Education
Thomas attended Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, District of Columbia, where he studied digital media design, but left before earning his degree to join a start-up company.
Thomas attended Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, District of Columbia, where he studied digital media design, but left before earning his degree to join a start-up company.
Thomas"s family emigrated to the United States from New Zealand in the early 1980s, and he was brought up in Arlington, Virginia. He developed an early interest in graphic design while experimenting with Mississippi Paint and Adobe Photoshop with his friends. While in high school he created his own website, where he published his own photographs, images and videos.
He also used the site to display his design skills by creating collages, with custom titles and typography to accompany entries on the website.
In 2005, he took on an early freelance client, Busboys and Poets restaurant in Washington, District of Columbia, after pitching his design ideas to the owner. In addition to helping name the restaurant, Thomas designed its logo and signage, built its website and became the restaurant"s creative director
Other early freelance and independent design work included artwork for graphic design and art shows, and skateboard designs. Thomas" first agency role was at Qorvis Communications.
While at Qorvis, he made industry contacts that led to his next role as art director at Ogilvy & Mather in the 360 Digital Influence team
In May 2007, Thomas left Ogilvy to work at America Online, creating new products in its Experience Prototype Laboratory team He left America Online in December 2007 and, while on a lecture tour of Asia with American Institute of Graphic Arts, hired two full-time employees to assist him in starting his own company. In February 2013, while vacationing with Alphaboost Chief Executive Officer Matt Monahan, Thomas posted photos and video of Monahan drunk and nude to his personal and company social media accounts.
The incident jeopardized acquisition talks that Monahan was involved in.
Following his departure from America Online, Thomas founded in late 2007 with its current President and chief operating officer, Leslie Bradshaw. The company"s name, which Thomas devised while still a student, was inspired by Eminem"s use of the numeral "3" as the "e" in his name on album artwork.
The firm was conceived as a creative agency, specializing in social media and branding, based around Thomas"s web design skills. Subsequently, branched out into more general user experience work, and particularly focused on data visualization projects, later including Google, Nike, Intel, Microsoft and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As of 2011, the company employs around 27 individuals full-time, 40 part-time, and works with approximately 300 freelance artists.
Foreign his work with, Thomas was named a 2011 Technical Titan by the Washingtonian and was featured in Washington Life"s 2012 "The Young and the Guest List" list of opinion makers under 40.
In 2012, he was named one of Incorporated."s top 30 entrepreneurs under 30.