ABOUT TEXCU PLATFORM & TECHNOLOGY TEAM
Tommy “Tom” Stokes
Founder & CEO | TEXCU.com
With nearly 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Tommy “Tom” Stokes has built his career around connecting dealerships with the people, technology, and resources they need to succeed.
An entrepreneur, automotive consultant, and technology innovator, Tom is the founder of Dealer Group of America, ProAutoJobs.com, and PlaybookForSuccess.com. His experience spans dealership operations, recruiting, sales training, business development, and technology solutions designed specifically for automotive retailers.
Tom's involvement in automotive technology dates back to the late 1990s, when he developed VIC (Virtual Intelligent Communicator), an early artificial intelligence chatbot built using A.L.I.C.E. technology. VIC helped dealerships engage prospective customers, answer questions, and generate qualified sales leads.
Today, as founder of TEXCU.com, Tom is leading the development of an independent finance technology platform designed to connect automotive and powersports dealerships with credit unions and community banks. His vision is to expand dealership financing opportunities, strengthen relationships between dealers and lenders, and deliver innovative technology that simplifies the financing process.
His philosophy is simple: Build relationships, solve problems, and create opportunities for everyone involved.
Ezra Hodge
Lead Technology Developer & Technical Advisor | TEXCU.com
Ezra Hodge is an accomplished technology executive and software specialist with extensive experience in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology development.
His professional background includes global cloud technology initiatives at Amazon Web Services (AWS), major educational technology projects at Pearson, and co-founding the McKinley Hodge Group. His expertise spans software architecture, digital transformation, systems integration, and the development of secure, scalable technology solutions.
Ezra and TEXCU founder Tommy “Tom” Stokes have collaborated on technology initiatives since 2004, combining Tom's automotive industry expertise with Ezra's technical knowledge and experience.
As Lead Technology Developer and Technical Advisor for TEXCU.com, Ezra is helping shape the company's technology infrastructure, including its dealership financing portal, secure systems architecture, and potential integrations with established financial technology platforms.
His focus is on building a reliable, scalable technology foundation that supports TEXCU's mission of connecting automotive and powersports dealerships with credit unions and community banks while creating more efficient financing solutions.
