Senior IT Leader Leaves Global Tech for Home Safety and Senior Advocacy With a TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise

Charles Tanpoco has spent much of his life solving problems. For 30 years, that meant building engineering teams and helping organizations scale. Today, it means helping seniors stay safe at home.

"If I see a broken wing, I’m there to help out as much as I can," Tanpoco said.

With the launch of his TruBlue Home Service Ally franchise in Calabasas, California, Tanpoco is bringing that same fixer’s mentality to a new challenge in the West San Fernando Valley. Through TruBlue, he wants to help older adults age in place safely and give families confidence that someone is looking out for their best interests.

“Seniors need someone they can trust so they aren't being taken advantage of,” Tanpoco said. “Sean [Fitzgerald] seemed so genuine about the empathy side of the business, and that just stuck with me.”

Before entering franchising, Tanpoco spent three decades in technology leadership, as an IT Manager at XPERI and, most recently, as an engineering director at FanDuel, where he grew an engineering department from one person to 20.

“I’ve always been a guy that works with his hands and a fixer,” Tanpoco said. “I love figuring things out, taking all the bits and pieces and building something big.”

Entrepreneurship had also been on Tanpoco’s mind for years, partly inspired by his grandfather, who owned multiple businesses. After layoffs affected him in late 2024, he decided to pursue business ownership more seriously.

As he builds the business, Tanpoco plans to lean on the leadership approach that served him throughout his technology career.

“I’m going to handle this in the same manner that I’ve managed my previous IT teams,” Tanpoco said. “I provide the guidance and the direction, but we are a team. I am not just the boss.”

Tanpoco sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss his professional transition, the pull of entrepreneurship and how he’s building a new kind of team in Southern California. Here’s what he had to say:

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

Charles Tanpoco: I’ve been in IT for 30 years. I started at the bottom and worked my way up to senior leadership across multiple companies. As an engineer in the IT world, I’ve always been a guy who works with his hands and is a fixer. I love figuring things out, taking all the bits and pieces and building something big.

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

Tanpoco: Most recently, I worked for FanDuel. I basically built up their engineering team from scratch. I took that team from just me and built it up to 20 engineers. Before that, I was exploring what my next chapter would be. Entrepreneurship has always intrigued me because of my grandfather. He had a lumber yard and a bakery, and he owned land. He was just a really successful entrepreneur. When I got caught in the layoffs in November, I decided to take my shot.

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?

Tanpoco: I saw franchising as a way to scale businesses effectively using established systems. Now that I’m in it, I’ve seen firsthand how important execution is. You can have a model, but you still have to manage the daily operations and oversight. In California specifically, there are so many strict labor laws and regulations. You can do your homework, but you have to be ready for the things you might miss because, at least for me, it's all new. 

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

Tanpoco: I actually discovered TruBlue while I was out on a run, listening to a podcast with the president, Sean. What resonated with me was the senior aging-in-place perspective; doing something to help. I’ve always been that way. If I see a broken wing, I’m there to help out as much as I can. Seniors need someone they can trust so they aren't being taken advantage of. Sean seemed so genuine about the empathy side of the business, and that just stuck with me.

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

Tanpoco: I’m going to handle this in the same manner that I’ve managed my previous IT teams. I provide the guidance and the direction, but we are a team. I am not just the boss. We’ll start small with maybe two techs, but I anticipate by the end of year two we will have at least five. I want to grow the territory and the team to meet the need I see for these services in Calabasas.

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

Tanpoco: Coming back here after going to university in the Philippines, I carry with me just how fortunate we are in this country. I’m grateful for that experience because it taught me to never take things for granted. I see this business as another challenge to get through, and I’m happy to be here and moving forward.

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

Tanpoco: Do your homework and triple-check it. Measure twice, cut once. Transitioning into this is still a big unknown for me, and even if you are detail-oriented, there will still be gotchas. Find a brand that matches how you operate as a person and be ready to put in the work to get established.

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.