MIDDLETON | The image of the workaholic father is a common stereotype: someone living out of suitcases on business trips, enduring lengthy commutes and watching his children grow up in photographs and over long-distance telephone lines.

But David Thomson proves every day that being a hard-working entrepreneur and being a family man are not opposing lifestyles.

He is the president of Thomson Communications, a public relations and marketing agency in Middleton. He's also a proud husband and father of three daughters, ages 5, 7 and almost 9.

"On your tombstone, it's not going to say how many hours you worked at the office," Thomson said. "It's going to talk about the kind of person you were. I want a successful business, but it's most important to be a success first with my family."

Thomson claims he still sneaks in an adequate amount of sleep each night, even though he aims to pump more activities into a day than most people do in a week, or even a month.

He coaches two of his daughters' indoor and outdoor soccer teams. He volunteers with an Alzheimer's organization and chairs their annual golf tournament, even though he considers himself more of the green's comic relief than an actual golfer. He sits on the board of the YMCA in his hometown of Danvers. He teaches a media relations course at his undergraduate alma mater, Salem State.

But he's just as active when it comes to his business.

"I subscribe to that old adage, If you want something done, give it to the busiest person. They'll make the time," he said.

His aim of striking a balance between family and work affects the six agents and two interns who work for him, as well.

"I've found that when you give a person more freedom to set their own schedule, they are more productive," he said. "They don't need to be babysat. I have great employees."

"He lives it," said Wendy Bulawa of North Andover of Thomson Communications' family/work balance.

Life at home

"Free time? What is free time?" Thomson joked when asked what activities he enjoyed outside of his busy work schedule.

But every free moment he does get, he enjoys spending with his family and playing with his children, who will all be students at the Smith School in Danvers in the fall.

They have a house on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and the Thomsons spend nearly every weekend in the summer water-skiing, swimming and boating at their Granite State getaway.

Back in Danvers, Thomson likes to garden and do work outside when the weather is nice.

And even though he spends long hours on the job and in the community, Thomson is quick to credit his wife, Sue, with the success of his family.

"She was a teacher, and she'll probably return to that in the next year," he said. "But for now, she has hardest job ever. She's a stay-at-home mom."

Early interest

Thomson remembers vividly what made him fall in love with the media business. His father had a radio show in Boston and a TV show on PBS, and young David was often in the studio observing how it all worked.

"I remember watching it from behind the scenes," he said. "What made the show happen really piqued my interest."

Thomson began his business venture six years ago. He had worked for Verizon for 10 years and was the director of marketing for New England when he learned his job would be changing. He gave himself an ultimatum | move to New Jersey and become a sales director with the company, or leave. Thomson had seriously considered starting his own venture for a year, and this shift seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a chance.

But it wasn't easy.

"It was definitely nerve-racking," Thomson said. "It was scary, but it worked out. Everyone in my family owned their own business, so I think that entrepreneurial spirit was in my blood."

After just six months with his new company, Thomson proved he could land on his feet. He nabbed Verizon as a client, and now aids in their public relations throughout the New England region.

Some of Thomson Communications' local clients include North Shore ARC and Cakes for Occasions. Thomson and his team have given these companies, and their dozens of other clients, heavy exposure in local and national media markets.

Small office, but lots of work

Thomson Communications may be a small office, but the personalities that fill it guarantee the company is never limited.

"Each member of the team has a unique skill set," explained Bulawa. "We may be small and nimble, but we have such broad experiences throughout our team. We cherry-pick for each opportunity."

What Thomson loves about his work is that no day is the same.

"Every morning I come in and I try to plan out in my head what the day will be like, but very rarely does it end up that way, and that's the great thing about it," he said.

And while many big public relations firms are headquartered in Boston, Thomson is perfectly happy with his office on Route 114 in Middleton.

"Middleton is such a great community, and being located here is a huge benefit for our clients. Some of the bigger companies rent space in Boston, and clients are paying for that overhead," he said.

Owning his own business in Middleton also means he's just minutes away from his wife and daughters in Danvers, which gives him priceless flexibility.

"If I need to sneak out at 4 to go coach a soccer game, I can, and then sometimes there are events on the weekend that cut into family time. But it kind of balances out."

And even while he's in the office, he and other staff are reminded of the family and life outside the office.

An 8-by-10 picture of his three girls is displayed prominently on an office shelf. The richly stained hardwood floors are covered with the occasional colorful accent rug. The usual monotonous white office walls have been replaced with a coat of deep olive green paint. And the conference room is, well, playful to say the least.

"We're a PR agency, so why not be creative?" Thomson said. "Why not a pool table for a conference table? We didn't want to have a plain old office."



Cara Spilsbury can be reached at 978-946-2230 or via e-mail at cspilsbury@towncrossings.com.