Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 2 | October 2018

inside.hokiesports.com 15 to be an invaluable experience. I was able to see a company grow from inception to $16 million and then through another acquisition. That was a great experience, and I learned the foundational elements of what it takes to start, grow and sell a business. The owner, who is also a Hokie alum, served—and continues to serve—as a phenomenal mentor and coach to me.” Much like in athletics, though, not everything went according to plan. The second company wound up being sold, and Lombardi found himself on the outside looking in. Complicating matters, he and his wife just had twins and was not taking a salary, and he had purchased a new home. He thought, “Why not add a little more risk to the equation and start a company?” At fourth-and-goal from inside the 5 in his life, he decided to go for it and focused his efforts in TeraThink, a company that consults on information technology and management for the federal government. “My wife wasn’t working, and my mother-in-law said, ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’” Lombardi said. “I said, ‘Not really, but I have to give it a shot.’ That was in 2006, and that’s when I was painted into a corner. I had four mouths to feed. I had to make it happen.” In football terminology, Lombardi scored a touchdown. Under his leadership, the company grew to between $45 million in revenue, and last year, merged with another company, bringing the annual revenues to $75 million. After the merger, Lombardi stepped aside as the CEO, but moved into the role as executive chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. The five-member board includes four with Virginia Tech degrees—a common theme among his staff. Make no mistake, though, Lombardi remains active with the company, always seeking an opportunity to learn and grow. “This allows me to focus on strategic areas external to the actual running of the business, including financing, potential acquisitions, private equity interest, and other aspects of that nature,” Lombardi said. “Now we’re operating around $75 million, and I’m fully charged because I’m learning a whole new side of the business. The company continues to grow, our employees are happy, and our engagements are better served and thriving, so it’s very exciting.” The move also allows him to focus a little more on his other passions—like Virginia Tech. He became more involved with his alma mater in 2010, which ultimately led to him buying a property in Blacksburg. Since making that decision, he and his family come to Blacksburg regularly for football and basketball games, board meetings and other Virginia Tech-related events. He brought his son to one of Buzz Williams’ basketball camps this past summer and continues to serve as an ambassador to the school for interested high school graduates. Lombardi’s attendance at Virginia Tech Athletic Fund board meetings allows him to remain focused on the betterment of Tech’s student-athletes—and they would do well to heed his advice as they plan for their futures. “The value in the leadership lessons gained through sports and school is tremendous. It’s important to embrace and work to understand how that can improve your position on and off the field in the future,” Lombardi said. “The leadership values that you gain, how important it is to work as a team, and the integrity we all stand by as Hokies is very powerful. Your reputation is everything and how you carry yourself on and off the field is going to have a big impact on the relationships you build professionally over time. “That network and community you develop over time is a very powerful thing, so make sure you build those relationships the right way. That’s really helpedme over the course of my career. Hopefully the collaboration of athletics and the center will prove successful and serve as an example of how we can create greater opportunities for our student body.” His journey started at Virginia Tech and led to a highly successful career, and he wants the same for Virginia Tech’s student-athletes. His generous gift and its designation certainly will go a long way toward helping them reach that goal. IHS extra Fast Forward Document Solutions Proud to Support Virginia Tech Athletics MFPs I Document Management I Managed Print Services I Production Print Roanoke • New River Valley • Lynchburg • Charlottesville Richmond • Hampton Roads • Shenandoah Valley VAbusinesssystems.com • 540-362-3300 It’s how you win. And it’s how we deliver. Teamwork . VBS VT 1-3 page ad_Layout 1 7/21/16 11:52 AM Page 1 Paul Lombardi (left) and his family made a generous donation that will help Reyna Gilbert- Lowry (right) and her staff prepare student- athletes for careers after their playing days end.