IDSA Chairman of the Board: 1994–1996 IDSA President: 1993–1994 IDSA Vice President: 1991–1993 Inducted into the Academy of Fellows: 1985
Tompkins is a graduate of Pratt Institute with an honors degree in industrial design. He worked at Mack Truck and General Motors while at school and, following graduation, was employed by the Madison Avenue office of Walter Dorwin Teague Associates in the consumer packaging department.