Thomas Johnston, SearchPath International
President & CEO
Cleveland - OH US

The big idea: In 25 words or less, please highlight why readers should care about this Fast 50 nominee
Tom Johnston has been heavily involved in the search and recruitment industry since 1988 as an individual contributor, manager and owner. His newly-created business model makes SearchPath employment and franchise ownership opportunities available to entrepreneurs nationally.

Please describe the creative and business achievements of the Fast 50 nominee (whether it's yourself, someone you admire, or someone you work with).
(suggested length: 250 words)
With 18 years in the industry, Tom has built SearchPath International based on a collection of best practices in the search and recruiting industry. Tom has successfully completed many senior level searches including CEOs, CFOs, Senior Vice Presidents and Directors. He has leveraged his in-depth study, knowledge, expertise and contacts to attract top talent. Tom was previously the Director of Interim Executive Staffing for Management Recruiters International (MRI), the world’s largest search and recruitment organization. He introduced interim staffing to MRI, which generated $40 million in revenue in less than three years. Tom was a member of the management team that transitioned MRI into a full-service human resource solutions organization. Tom was a key contributor to the growth and success of MRI. He built out a secondary franchise offering that has grown to become a significant part of the MRI Service offering. At its peak, MRI had 1,000 offices and has generated in excess of $800 million. Tom's SearchPath office has averaged more than a $1 million dollars a year since inception, and his personal production has exceeded $5 million. He sold the largest national account as an individual office worth more than $3 million in billings. This accomplishment ranks both him and his office as one of top search firms in the country. Tom's goal is to sign 25 franchises by the end of 2005 and to secure 100 franchises in 2006. In the first three months in business, SPI and Tom Johnston have sold nine franchises, with an additional 11 in process.

What skills has the nominee used to obtain these results? Please focus your entry around particularly novel or unique approaches, spectacular innovations, and creative insights.
(suggested length: 250 words)
Since launching the SearchPath earlier this year, Tom’s results spearheading the franchising activity is progressing well ahead of schedule. A reasonable initial investment, combined with the relatively low start-up costs, makes the decision to join SearchPath exciting and appealing. SearchPath provides owners with a wide access to the company’s extensive databases, industry leading training, and centralized research. With a fully integrated wireless environment in its headquarters office, Tom has adopted a cutting edge technology platform allowing the company to have “virtual employees” across the country. Everyone uses a laptop. The platform’s features include a world-class phone system operated through the Internet using VoIP and a sophisticated resume and contact database. Using an ASP model, SearchPath incorporates the Blackberry PDA into their overall technology platform. SearchPath has 20 recruiters in the headquarters office. They have no phones, no phone system, no voicemail system, and no long distance carrier. They use a virtual PBX phone system, and this is the platform for the company’s franchise expansion. Tom says this is one of the most advanced technology platforms in the search industry. The major foundation of SearchPath’s growth strategy is that technology allows for a better lifestyle. Tom and his entire organization benefit from the freedom and flexibility to work effectively from anywhere in the world. Tom announced in late November that SearchPath has broken escrow on its capital raise as it seeks to become a publicly traded company. He has received a tremendous response from those within and outside of the industry.

What does the nominee have in store for the next 10 years? How will it shape the nominee's industry, the world of business or our culture at large? Please focus this answer around the nominee's vision for the future and his or her specific plans for achieving these goals.
(suggested length: 250 words)
Tom’s goal is to build SearchPath into a major international firm based on service, quality and integrity. The key differentiators that set the company apart include: performance-based fees; a client-centric search model; a flexible lifestyle; and a cutting edge technology platform. A supporter of entrepreneurs, Tom is giving young professionals the opportunity to start a SearchPath business, and he will mentor them to build a successful search franchise. This past August, Tom announced a $40,000 grant available to one of the students in the Entrepreneurs on the Cuyahoga program in conjunction with Corporate College’s Key Entrepreneur Development Center in Cleveland. The grant will allow the winning student to start his or her own SearchPath business. Tom is launching a program he created called the “2010ers” with the intention of identifying individuals in significant leadership positions who will be the top future business leaders by the year 2010 and survey them on a regular basis as a marketing gauge on various topics relating to the workplace, compensation, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, etc. This select group has a different management style and a different way of looking at the world. Through a designated web site, Tom will accept nominations for individuals to be part of this select group, build a database of future leaders and then conduct surveys to capture their thoughts and publish the results. Tom’s future plans include: creating SearchPath’s own job board, launching SearchPath Learning Center, expanding the Young Entrepreneur and Senior Executive Programs and developing strategic partnerships. He intends to roll out the Young Entrepreneur Program to 25-50 universities around the country in 2006.
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