Our Team Members

Two words best summarize Tom Micelotta’s value to NCDS clients: experience and success. He has managed dozens of campaigns and feasibility studies in a variety of communities for a broad spectrum of community and economic development organizations, raising over $125 million in the process. His track record is a succession of over-goal campaigns - some in small communities that had never before raised money for economic development, and many in larger metros and for multi-campaign clients. Tom is a strong believer in the firm’s one-step- at-a time campaign process and is frequently commended for his user-friendly integration of that process with client operations and staff. His campaign success is also closely tied to his proven ability to enlist and engage top volunteer leadership and his strategic use of their influence. In short, he is highly effective at “leading the leaders.”

Tom’s most recent projects have included the fourth Yankton Economic Success (YES 4 - Yankton, SD) $3 million campaign, the eighth Forward Sioux Falls campaign (2021), raising $17 million for the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Foundation and a first-time campaign for a $5 million strategic initiative for the Erie (PA) Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership titled “Erie Forward.”

His other Chamber and Economic Development assignments include: a $15.5 million economic, workforce & community development initiative for Forward Sioux Falls 7 (SD - 2016); an $11 million economic development campaign for the Mobile (AL) Area Chamber of Commerce; Wake County Economic Development & The Greater Raleigh (NC) Chamber of Commerce - $10 million; North Carolina’s Eastern Alliance - $4 million; Commerce Lexington (KY) - $5 million; Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (SC) - $4 million; Asheville - Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition (NC) - $5 million; Hutchinson (KS) Chamber; Greater Durham (NC) Chamber of Commerce; Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (NC); Union County (NC) EDC; Mooresville/South Iredell County (NC) Chamber of Commerce/EDC; Albany (GA) Area Chamber of Commerce and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Richmond, VA.

Tom came to NCDS well suited to manage the campaign process and to solicit investments in community and economic development programming. His professional background includes fundraising and staff training positions with two national non-profit organizations, and he has earned designation as a CFRE – Certified Fundraising Executive. He attended Saint Bonaventure University and Hamilton University in his native New York, earning degrees in Theology and Economics.

Tom lives in Saint Johns, Florida but enjoys being a part-time campaign resident in NCDS client communities.