John Thomson

Founder

Biography

John Thomson combined his clever business skills with his passion for mechanical engineering to form Carousel USA, a niche firm specializing in the design and installation of commercial and residential turntables.

As a child, Thomson developed a passion for disassembling mechanical things to see how they worked and took pride in figuring out how to put them back together again. From building go-carts and rebuilding car engines to reconfiguring electrical sound systems, [he] always found a creative outlet in using his hands and understanding mechanics and engineering.

After receiving a BS from the University of Southern California in 1983, with an emphasis in Science, Thomson entered the work force with an opportunity to excel in the financial sector. Ever the quick study, he found immediate success moving from entry level chores to bond trading in Los Angeles and New York.  He made his mark on Wall Street during the late 1980’s as a Fixed Income Bond Trader, working for Credit Suisse First Boston.  When the opportunity presented itself to relocate back to Southern California in 1992, he jumped at the chance and moved with Citicorp.  He went on to receive an MBA from the Peter Drucker School of Business at Claremont College in 1997 and that same year moved to the Capital Group Companies.

It was in 2004 that Thomson conceived and founded Carousel USA a direct result of his personal need for a parking solution at his home. Built sixty-eight years earlier, his driveway was not designed for the modern-day sports utility vehicle (SUV) and was extremely narrow and long. Compounding the problem, was a beautiful but misplaced 250-year-old California Live Oak sitting directly in front of the garage doors leaving no room to turn-around the family SUV.

Thomson extensively researched a solution and purchased the best quality custom turntable he could find.  It solved the problem but left him feeling that the turntable was overpriced and was of a less than optimal design and quality. And this was the beginning:  he saw a void in the marketplace and set-out to design and source a better solution, thus the birth of Carousel USA.

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Carousel USA

John Thomson Bio

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Today, Carousel USA (www.carousel-usa.com) has successfully installed over 100 residential and commercial custom turntables domestic and abroad.  With 10 employees, the company has quickly become a coveted solution for many commercial and residential projects.

John resides in Pasadena, California with his wife Tina and their two children.

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