John Thomas

Dr. John Thomas is Chief Advisor at ACERTAS. He is also Dean and Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Zapara School of Business, La Sierra University. Dr. Thomas has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, strategic advisor and business researcher.

Dr. Thomas advises businesses in combining both theoretical and practical acumen to solve corporate problems and is considered by peers as an innovative and creative deal maker. His industry experience includes global risk assessment, international finance and international trade development and retailing, franchising and distribution. As a member of La Sierra University’s business faculty since 1988, Dr. Thomas has taught courses in entrepreneurship, management, economics and finance. He has been awarded the Freedom Foundation’s Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education, and the Zapara Award for Excellence. He was inducted into the Enactus Hall of Fame in 2007 created by Sam Walton.

Dr. Thomas holds an M.B.A. with concentrations in Finance and Marketing. He received both a M.A. and Ph.D. in International Political Economy from Claremont Graduate University.