Tom Amato

Activist, Brainstormer, Care taker, Change Agent, Christian, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Idea generator, Life mentor, Parent, Philanthropist, Producer, Public servant

Tom has lived and worked in the Napa Valley since 1957, except for three years as a principal/teacher in Fort Bragg, CA. Upon graduating from Pacific Union College, he has spent the past 44 plus years in the field of education and youth care as an educator, youth advocate, and mentor working on all educational levels from elementary through college. Tom is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor specializing in relationship development with a passion for determining youth needs and meeting them in compassionate ways – the foundation, a model that he developed entitled “Emotional Cardiology” - the nurture and care of “wounded and broken hearts” – a condition that he says drives a multitude of destructive feelings and behavior. He is currently working as Executive Director of the Napa Valley Youth Advocacy Center. His mission and passion is continuing to develop and refine a preventive, supportive, redemptive system for youth support and reduction of high-risk behavior through relationship development, community service, creative expression, critical thinking, community awareness, and mentoring life success skills. He operates on three main principles – unconditional love and grace, choice, and responsibility. He says the edge comes from "loving the 'unlovable,' believing in the 'unbelievable,' seeing beyond behavior, production, and performance," and creating purpose, identity and value.

People and making a positive impact on the world by reflecting the potential and priceless value that I see in those around me.

The greatest means to making a difference is to truly "SEE" and "FOCUS" on the HEART of the person or issue. It is so easy to get distracted by the petty or symptoms.

Analysis, Consulting, Critical Thinking, Education, Innovation, Listening, Problem Solving, Youth Advocacy

would be about seeing "The Goodness" within the "Trouble Maker," the "Pain" within the "Anger," "The Gift" within "Disrespectful," "The Priceless Value" within the "Failure."

working with my "hands" and and head, as well as, my ability to "forecast" many types of behavior given specific data with a high degree of accuracy.