CURRICULUM VITAE

 

THOMAS N. BURNHAM, ATTORNEY

 

Mr. Thomas N. Burnham is a seasoned professional with a diverse background of legal practice and business experience.

 

Mr. Burnham received Presidential appoints to both West Point and the Air Force Academy, and went on to serve in the United States Air Force Reserve as an Air Policeman for six years.

 

He attended the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1968 with honors, a Master of Business Administration in 1969 with honors and a Juris Doctorate in 1973.

 

Mr. Burnham was a partner in the Detroit firm of Hill Lewis where he practiced as an antitrust and corporate lawyer. He moved to the national law firm of Rose Schmidt as a partner where he was a principal trial lawyer for his client Mobil Oil. His other clients included RJR Reynolds, Republican National Committee and Domino’s Pizza International, Inc. He has represented dozens of professional athletes. He has counseled or represented such entrepreneurs as Warren Avis, T. Boone Pickens and Tom Monaghan.

 

With respect to public companies, Mr. Burnham was CEO of the first American based company on the London OFEX exchange and CEO of the first American based company on the London AIM exchange. He was also CEO of a Security and Exchange Commission registered reporting company. Mr. Burnham was President and Director of Cluckers International Franchise Corporation (Miami, Florida) whose parent company was the nation’s third ranked rotisserie chicken company behind Boston Chicken and Kenny Roger’s Roasters. During his tenure, the company was selected by USA Today as NASDAQ's "hottest stock" in July of 1994 after its stock tripled in price. The company was then acquired.

 

Mr. Burnham’s real estate activities have included acquiring and managing real estate portfolios on behalf of clients and corporate affiliates ranging from commercial to residential units, both domestically and abroad. He spoke at Oxford University on international real estate syndications, additionally lecturing at the International Real Estate Institute. He received two Recognition Awards from the International Real Estate Institute for his contributions to the International Academy of Real Estate Studies and for his contributions to the Caribbean Basin Real Estate Congress.

 

In addition, he has been a keynote speaker and lecturer on entrepreneurship, franchising, and international capital markets. Mr. Burnham’s national prominence in the areas of funding charitable foundations and political finance activities, resulted in his receiving an offer from the University of Michigan to create and teach courses on both subjects.

 

From 1984 to 1990, Mr. Burnham was increasingly involved with Domino’s Pizza International, Inc., where he was Vice President of Administration, then Vice President of Administration and Development and eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and a Director for this home delivery operation. Mr. Burnham was responsible for legal, administration, development, franchising, real estate, trademark, litigation, strategic planning and corporate acquisitions.

 

Mr. Burnham’s community and political activity includes three terms as President of the Council of the Boy Scouts of America for Southeastern Michigan where he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Silver Beaver by then President George H. W. Bush. He served on the national Board of the Christian Ministry for the National Parks and was a member of the national Board of Directors for the Lupus Foundation. He is a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

 

Mr. Burnham has been actively involved in the Republican Party since 1978. He has served in public appointments as well as serving as counsel to the Republican National Convention in 1980. He served as both Chairman and Finance Chairman for several United States Senate races. He served as National Chairman or Co-Chairman for most of President Ronald Reagan’s funding campaigns and events. He was Co-Chairman of the National Finance Committee of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Co-Chaired the Republican Congressional Leadership Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee with Richard DeVos of the Amway Corporation. In 1987 he was appointed the National Finance Chairman for the Republican Party’s Farewell Tribute to President Reagan. In 1995 he was appointed Co-Chairman of the National Finance Committee for Bob Dole for President. Additionally, during this timeframe, Mr. Burnham served in a number of political and finance capacities involving former President Richard Nixon, President Gerald Ford, and Vice President and then President George H.W. Bush.