Brooks is responsible for various strategic initiatives at Thompson Thrift, including continuous improvement and the advancement of lean methods. His responsibilities for the construction company include document control, operational procedures and quality assurance. Before joining Thompson Thrift, he worked as an investment advisor representative for Wabash Capital and was chief operating officer of the Vernalis Group, LLC.

Brooks is a former elected member of the Indiana General Assembly. Previously, he served on the Indiana State University Board of Trustees and the boards of the Indiana Manufacturers Association and Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program. His career includes 20 years as an entrepreneur with two manufacturing start-ups. He is a 1975 NROTC graduate of the University of Rochester with a degree in general science.