Tom is the premiere construction contractor in Stars Hollow. He was first seen in charge of volunteers who were building a house for a low-income family. He was next in charge of remodeling the business next door to Luke's Diner, turning it into Taylor's Ice Cream & Soda Shoppe. He followed that job with remodeling the old Dragonfly Inn so that Lorelai and Sookie could run it. Then he turned up to remodel Lorelai's house; however, on this job he had to pretend that Luke's brother-in-law T.J. was the real contractor, because when Luke said he'd think about letting him be the contractor, T.J. understood it to mean he WAS the contractor, and Lorelai hated to disappoint T.J. Tom is very patient and easy-going, and he gets the job done no matter the problems he encounters on the way.