About Tom McMakin

Tom McMakin is the Executive Chairman of PIE. Over his 15 years as CEO, he has built PIE into a leading business development consultancy, serving middle-market and large professional services firms. Previously, he was the COO of Great Harvest Bread Co. and founder of Orchard Holdings, a private equity investment company. He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon and helped set up the first Peace Corps program in Estonia. He is the author of three books, Bread and Butter, How Clients Buy, and Never Say Sell, and is a graduate of Oberlin College. He lives in Bozeman with his wife, Mary.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING AT PIE

I love that we connect some of the brightest minds on the planet with those they can most help.

A PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M PROUD OF

I have been a teacher, worked in politics, served as Peace Corps Volunteer, led a bakery franchise, sourced investments for a private equity fund, and captained a number of private equity-held companies. My education came from Oberlin College, an executive education courses at Stanford Graduate School of Business, a Babson College course that was part of being named a Goldman Sachs Scholar, and, most importantly, the people with whom I have worked over the last 40 years.

I’m most proud of building PIE into a world-class brand who is trusted by the largest professional services firms with their most important relationships.

HOW I LIVE A FULL LIFE

I love to be outdoors — skiing, camping, and hiking with my family. I have a long-standing interest in the people of Kom in Cameroon. My family has built schools, roads and bridges there. I am currently working on more fully learning their language, Itangikom, and mentoring a young writer from Kom who is enrolled in Columbia University’s MFA program.

MY CURRENT GOAL

I would like to be a small part of bringing peace to the civil strife that plagues Cameroon in the region know as Ambazonia.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES

I love wearing hiking boots. Currently, I am wearing a heavy boot made by Schnee’s here in Bozeman. It may be my favorite in a long line of boots. Such support! Such protection! Such durability and style!