President, Tom Kuplic PhD

Since completing his PhD in research on stories shared in times of change, Tom Kuplic has been keenly interested in the way people develop and use stories to give their lives more emotional meaning in our increasingly digital world.

Tom’s marketing career started in online community management and he has over 12 years of experience helping nonprofits, ad agencies and companies of all sizes connect their brand stories to people in more meaningful ways using social media, email and digital marketing. From global branding projects for Fortune 100 companies to helping regional and national nonprofits strengthen their storytelling, Tom has a broad range of experience with brands.

Tom founded ETO to help nonprofits and growing companies align their internal teams and connect emotionally with their targets by telling their best stories in surprising and exciting ways.

Tonya McKenna Trabant MA

Tonya obtained an MA in Professional Communication and is endlessly fascinated with the art and science of organizational life. Her professional experience includes organizational development and community engagement with non-profit organizations (including Boards of Directors), service organizations and higher education and she is a certified facilitator in several personality and career planning assessments including the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Tonya’s research focuses on how leadership and followership are defined and exercised in specific contexts. Her unquenchable curiosity leads her observation of organizational stories, including how culture, strategic planning, and communication make the way for organizations to thrive, stall, or flounder.

Currently an adjunct faculty member in Communication and Human Services at Northcentral Technical College, she works part-time with ETO to support organizations with developing and telling their “best selves” story, especially to internal constituents.

We combine a strong research background for how stories move people to action with extensive branding experience to know how stories can help align any organization or growing business behind a common mission. We are steeped in the digital world with interactive and community management experience, so we can help you and your team build a sustainable platform for engaging with your supporters and customers in the new reality of our social and digital world where old marketing practices are being thrown aside.