Thomas Berrington shares how his unconventional path from managing restaurants to becoming CIO of a major home builder reflects a broader trend: industries once lagging in tech are now actively seeking data-first leadership. At French Brothers Homes, building 200 homes annually demanded a shift from spreadsheets and manual input to clean, structured systems that could support scalability. Thomas details how he helped transition the company by optimizing its ERP usage, standardizing reporting with Power BI, and integrating data pipelines for better decision-making across operations.

He also dives into how AI and Copilot tools are improving efficiency—from rephrasing customer communication to detecting quality assurance issues in home photos using machine learning. These innovations not only reduce delays but improve the homeowner experience. Looking ahead, Thomas is exploring AI-assisted project scheduling for semi-custom builds, aiming to dynamically adjust trade workflows and reduce downtime.

In his advice to aspiring IT professionals, Thomas emphasizes the value of strategic thinking and industry focus. He notes that while sectors like development are crowded, underserved industries like construction offer massive opportunities for tech-driven professionals to stand out and drive transformation. His message is clear: structure is the backbone of technology—and with the right approach, you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley to make a major impact.