Former Managed Care Executive Launches New TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise in Monmouth County, New Jersey

For over 20 years, Andrea Tomba managed the complexities of Medicare and Medicaid, seeing firsthand how a single fall could fundamentally change a senior’s life. After a distinguished career in corporate health care operations and a period of personal reflection, Tomba decided to move from managing care on paper to managing home safety in person. By launching her TruBlue Home Service Ally franchise, TruBlue of Monmouth County in New Jersey, she is bridging the gap between professional home repair and senior safety.

The need for TruBlue became clear to Tomba through her years of navigating the system and observing the struggles of seniors in her own neighborhood. Recognizing a massive gap in the market for reliable home maintenance that truly understands the aging-in-place demographic, Andrea decided to open TruBlue of Monmouth County to keep seniors safe and independent in the community she has called home since 2015.

Tomba sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss her transition from the corporate health care world into business ownership and the personal experiences that led her to TruBlue. Here is what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Andrea Tomba: I’m originally from Long Island, New York, and I moved to New Jersey in 2015 for a job opportunity with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. My undergraduate education is in mathematics and economics, and my graduate degree is in public health management. Historically, I’ve worked in managed care, specifically devoted to Medicare and Medicaid programs. I’ve worked at startups and large conglomerates, always very heavy on operations, project management and financial revenue optimization. Now, I’m applying that same focus on senior demographics to my own business.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Tomba: I spent a long time in the corporate world, most recently working for a managed long-term care (MLTC) plan that was eventually acquired by a much larger company. After a significant layoff in 2023, I looked into starting my own company or purchasing an existing small business. I was actually following Cody Sanchez online, and she talked about how the probability factor for success is way higher with a franchise versus starting on your own. You have operations to build off of, you have peers you can talk to and you have access to tools you wouldn’t have if you were to start your own business from scratch. That was the tipping point for me. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Tomba: I had been working with a broker looking for a small business to potentially purchase.  When he first recommended TruBlue to me, I thought to myself, "What am I going to do with a handyman company?" I even dragged my heels for a few weeks because I didn’t fully see the potential at first. I realized that TruBlue is not just a handyman business but rather a handyman business putting Senior Safety in the spotlight. By buying a business, I was really doubling down on myself. Now that I’m in it, I see it’s about the safety of the proven model. It gives you the infrastructure to manage the business rather than just doing the labor yourself. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Tomba: It was the synergy between my background and their mission. TruBlue isn’t just a standard handyman services company. They have a real focus on the senior community and the disabled demographic. As an Aging In Place Certified Home Safety Specialist, I can look at a home through the lens of fall prevention, which is something the insurance companies are always monitoring. I’m also excited about our Home Ally Maintenance & VIP Subscription Services because it offers busy adults in the sandwich generation peace of mind. We can go in on a regular cadence, seasonally or monthly, to make sure the home is safe, removing noticeable hazards. Busy adults can purchase these subscriptions and we will go in and manage the home in their absence and keep the communication open with the client as to best manage the safety of the home.  

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Tomba: My plan is to contract with New Jersey Medicaid and NJ Medicaid payor plans. Since securing my NJ Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license, we can now work toward becoming an in-network provider for home modifications. I want to build a team where the same technician is assigned to the same client for every visit, just like a case manager in health care. It fosters a connection so the client doesn't feel like it's a different stranger in their home every time. I also definitely hope to expand to more than one territory. 

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Tomba: I think about an older lady who lived across the street from me. She fell in her house, went to the hospital and never came back. She was stubborn and had a "stigma" or a shame about accepting help, which is common in that demographic. They’ll tell you they are okay when they aren't. I want to provide a service that feels like a partnership, not pity. It’s about doing a home maintenance assessment and saying, “The place is generally good, but here are the 10 things you need to look at to continue to remain safe in your home.”

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Tomba: Don't just talk to the corporate team; talk to current owners and even people who have sold their franchise and exited out. I also highly recommend finding a franchise-specific lawyer to look over your Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). And most importantly, have a plan for your role. I’m not the one doing the repairs; I’m doing the financial management, the marketing and the audits to make sure my techs are showing up on time and the clients are satisfied. 

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging-in-place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.