He then attended California State University, Chico, where he earned three degrees: a bachelor of science in business administration, with a minor in human resources management; and two bachelors of arts, in music and sociology.

After working for five years as an advertising account executive, Tommy returned to college to earn his master of business administration. When he finished his education, he settled in the San Francisco Bay Area and set about building a career as an advertising executive.

Tommy decided to write “NuBiAh” in response to the void in quality television programming during Black History month. Most of the shows centered on African Americans’ struggles during the slave-trade period and civil rights movement. While these stories are an essential part of black history, he believed that the lesser-known stories about events that took place prior to this time also needed to be told.

After conducting considerable research, he wrote "NuBiAh," with the intention of inspiring and motivating inner-city children whose life circumstances have impeded their ability to acquire a solid education. Following the book's publication, he presented the NuBiAh Stage Play musical, which dramatized the stories to be especially appealing to youth, young adults and the whole family. Currently, Tommy is working with Urban City Youth to bring the NuBiAh musical stage play to schools and stages in inner cities across America.