BUFFALO, NY, August 04, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Thomas Hunt has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Hunt's distinguished career in the television signal distribution, encompassing both cable and satellite technologies, is marked by a series of progressive leadership roles and entrepreneurial achievements. His expertise in management and his ability to adapt to evolving industry landscapes have defined his professional journey. Now retired from the industry, Mr. Hunt spent over two decades as the co-founder and chief executive officer at Installs Inc. in Buffalo, New York, until the company's sale in 2016. This venture continues to serve retailers across the US and is his proudest accomplishment, as he navigated the challenges of business ownership with resilience and strategic foresight.

During the early years of Installs Inc., Mr. Hunt and his partner (lifelong friend, Lee Hess) confronted the inevitable uncertainties of funding, managing, and building a start-up business along with providing services to a nascent industry--digital satellite television. They developed a business model using technology and independent contractors which allowed the company to scale rapidly throughout all 50 states, becoming the largest independent installer of DirecTV. Under his leadership, Installs Inc. demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, surviving the bankruptcies of major clients such as Circuit City, Montgomery Wards, and Radio Shack by continuously evolving its service offerings to align with technological and customer shifts in the marketplace.

As the satellite installation sector became increasingly commoditized, Mr. Hunt and his partner successfully repositioned the company by expanding into home theater and appliance delivery, setup, and installation. Installs Inc. secured contracts with nearly every major U.S. retailer, including Best Buy Company, The Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement, HHGregg, and DirecTV. At one point, the company managed all of Best Buy's television, home theater, and audio work before the launch of Geek Squad.

Even after losing some business to Best Buy's internal team, the Installs, Inc. endured and continued to thrive. Its longevity is reflected in its ongoing operation under subsequent ownership and in the continued tenure of key personnel, many of whom remain with the company in today.

Following the sale of Installs, Inc., Mr. Hunt shifted his focus toward community investment and philanthropy. For four years, he served as Board Chair of the Western New York Impact Investment Fund in Buffalo, a for-profit initiative established with foundations, businesses, and individual investors. As a founding investor and board member, Mr. Hunt continues to play a pivotal role in this place-based capital fund supporting businesses across an eight-county region centered around Buffalo. The fund requires prospective companies to demonstrate both commercial viability and measurable social impact within their communities. To this end, the fund developed a specialized impact scorecard for evaluating contributions to workforce development, diversity initiatives, neighborhood revitalization and environmentally sustainable practices, among others.

Before launching Installs Inc., Mr. Hunt served as the vice president of a major cable system in Buffalo beginning in 1975. In this capacity, he helped manage one of the country's largest independent cable systems, with more than 100,000 subscribers. Mr. Hunt began his career in 1972 as the general manager of another cable system in Fort Lee, New Jersey. This role placed him at the forefront of the emerging large market cable television field at a time when urban markets like Fort Lee began to offer access to premium content such as HBO, distant signals, and Madison Square Garden sports. Mr. Hunt's early responsibilities included overseeing operations and driving subscriber growth through innovative sales strategies.

Notably, Mr. Hunt's entry into the cable television industry began through consulting work with early cable franchises near Boston, Massachusetts, where he recruited and trained door-to-door sales teams at a time when cable was still an emerging technology offering limited additional content for subscribers. Assignments took him to North Carolina and Louisiana before he was appointed general manager in Fort Lee following an acquisition by a New York-based company.

Mr. Hunt's academic background laid a strong foundation for his professional achievements. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and computer science at Dartmouth College in 1969 and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University in 1971. He attributes much of his success to his family's emphasis on education and his business adaptability learned by innovation and risk-tolerant investments.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hunt was an active participant in organizations such as the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (now NCTA – The Internet & Television Association), the National Association of Home Builders, the Cable Television Administration and Marketing Society, The Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association, and the Consumer Technology Association (formerly Consumer Electronics Association). He contributed to these groups by delivering presentations, serving on panels and educating home builders about integrating cable infrastructure into new residential construction projects.

Civically engaged, Mr. Hunt joined the board of Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc., an educational nonprofit dedicated to supporting local students from early childhood through career, with a postsecondary tuition promise. Say Yes Buffalo has become a model for educational support systems nationwide due to its localized success, where high school graduation rates have increased 30%, and college matriculation rates increased 23% in 9 years. Additionally, Mr. Hunt remains active with the Western New York Impact Investment Fund, where he continues to champion socially responsible business practices and believes that with strong commitment and leadership, companies can do well by doing good.

Mr. Hunt credits challenging periods under demanding supervisors with shaping his leadership style and commitment to investing in people. He also adopted positive practices observed throughout his career, such as hosting formal employee holiday parties at historical buildings, galleries and museums that fostered a sense of inclusion and equality for all employees. Looking ahead, Mr. Hunt, with his wife, Laurie Dann, intend to focus on philanthropic efforts aimed at securing long-term sustainability for educational non-profits like Say Yes Buffalo Inc., striving to establish stable endowment funding models that reduce reliance on annual fundraising cycles while expanding successful frameworks into additional regional communities. His legacy is defined by strategic leadership within rapidly changing industries, steadfast dedication to community investment and an unwavering commitment to equal educational opportunity for future generations.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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