Unleashing Generosity With Friends
Photos + Story by Cliff Standard Co.
When Andrew Snow moved to Norman for school, he knew he would become a doctor one day. Determined and aware of what it would take, he charted the pre-med pathway and began his journey. He took biology, chemistry, anatomy, and calculus…and though challenging, he made his way through. But then came organic chemistry–and that, my friends, is a difficult subject. Things began to pick up and it felt like he hit a brick wall. As his friends began studying for the MCATs soon after Junior year began, he realized with a twinge of sadness that medical school was not in his future.
So what would he do? He was two years into the program and feeling a bit dejected. Amid his rigorous schedule, Andrew had also plugged himself in on campus–after all, who doesn’t want a well-rounded resume, right? His dream medical school would never see his effort or resume, but it didn’t matter. Someone else had already taken notice of him. As he was contemplating his next stage of life, one of the Directors at the Advancement Office sought him out with an opportunity to join the advancement office.
“All of my non-med school buddies had already decided they were going to do a fifth year. So I thought: What if I could get paid and stay here, rather than pay for another year? Done deal,” he said.
This junior-level position, which entailed starting alumni chapters and generally connecting with the OU community, was Andrew’s first foray into the world of fundraising. And, though he didn’t know it at the time, it would set him up perfectly for his next position with SMU. It would also be the first step on his journey to becoming the Founder of his own nonprofit consultancy, Track 15.
Eventually, Andrew’s time at OU came to an end and he found himself embarking on a new adventure. Determined to make their mark on the music scene, Andrew and his fellow bandmates (did I mention he was in a band? Check them out!) agreed that it was time to commit to the band – in other words, they needed to forego regular jobs and move to Dallas. And while they did all move to Dallas, Andrew soon discovered that his fellow band members had broken their agreement and secured traditional jobs, leaving him without a source of income.
“All of my non-med school buddies had already decided they were going to do a fifth year. So I thought: What if I could get paid and stay here, rather than pay for another year? Done deal”
Looking to find a way to support himself, Andrew decided to apply for a position in the advancement office at Southern Methodist University. To his surprise, Andrew was almost immediately offered the job at SMU, providing him with the stability he needed while still pursuing his musical aspirations.
He and his then-girlfriend (now wife), Jen, were both living in uptown – and you know what? They loved it there. That is, until they crossed the trinity river one day and discovered the hidden gem of Bishop Arts. Together they attended a wedding luncheon at Hattie’s, a charming restaurant that used to be located in the Bishop Arts district. This would mark Andrew’s first encounter with Oak Cliff.
“We came over the hill and I remember thinking, “This really doesn’t feel like Dallas at all,’” he said. “So we ended up buying a house soon after that.”
This may be hard for some to imagine, but in the early aughts, Bishop Arts was pretty empty. Hattie’s was there, of course, but it wasn’t until 2008 that Eno’s Pizza would move in. Bolsa opened that same year and together, these restaurants were a bit revolutionary for the area. Remembering when Bolsa opened, he said, “Mixology in a random building in Oak Cliff? It was crazy because it really felt like a small town at the time.” Even then, they were captivated by the area's unique charm and character.
“We came over the hill and I remember thinking, ‘This really doesn’t feel like Dallas at all,’”
Jen Snow quickly became involved in the community. She began serving on the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group while also starting her own kombucha company in 2011 with a friend. Their unique kombucha quickly gained popularity, landing them a tap handle at Bolsa Mercado and even catching the attention of Whole Foods. Due to these early signs of success, Jen's business partner decided to move to Philadelphia to start a new brewery there. So soon after getting started with the businesss, Jen found herself at a crossroads. She wanted to keep the business going but it was tough to think of doing it alone.
It was around this time that she crossed paths with Ashley Schultz. Ashley lived in the neighborhood and was captivated by the kombucha business and the possibilities it held. The two quickly hit it off and decided to go into business together. Before too long, they knew that having a commercial space would be the key to legitimizing and growing the business.
That's when they stumbled upon Tyler Station. At the time, Tyler Station was in its infancy – a long shot from the bustling hub it is today. In fact, when they first showed up the roof still had a gaping hole in it. Andrew remembered his first impression. “I was like, this is haunted. I hate being here. It's so weird at night after the sun had gone down,” he said, smiling.
Despite the rough appearance, Jen fell in love with the building. She knew some of the other early tenants and, in fact, helped them with some of their legal work. She also knew and respected Monte and his vision of Incremental Neighborhood Development. Monte and Jen both sat on the Ft. Worth Avenue Development Group Board. “Jason Roberts had also looped me into the Oak Cliff Foundation board,” Andrew mentioned. “So we had seen the sort of impact Monte could have.”
But the timing wasn’t quite right. Tyler Station needed a little more love (and construction) and Jen and Ashley weren’t quite ready to sign a lease.
Meanwhile, Andrew had transitioned from his work with SMU, where he had abundant resources, to becoming the Chief Development Officer at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC). This shift was a significant eye-opener for Andrew as he witnessed the struggles faced by nonprofits in terms of marketing and fundraising. “Going to a nonprofit that has to kick and scratch for everything every year was sobering,” he said. He recognized the need for nonprofits to adopt effective relationship-building practices, similar to what he had observed at SMU.
Andrew soon moved on to providing his own consulting for nonprofits. During this time, Ashley’s husband Chris had recently sold his business in banking and was seeking a new opportunity and fresh start too. As Andrew shared his ideas and frustrations about nonprofit fundraising with Chris, the latter suggested that Andrew venture into consulting to help nonprofits navigate the world of fundraising.
Andrew was initially skeptical about building a consulting business. But after some encouragement from Chris, who had experience in starting and running businesses, he felt ready. Chris had previously worked with Chase Bank and had been part of a team that sold credit card processing services. When Chase withdrew support, Chris and his colleagues formed their own company, Merit Card, before eventually selling it. Chris's entrepreneurial expertise complemented Andrew's fundraising knowledge, and he offered to help Andrew establish a business.
Chris played a pivotal role in developing Andrew's consulting venture. He built a professional website, designed a logo, and created business cards, giving the new business a solid foundation. They quickly found clients, and with their initial success, they hired Hannah, their first official team member.
As the business grew, Andrew and Chris realized they needed suitable office space. They visited Wax Space, a coworking space that was forming at the front of Tyler Station. The building had developed since his last visit and Andrew and Chris had friends in the space who offered them a deal.
So they decided to move in and set up shop. Their new agency, Track 15, quickly became one of the core office tenants at Wax Space and has remained one ever since. Over the past few years, while they’ve continued to expand their offerings and client base, Tyler Station has continued to grow up around them. Andrew reflected on his first impressions of Monte, who owns the building, back when he and Jen knew him as the owner of the Belmont and a board member of the Oak Cliff Foundation. “I had these grand fundraising ideas for the Oak Cliff Foundation and he really believed in me,” he said. “He’s always been such a good supporter of Jen and I.”
Today, Track 15 serves many nonprofit clients across the metroplex and beyond. They dedicate themselves to the cause of their clients and have an impressive track record in helping nonprofits elevate their fundraising and marketing efforts.
You can learn more about Andrew and his team at Track 15 here.
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