Profile: Tom Schmidt
Tom_Schmidt_headshot.JPG (63172 bytes)Tom, president of Carroll Publishing Company, started his 28-year newspaper career as a sports writer with the Chicago Tribune. He then became sports editor and managing editor of the Delaware State News, followed by general manager of Delaware Printing Company. In 1985 he moved to Comprint Publishing Co. in Gaithersburg as director of operations. He joined Carroll Publishing in 1991, where he is general manager of its two weekly newspapers, the Catholic Standard, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington, and El Pregonero, the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in the Washington market. Tom is president-elect of the MDDC Press Association and serves as chair of its Conventions Committee.

PERSONAL:
Born Nov. 17, 1951. Wife is Calli; children are three sons, John (20), Dan (18) and Dave (15).

Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, University of Missouri, 1973.

How would you describe yourself: "I am generally outgoing, with a good sense of humor, given to occasional stretches of productive solitude. I like a good party, but I’m never the last one to leave."

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of job: "Witnessing the birth of new newspapers each week, knowing the diversity and degree of effort required to accomplish the task. Thanking team members for their hard work and dedication."

List and briefly describe your mentor: "Bill Van Kirk, my editor in Chicago, who instilled values of camaraderie, teamwork and having fun on the job."

Biggest challenge of job: "Developing content and packaging that readers will choose – from among so many, many options – to make part of their information day."

FUN:
Fantasy job: "I believe I could handle being a hunting/fishing columnist for a major metro daily. Move over, Angus Phillips!"

Favorite music: "Classical, Beatles, Dave Matthews Band, Steely Dan."

Favorite car and car you drive now: "I hate cars. What a waste of money. I drive a beat-up Chevy pickup truck."

Last book read: "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver.

Last movie seen: "Saving Grace"

Favorite TV show: "The West Wing"

Hobbies: "I hunt. I fish. I’ve run marathons and occasionally still find the motivation to run a few miles a day."

Last and favorite vacation: "With wife and friends on a nine-day trip to San Francisco and the Napa Valley. Looking forward to Christmas in Rome later this year."

How would you most like to spend one day: "Give me any major city in Europe, but I’d really like to spend a day in the old town area of Prague."

If you could meet anyone else (at any time in history), who would it be? "I’d like to sit an afternoon on the porch with Mark Twain."

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