The TNC Story: A Shared Path to Purpose
Every meaningful journey begins with a specific moment of clarity. For Jason, it was a university practicum in which he heard the lived experiences of people with mental health struggles being locked out of the decision making that directly affected their lives and well-being. For Andrew, it was the realization that he didn’t want to choose between being a rigorous social scientist and a community-building camp counselor—he wanted to be both. When they met in university, they found that they shared a sense of frustration with a professional world that often valued rigid reports over real human impact.
In 2010, that frustration reached a breaking point. They stood at a crossroads: to stay in the safety of the “beige office” world or build something that reflected their own integrity. They chose the leap. Leaving their previous roles to start TNC felt like centering the kind of work that they had always found most meaningful. Work that is grounded, practical, and truly useful to the partners. It was a moment of bold transition symbolized by the choice to name the company. Jason and Andrew felt that using their own names sent the message that working with TNC meant connecting to real people, and not just to ideas or data. Their first projects with Lutherwood and United Way weren’t just jobs; they were proof that research could be a force for social good. That early sense of alignment; the feeling that the work finally matched their values. This remains the heartbeat of TNC today.
Today, TNC has grown from a two-person vision into a purpose-driven team, but the core remains the same. Andrew and Jason didn’t just hire helpers, they sought out people-minded leaders who push TNC to be more intentional every day. By prioritizing well-being and honest reflection within our internal practice, we ensure we have the energy and clarity to listen deeply to the communities we serve. This isn’t just a founder’s story; it’s a commitment to our partners that we will always prioritize the relationship over the checklist, finding the right path together.