Tom Ingrassia is a motivational speaker, writer and Motown historian. In 2001, Tom left a successful, 25-year career in higher education to pursue his lifelong dream of working in the entertainment industry, with the formation of Ingrassia Productions and Artist Management. Along the way, he had the opportunity to work with many of the legendary singers he grew up listening to and idolizing in the 1960s, including Arlene Smith (The Chantels), Barbara Alston (The Crystals), June Monteiro (The Toys), The Velvelettes, and Carl Gardner (The Coasters).  The highlight, however, was serving as Executive Assistant and Creative Director for Mary Wilson, of The Supremes, from 2001-05.

Photo by Scott Erb Photography

Today, Tom is president of The MotivAct Group LLC, offering holistic personal and professional development programs designed to guide his audiences to live into their dreams. An in-demand speaker, Tom travels the country with his motivational/goal setting program, “Mental Massage®” and “Making A Difference Begins With YOU…So Live Into Your Dreams,” and pop culture programs, “Motown and The Civil Rights Movement” and “Girl Power: The Supremes As Cultural Icons.”

An accomplished music journalist, Tom has more than 25 articles printed in publications ranging from Billboard, Worcester Business Journal, Spirit of Change,Goldmine, and Record Auction Monthly, to Soul Survivor and San Francisco Hot Ticket. In 2007, Tom collaborated with Barbara Alston (of The Crystals) on her autobiography, “There’s No Other,” and Carl Gardner’s (of The Coasters) autobiography, “Yakey Yak, I Fought Back.”

Tom & Barbara Ingrassia with Mary Wilson at Boston’s Fleet Center, 1997. Photo courtesy Thomas Ingrassia Collection.

Tom has been a consultant to a number of entertainment and media outlets, including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, WCVB-TV (Boston), WBZ-TV (Boston), WHDH-TV, (Boston), and WXYZ-TV (Detroit). He has appeared on television and radio shows around the country, including “New England Newsmakers,” “Audio Journal,” “The January Jones Show,” “Ramona Interviews,” “The Boomer and The Babe,” and “Soapbox.” In 2002 and 2004, he worked closely with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to coordinate The Legendary Girl Groups Commemorative Stamps unveiling ceremony, and “Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supremes Gown Collection.”

Memorabilia from the Thomas Ingrassia Collection has been exhibited at the Whitley Gallery (Los Angeles), Barbican Centre (London), Lockhart Gallery (Geneseo, NY), Albany Institute of Art and History, the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum (Austin).

Courtesy Berea College

Tom’s speaking engagements have included the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Worcester Art Museum, Berea College Distinguished Speaker Series, Alice Lloyd College, Albany Institute of Art and History, State University of New York, the Long Island Museum, Cape Cod Community College, Worcester Public Library, Jacob Edwards Library, North Shore Community College, Northern Essex Community College, Massasoit Community College, Worcester State University, Leominster Public Library, Worcester Institute for Senior Education, and the Valencia Men’s Club.

Prior to entering the entertainment industry in 2001, Tom spent 25 years in higher education and private industry, achieving the position of assistant dean of the Graduate School of Management at Clark University. He also has been affiliated with Assumption College, Regis College, Urbana College, West Virginia Northern Community College, and the State Mutual Companies. Tom earned his bachelor of arts degree in history from the State University of New York at Geneseo. He holds a master of arts degree in history from  the University of Connecticut.

Tom lives by the motto, “Learn from the turtle—it only makes progress when it sticks its neck out.”