Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Company: Electronics Research Inc.,
Location: Chandler, Indiana, United States
Thomas B. Silliman, PE, president and chief executive officer at Electronics Research Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in media broadcasting.
With over five decades of experience, Mr. Silliman has built a distinguished career in engineering, specializing in broadcast antennas, towers, and filters for radio and television. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Electronics Research Inc., a company where he has also contributed as a part-time engineer and designer since 1961. Laying a solid educational foundation, he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University, graduating in 1970. His professional affiliations include being a fellow of the IEEE, secretary of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, board member of the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers, and member of the board of directors for WNIN Tri-State Public Media Inc. In light of his impressive undertakings, he was honored with the Radio Engineering Achievement Award from the National Association of Broadcasters in 2008, the E. Jules Cohen Award from the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society in 2015, and was recognized by the Cornell lacrosse team in Ithaca, NY.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Silliman began working for Electronics Research Inc. at the age of 16 while living in Washington, DC. Later, he acquired 80% ownership of the company from his father and now serves as its president. Before pursuing his master’s, he spent a summer in Indiana working on a project for Electronics Research Inc., which involved designing an antenna for nine Class CFM stations in Houston, Texas, securing the contract around the same time he completed his master’s degree. Throughout this period, he had been assisting his father, the then-owner of the company, in his spare time, gaining valuable experience that would shape his future leadership role. Recognizing his capabilities, his father officially hired him, leading to him relocating to Indiana. He and his father also conducted a proof of performance tests using directional couplers from Byrd Electronics to ensure the FM antennas produced no cross-products above -80 decibels. However, all nine stations fell short, with levels around -70 decibels. Upon discovering a faulty component in the couplers, he returned to Indiana, consulted an electrical engineering book, and designed a new coupler. After testing it, he and his father returned to Texas, and this time, all stations met the required standards and went on air. In 1975, he designed an FM antenna that remains the industry standard today.
Mr. Silliman attributes his success to his education and the invaluable guidance of his mentors. Looking ahead, he plans to continue his work for as long as he can, with his employees regarding him as an icon in the industry and expressing a strong desire to retain his leadership. When offering advice to aspiring professionals, he emphasizes the importance of integrity and honesty, and advises them to tailor business growth based on returns, cautioning against being overly aggressive, which could lead to failure. He also stresses the importance of surrounding yourself with employees who share your values and possess the necessary skills. Outside of his professional life, he is an accomplished whitewater kayaker with extensive experience navigating some of the most challenging waters around the globe. In addition, he enjoys working out, tending to his 100-acre cattle farm in Linville, canoeing, snow skiing, playing chess, and gardening.
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