From Conformance to Performance, (December 2000) The Quality Management Journal of Australia
Virtual Quality, (Volume 11, Number 5, 1999), The TQM Magazine (England)
Conducting Successful Internal Audits, (June, 1998) Quality Digest Magazine
Como ter Sucesso com a Auditoria Interna (October 1998) BQ Qualidade (Brazil, Portuguese)
Representative Client List
3-D Protection Systems, Portland, OR (Fire Protection Systems)
Addi Galleries, Reno, NV and Maui, HI (Art Gallery)
Altair Nanotechnologies, Reno, NV (Pharmaceuticals and Nano-materials)
American Productivity & Quality Center, Houston, TX (Training and Benchmarking)
American Structural Composites, Reno, NV (Prefabricated Housing)
Anadrill Schlumberger, Sugar Land, TX (Oilfield Testing)
Atlantic American Insurance Co., Atlanta, GA (Stock Transfer Agent)
AUS Corporation, Irvine, CA (Pollution Control Equipment)
BioDiesel Solutions, Sparks, NV (Renewable Energy)
Buildings & Dwellings, Reno, NV (General Contractor)
Burlington Northern Railroad, Ft. Worth, Texas
Buyer Agents, Reno, NV (Real Estate)
Cardinal Investment Services, Paxton, MA (Stock Transfer Agent)
Click-Bond, Carson City, NV (Aerospace Fasteners)
Close Precision Machining, Carson City, NV (Machine Shop)
Colonial Stock Transfer, Salt Lake City, UT (Stock Transfer Agent)
Computer Technology Solutions, Houston, TX (Electronics Manufacturing)
Concentric Systems, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (Computer Systems)
Controlomatics, Cedar Knolls, NJ (Control Systems Software)
Coors Technical Ceramics, Benton, AR (Ceramics Manufacturing)
Custom Stamping, Carson City, NV and Covina, CA (Precision Stamping)
Dell Computer, Dell University, Round Rock, TX
Dell Computer, Supplier Quality, Austin, TX
Dell Computer, Asset Recovery Business, Austin, TX
Dell Computer, Global Business Process Improvement, Round Rock, TX
Dura-Bond Bearing Company, Carson City, NV
Electro-Spec, Houston, TX (Electronics Mfg.)
ESG Companies, Reno, NV (Fire Protection Systems)
Evco Plastics, Reno, NV (Plastics Extrusion)
Ford Motor Credit Company, Dearborn, MI
Fluke Biomedical, Carson City, NV (Medical Testing Devices)
GalleryRow.com, Reno, NV (e-Commerce)
Glasheen Law, Lubbock, TX (Expert Witness)
Guera & Moore, Harlingen, TX (Expert Witness)
Hamilton McMahon Ltd (Expert Witness)
IDB Systems, Richardson, TX (Electronics Mfg.)
IP Unity, Milpitas, CA (Voice Over Internet)
Innotrac Direct Marketing, Reno NV (Fulfillment Center)
International Game Technology (IGT), Reno, NV (Gaming Machines)
Keller Realty, Reno, NV (Property Management)
KPS-3 Marketing, Reno, NV (Marketing & Communications)
Magnetic Instruments, Brenham, TX (Machine Shop)
Management Assistance Partnership (MAP) Reno, NV (Workshops and Consulting)
Merrill Lynch Investment Banking, New York, NY
Merrill Lynch Investment Partners, New York, NY
Merrill Lynch Financial Data Services, Jacksonville, FL
Morrison University, Reno, NV (Business Training)
Microwave Data Systems, Rochester, NY (Electronics Mfg.)
Mountain West Systems, Salt Lake City, UT (Fire Protection Systems)
NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
National Home Improvement, Spring, TX (Home Remodeling)
Nevada System of Higher Education, Reno, NV (Seminars and Workshops)
North Valley Precision Products, Reno, NV (Sheet Metal Shop)
PFPC, Warwick, RI (Financial Services)
Preferred Partnership Services, Freemont, CA (Stock Transfer Agent)
Productivity, Inc., Norwalk, CT (Seminars)
Promenade on the River, Reno, NV (Senior Living)
River Oaks Partnerships, Inc., Carlstadt, NJ (Investment Partnership Services)
Rosenthal & Watson, PC, Austin, TX (Expert Witness)
RLD Systems, Salem, OR (Fire Protection Systems)
Quebecor Printing USA, Fernley, NV (Printing)
Roland DGA, Irvine, CA (Commercial Printers)
Sai Software Consultants, Kingwood, TX (Technical Personnel Staffing)
Schlumberger Well Services, Sugar Land, TX (Oilfield Services)
Sensient Dehydrated Flavors, Turlock, CA
Shareholder Communications Corp., New York, NY, (Investment Partnership Services)
Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix, AZ, (Expert Witness)
Standard Registrar & Transfer, Draper, UT, (Investment Partnership Services)
Sunnytech Computers, Teterboro, NJ and Norcross, GA (Computer Systems)
The Eads Company, Houston, TX (Oil Field Distribution)
Taiyo America, Carson City, NV (Circuit Board Ink)
Tolson, USA, Houston, TX (Commodities Trading)
Truckee Precision, Reno, NV (Sheet metal)
Visual Clay, Gardnerville, NV (Computer Graphics)
VMX Corporation, Dallas, TX (Electronics Mfg.)
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Sparks, NV (Drug distribution)
Attorney Client References
Paula Wyatt
Wyatt Law Firm
70 NE Loop 410
San Antonio TX 78216 361-857-8783
Susan Heygood
Hall & Heygood
2605 Airport Fwy, Suite 100
Ft Worth TX 76111 817-831-6100
Brian McMahon
Hamilton & McMahon
577 California Ave.
Reno NV 89504 775-348-2700
Robert Lee
The Lee Law Firm
816 Congress, Suite 1230
Austin TX 78701 512-439-3200
Brad Peterson
Snell & Wilmer, LLP
One Arizona Center
Phoenix AZ 85004 602-382-6202
Expert Witness Case History
Victor Hamilton, et al v. Cooper Wiring Devices,Inc.; In the United States Court, Southern District, Houston Division, Civil Action No. H-06-4063
Diana Alcala, et al v. Cardinal Health, Inc et al; In the District Court of Cameron County, Texas, 404th Judicial District, Cause No. 2006-09-4487G
James Souder, et al v. Lakewood Engineering and Manufacturing Company, et al; In the 62nd Judicial District Court of Lamar County, Texas, Cause No. 75364
Nelda Beatrice Martin, et al v. Westex Capital Ltd., et al; In the 81st District Court of Karnes County, Texas, Cause #05-06-00095CVK
Stuart Schuster v. American Honda Motor Company, et al; In the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, 96th Judicial District, Cause #096-211755-05
Titanium Metals Corporation v. Globe Metallurgical, Inc.; In the District Court, Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A435651, Department XIII
Alvarez v Tech Spray, et al; In the District Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, Case # CV-04-305-TUC-RCC
Elisa Rodriguez, et al v. Wal-Mart Stores, et al; In the 93rd Judicial Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, Cause No. C-1269-01B
Jason Carl Rhoudes et al; v. Watts Treating Chemicals, Inc., et al; In the 32nd District Court of Nolan County, Texas, Cause No 18,567; 18,498; 18,509
Tracy Gene Bagwell, et al v. Rival Consumer Sales Corporation, et al; In the United States District Court for the Southern Division of Texas, Houston Division, Civil Action No. 4:06-03595
Gatekeeper Inc., v. Computer Technology Associates Inc.; In the United States District Court for the Eastern Division of Virginia, Case No 1:08-cv-00385