ABOUT ME
I believe that leaders and entrepreneurs are made, not born. Values such as hard work, grit, empathy, compassion, continuous improvement and stewardship are covered here as some of the tools I’ve used to help build my business, family and community.
Samuel Prakash Thevanayagam, or SamT, is a Sri Lankan-born Naturalized American, CEO, entrepreneur, author, thought leader, innovator and aftermarket expert. He is also a husband, father of five and an active leader in his community and church.
SamT came to the U.S. in 1985 at the age of 22 to study at community college and pursue his belief in the American dream. From the time he was a youth, he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Oral Roberts University in 1988 and working many years in the automotive aftermarket for other companies, Sam saw the opportunity to start his own business. Eager at the chance to follow his lifelong pursuit of becoming a business owner, Sam started Parts Life, Inc. amidst a global recession in 2007.
Parts Life provides obsolescence and supply chain solutions that extend the life of expensive, mission-critical assets. In 2018 SamT acquired DeVal Lifecycle Support, a manufacturing facility located in Philadelphia with over 60 years in the industry. Most recently, SamT has acquired LC Engineers in Rahway, New Jersey. With these companies, SamT’s vision is to continue to build a culture that emphasizes continuous learning, mentorship and servant leadership.
Sam has 30 years of experience in executive leadership with the task of implementation of quality assurance programs, operations management, supplier development, strategic direction for sourcing & commodity rationalization, and managing suppliers and subcontractors. Sam's certifications include CPIM, CPM, CQMC, and CSE (Certified Seal Engineer).
With a strong focus on servant leadership, SamT started the SamT Network in 2017, a place where he could share the lessons he learned throughout his career. His goal is to inspire others to achieve their God given potential, defy critics, and thrive in the face of adversity, using his values of hard work, grit, empathy, compassion, continuous improvement and stewardship.
Looking to further his legacy as both a businessman and steward, SamT recently wrote a book titled “The First 10 Runs in Singles”, which focuses on the life and leadership lessons taught to him by his father, and how he has shaped these lessons to assure continued success in his personal and professional life. Expanding these concepts to areas of need has been a particular area of interest for Sam, and in 2019 he launched the SamT Foundation with the goal of doing more than just giving to those in need, but to empower people of all ages to continue to learn, grow and thrive by giving them the necessary life and leadership skills to succeed in a fast-changing world.
Leadership Team
Dr. Suresh Thomas has resided and worked in five different countries (India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, and USA), bringing a unique perspective to Church and Organizational Leadership. Married since 1992 to Julie, who is from Sri Lanka, they are parents to Akshay, Talia, and Anya.
Having graduated with undergraduate degrees in BS (Chemistry), PGDBA (Marketing), as well and BS (Biblical Studies) and master’s degrees in Social Work (MSW-Psychiatric), as well as Religion (MA), Suresh completed doctoral studies in Leadership and Spiritual Formation at Asbury Theological Seminary, KY as a Beeson Scholar. He has more than 28 years of experience in Church and Organizational Leadership, including seven years in college-level teaching. His area of research was Christians in the Marketplace- How they can live their God-given potential & purposes to bring the Kingdom of God on earth.
Suresh serves as the Executive Director of the SamT Network to promote leadership development and coaching using sports strategies and serves as an adjunct professor at Athens College, Simpson University, and Crown College, teaching graduate level courses in Leadership and Spiritual formation.
