About Tom

Tom Drauschak
A Practical Approach

One of the greatest Golf Courses Designers

Tom has spent his life creating value through creative win-win scenarios. Whether focusing on a new project visions, providing a-typical services to a client (such as accelerated timelines), or simply looking outside the box to cut costs or resolve a difficult issue, Tom is motivated by his practical background grounded in varied experience including managing professional engineering, architectural, general construction, earthwork, and sales staff.

Born and raised in Sanatoga, Pennsylvania – Tom spent his youth on a farm working the land and raising aniamals. He is the son of a proud tire-making father and artistically creative mother. A graduate of Mansfield University in 1980, Tom holds a Bachelors of Arts in Land Use Planning and Geography, as well as a certification in Professional Land Surveying Review (1984-85 from Drexel University). Before coming to work in his hometown community, he took his first job in Washington, D.C. in the United States Department of Transportation – Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) working under both the Carter and Reagan administrations.

Tom worked with an FRA team investigating if practical to strategically electrify the United States’ railroad lines (versus the current diesel option) – avoiding reliance on foreign oil. He soon moved into the private sector and joined the then Missouri-Pacific Railroad (later Union Pacific), where, after intensive training, he oversaw railroad construction throughout Louisisiana and Texas as a Roadmaster. After two years on the job, Tom returned to his hometown and joined partner Robert McKinney, P.E. at McKinney Associates, Inc.

For six years, Tom worked with Bob McKinney to substantially grow their engineering company – (from a meager staff of six to twenty five), forming an Earth Enterprises (an excavation and site work company) with revenues over $5 Million the first year, and forming a real estate development division. Tom managed the wide variety of all of their projects – designing roads, bridges, and buildings; performing land surveying and all sorts of land development projects, subdivisions, various civil-structural-environmental engineering; and assisted many residential-commercial-industrial clients with designs/approvals/and compliance with local and federal environmental regulations. Tom’s staff worked large earth moving projects with quarries and on special environmentally sensitive commercial/industrial projects” (see Chester County Living article 1999).

Tom bought Bob McKinney out of his earth moving and real estate divisions in 1989 and went out on his own. Regardless of the 1990 recession, Tom’s business exploded with Earth Enterprises awarded two major turn-key world class private golf course projects (see “Stonewall” and “Bellewood” for details) while continuing to supply land planning, civil engineering, and earthwork services to many land development, private-public, commercial, and industrial clients.

Tom’s business flourished and Earth Enterprises became a major development/planning force in Chester County – with a growing portfolio. At times, Tom found himself most of the time managing a staff close to one hundred – from engineers, architects, surveyors, designers, equipment operators, and upper management staff.

Still, Tom made time to cater to his conservation interests by protecting key properties in West Vincent Township, Warwick Township, and Cumru Township of Berks County. He also maintained a revolving operation of rehabilitating old dilapidated Chester County properties – redesigning and renovating them into cozy homesteads.

From 2005 – 2010, Tom assembled a large group of properties and began the revitalization of St. Peters Village – a residential and commercial project. The project included a $100 Million residential development component (see St. Peters Village Project). Alongside this massive project, Tom continued to increase his involvement in purchasing a list of projects in the Montgomery/Chester County areas – See “Bigger Projects.”

In 2016, after years of witnessing America’s game of golf experiencing an enormous decline in golf play, Tom took on the challenge of providing a solution and wrote ‘The 12-Hole Standard, plus 6-Hole Half-Round,’ published in January 2017 and release at the PGA Golf Show in Orlando, Florida. Tom heads up his new Bellwether Solutions, Inc. company providing ‘outside the box’ solutions for clients looking for a fresh approach to any problem or issue.

Thomas Drauschak Resume

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Earth Enterprises, Inc. President/Owner Kimberton, PA (1986-present)

Managed in-house staff of upwards of 120 personnel – engineers, architects, landscape architects, surveyors, CAD designers, heavy and light earth moving equipment operators, greens superintendents, laborers, sales and management staff, and administrators.
Performed land development projects for hundreds of residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial clients (some listed below)

Bridge Street Warehouse Project (2007 – 2014) East Vincent Township, PA

Discovered and negotiated purchase of 20-acre parcel with existing 52,000 square-foot warehouse space per special request from Public School District client.
Negotiated (no broker) long-term lease/purchase with Public School District – 9 member board.
Managed commercial renovations of 26,000 s.f. warehouse and landlord role.

Yoder Farm Development Project (2007 – 2010) Bulltown,, PA

Negotiated purchase of 120-acre parcel under special agreement with Warwick Township (in litigation with seller) awarding an instant Final Plan approval upon purchase, after land planning and managing new less density fast track design for 42 new residential ‘golf cottages’ with 9-hole executive golf course, practice facility, and country club amenities (with option for 30,000 s.f. of commercial use).

St. Peters Village Development Project (2006-10) St. Peters, PA

Negotiated purchase of large assemblage ($10 M) of properties known collectively as ‘St. Peters Village’
Created land plan to develop and renovate the entire ‘Village’ under a special Memorandum of Understanding agreement with Township, PADEP, and PAPUC which defined a substantially aggressive (accelerated) development schedule as a bonus for quickly repairing the infiltration problems with St. Peters public sewer system polluting French Creek.
Renovated St. Peters Inn and Restaurant – 8 guest rooms, meeting rooms, upscale restaurant, bar, banquet facilities, and large outdoor decks (approx. $1 M)
Designed and fully Constructed the St. Peters Bakery
Re-constructed public water and sewer lines, PennDOT street, and streetscape throughout the ‘Village’
Land planned and Managed the design of new 121 mixed-unit residential component with new roadway system – obtained Final Plan Approvals in less than one year
Managed design and approvals for new spray-irrigation public sewer plant and new public water plant.
Negotiated purchase of 40-acre parcel from public School District for newly-proposed sewer plant
Operated St. Peters Inn and Bakery for 3 years in ‘Village’ marketing effort – $160,000 revenue per month at peak

Bucktown Crossing (2005) South Coventry Township, PA

Negotiated purchase of, land planned new use, and attended and performed at special two day Township hearing successfully obtaining desired approvals for 54 Age-Restricted Multi-Story Residential Units on 5.5-acre parcel – entire process accomplished in less than 90 days.
Negotiated sale to building group upon receiving desired approvals (no broker)

PD ROY LLC (2000-present) Limerick Township, PA

Negotiated purchase of Route 422 Royersford Interchange commercial development parcel
Managed design and obtained approvals for creation of Commercial Condominiums
Managed design and approvals of new Penndot roadway improvements and new internal roadway system for commercial condominium layout
Searched and discovered commercial tenants (Outback Restaurant, Staybridge Hotel) and negotiated annual ground leases (no broker) for both – Later 2012 negotiated and coordinated sale of Outback and Staybridge sites to buyer (with broker)
Managed the engineering land development approval process for Staybridge Hotel site plans
Managing the sale of the remaining commercial condominiums at present

Bellewood Golf Course Project (1997-99) North Coventry, PA

Designed 18-hole private golf course with full practice facility on 150-acre Gruber Estate
Prepared scale model of golf course design, and sold private golf course concept to client
Awarded turn-key contract to design USGA private golf course, perform all engineering, obtain all approvals, construct entire golf course with full irrigation system, grow in golf course to opening day, and perform all landscaping, hire green superintendent and maintenance staff, and purchase maintenance equipment.
Managed civil engineering and obtained Township/PADEP/Agency approvals to proceed to construction in less than 6 months
Constructed golf course to USGA specifications in accelerated timeline completing for opening day in less than 15 months from breaking ground
Constructed new lake, installed new irrigation system, designed and installed new bridge over Route 724, and landscaped entire golf course in one-year growing season (transplanted over 600 Dogwood trees)

Sheedermill Home Renovation (1997 – 98) Birchrunville, PA

Negotiated purchase of 20-acre residential parcel with existing farmhouse and barn
Designed, obtained approvals for, and performed major renovations to farmhouse and barn.

Cumru Township Home (1991-93) Berks County, PA

Negotiated purchase of 20-acre residential parcel
Designed, obtained approvals for, and constructed custom home and adjacent pond
Installed conservation easement over property prior to sale

Stonewall Golf Course Project (1990-95) Bulltown, PA

Awarded Turn-Key Contract to construct entire Stonewall Golf Course to “Merion Golf Club standards” in accelerated schedule
Worked with and coordinated the golf course design with Fazio, Doak, Hanse, and golfer Jay Sigel
Managed civil engineering and obtained Township/PADEP/Agency approvals to proceed to construction
Constructed to USGA specifications an 18-hole golf course with practice facility on 186 acre dairy farm site under an accelerated construction schedule – completing for opening day in less than 15 months from breaking ground. Construction included two new ponds, installed new Toro irrigation system, grew in entire golf course, landscaped golf course with tree plantings, designed and installed new entrance roadway and parking facilities.
Stonewall Golf Course ranked in TOP 100 Courses of the USA by Golf Digest
Earth Enterprises awarded first full 18 hole golf course construction project in Pennsylvania without PADEP violation 1992-93
Upon completion of the golf course, client awarded Turn-Key Design-Build Contract to reconstruct the dairy barns and farmhouse into full private golf club facilities including men’s and lady’s locker rooms, pro shop, full scale restaurant with banquet facilities, meeting rooms, bar area, Harry’s Bar and Grill with large deck at the turn, overnight accommodations, and maintenance buildings. (including new on site water and sewer system designs/approvals/installation for club house faciliites)

MD (McKinney – Drauschak) Investment Company President Pottstown, PA (1986-92)

Negotiated purchase of industrial land parcel on Shoemaker Road from R.C. Smith and R.P. Smith of Mrs. Smith’s Pie Company, Pottstown, PA
Awarded Design-Build-Lease Contract from Mr. R.C. Smith (client) – designed, engineered, obtained approvals, financed, and constructed 15,000 square foot Office/Air-Conditioned Warehouse on industrial parcel within 120-day timeline (with penalties to timeline)
Negotiated sale of new Office/Air Conditioned Warehouse to Cole Candy and Tobacco Company
Negotiated purchase of 50-acre residential parcel in North Coventry, PA
Designed and engineered 24-lot layout with large double cul-de-sacs, obtained Township/PADEP/Agency approvals, and installed all site improvements with in-house company Earth Enterprises.

McKinney Associates Vice President Pottstown, PA (1983-89)

Managed a Professional Engineering company – average daily staff of 24 personnel – survey crews, civil-structural-environmental engineers, architects, landscape architects, draftsmen, and office support staff.
Oversaw hundreds of civil, structural, and environmental engineering projects for residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial clients including such projects as land developments or subdivisions, inspections, building or roadway designs, zoning matters, soil testing, drainage or stormwater matters, and general construction management.

Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad Assistant Roadmaster (1981-83)

St. Louis, MO; Lake Charles, LA; Beaumont, TX

Trained extensively for Railroad construction and maintenance
Serviced large territory of Texas and Louisiana as Assistant Roadmaster

U.S. Department of Transportation Program Analyst for the Federal Railroad Administration Washington, DC (1980-81)

Worked with Northeast Corridor High Speed Rail Section in the evaluation of strategically electrifying major US Railroad lines (versus their current reliance on diesel fuel)