: About Me

J. Thomas Stroud is currently Principal / Executive Director for Covenant Innovative Technologies (CIT) in Charlotte, North Carolina. CIT is a full-service Business Development and Management firm specializing in the development of business marketing plans, Intellectual Property, Copyrights and Executive training.
J. Thomas also serves as principal for ITE, (Information Technology Express) a computer and computer network systems installation and repair firm. He founded Vision Quest Publications, a publishing company that owns the rights to several of his literary works., and it helps others publish their works as well. He also helped form PETRA BDC, (Petra Business Development Corporation) which specializes in large high-end business development projects.
Johnny has also worked with several clients in the area of facility design and operation, budget management, corporate partnerships and equipment procurement.

He has more than 17 years of experience in the Information Technology industry covering both the software and hardware component. His proficiency extends to the computer Operating Systems of Windows 98 through XP. He touts extensive knowledge of Web-page design, computer graphic and animation software, VRML, (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) Encryption Security, and Network Firewalls.

Johnny has more than 4 years of experience in Military Cryptology and Electronic Warfare. He has held a Secret security clearance as well as a background in Instruction in various military fields of study. These include Defensive Driving, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare, Securing facilities and grounds, and the operation of Armored Vehicles and Personnel Carriers.

He also has more than 34 years of Martial Arts experience and 16 years of instruction. Specializing in such systems as Southern Shaolin Five Animal Style, Shaolin Long Fist, and the 18 Traditional Weapons of Kung-Fu.

In addition, Mr. Stroud has more than 21 years of linguistic studies centering on the sociological implications of foreign languages here in the United States. He loosely speaks six languages and continues his studies on a self-taught basis. This has given him a unique insight into the cultural differences and mind-sets of many nationalities. These studies have prompted Mr. Stroud to create a role as Coordinator for International Applications for CIT and various other companies CIT has assisted. His language skills and foreign studies in Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German, Russian, and Korean give him an intuitive insight into off-shore business ventures. He is also a prolific writer with one novel and five short stories to his credit. His area of literary interest centers on Science, Science Fiction and Theological studies.

As a result of his commitment to excellence over the past 12 years, Johnny has received many awards for community service and contributions from his church New Birth-Charlotte where he serves under the leadership of Senior Pastor Terrell L. Murphy and community.

Johnny currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina serving as Senior Grant Coordinator and Intellectual Property Applications for Petra Business Development Corporation. Together with his wife Suzan' and two children, Artee' of twenty one years in College in Maine, and Johnny Thomas Stroud, III of nineteen years working in Charlotte, NC, they continue to explore all that has to offer.

• Helium Charter Member