The Mind Behind the Mission — Meet Thomas VanBuskirk
“Kick butt, take names, ask questions later.”
It’s not just a quote. It’s a philosophy. And if you want to understand Renegade Strategic Consulting, you have to start with the man who built it.
Thomas VanBuskirk, Founder & CEO of Renegade, didn’t come from a traditional background. No Ivy League degrees. No corporate ladder-climbing. Just raw ambition, real-world experience, and the kind of relentless mindset you can’t teach in school.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia, now based in Portland, Oregon, Thomas is a college dropout turned executive—a strategist who taught himself the ropes of business, branding, and leadership through one simple method: doing the work.
🚀 From CMO to CEO — The Renegade Origin Story
Before launching Renegade, Thomas served as Chief Marketing Officer at Dahl Integration Marketing, where he led cross-industry growth campaigns, sharpened his instincts, and sat at the table with high-level operators.
But it didn’t take long for him to realize something vital:
“Helping others build empires is great—until you realize you’ve got your own to build.”
So, he left the safety net. Built his own consulting firm. And started advising founders, investors, and business leaders with the same no-fluff, high-leverage energy he’s known for.
🧠 Brains Over Bureaucracy
Thomas doesn’t do corporate theater. He doesn’t do buzzwords. And he definitely doesn’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions. What he does believe in is:
Strategic clarity over scattered effort
Execution over theory
AI-powered innovation over outdated playbooks
And building a business around the individual, not the institution
His approach is intense, adaptive, and outcome-driven. Every client gets a strategy that actually fits. Every project pushes the envelope.
📚 Still Learning. Still Leading.
Although he’s already made a name for himself as a consultant and executive, Thomas is currently pursuing industry-leading certifications in AI, strategic consulting, and technology integration.
Why? Because in his words:
“A real leader doesn’t just teach—they learn faster than everyone else in the room.”
That’s the Renegade way: stay sharp, stay hungry, stay ahead.
🐾 Off the Clock (Sort of)
When he’s not building businesses or mapping out AI systems, Thomas is usually off-grid with his Australian Shepherd, Capper—roaming the Pacific Northwest, trading meetings for mountain trails, and proving you don’t need a signal to stay connected to your purpose.
🏁 Final Thought
Thomas VanBuskirk didn’t wait for permission. He didn’t follow a script. He chose the harder path, built his own rulebook, and now helps others do the same.
Renegade isn’t just a consulting firm—it’s a statement.
And Thomas? He’s the one writing it.
