Behind the Business | Jones Insurance.
The latest Jones Insurance Behind the Business was a special edition featuring “Women behind the business”. TBT Engineering, a Northern Ontario company built on technical expertise, local knowledge, and the strength of its people. From engineers and scientists to technicians, surveyors, and field teams, TBT Engineering brings together the talent needed to support complex projects and help communities across the North move forward. TBT Engineering’s story began in 1969 as Thunder Bay Testing, a small local company focused on materials testing. Its work was practical but essential: ensuring the materials used to build roads, buildings, and infrastructure met the required standards.
The company entered a new chapter in 1995, when it was purchased by Liana & Rob Frenette with a vision for growth. Northern Ontario needed a company that understood the region, its industries, geography, and the challenges of completing complex projects in remote locations.
From there, the company expanded beyond testing. Engineering services were introduced, new areas of expertise were developed, and Thunder Bay Testing evolved into Thunder Bay Testing and Engineering. In 2009, that growth was reflected in a new name: TBT Engineering Limited.
Today, TBT Engineering supports projects across infrastructure, mining, transportation, energy, government, First Nations, and private industry. Its teams combine engineering, environmental, surveying, testing, and construction expertise, giving clients access to multiple services through one trusted local company.
That local knowledge matters. Northern projects can involve extreme weather, difficult terrain, remote locations, and logistical challenges that companies from outside the region may not fully understand. TBT Engineering’s employees live in the communities they serve and bring firsthand knowledge to every project.
At the centre of the company’s success are its people, including the women helping lead its engineering teams and shape its future. In a traditionally male-dominated industry, TBT Engineering is showing the importance of creating opportunities for women to contribute, lead, and build meaningful careers.
Women across the company bring technical knowledge, strong leadership, collaboration, and new perspectives to complex projects. Their success also helps inspire the next generation of girls and young women to see engineering as a career where they can make a lasting impact.
As an employee-owned company, TBT Engineering gives its people the opportunity to contribute directly to the future of the business. This creates a stronger sense of pride, accountability, and shared purpose. Employees are encouraged to grow, develop their expertise, and step into leadership roles while building their careers close to home.
That commitment extends beyond the workplace. TBT Engineering supports organizations and initiatives in the communities where its employees live and work. It has also developed relationships with Indigenous communities focused on training, employment, subcontracting, and long-term economic opportunities.
Through its relationship with Jones Insurance, TBT Engineering receives advice and insurance solutions designed around the realities of a growing, multidisciplinary engineering firm. The partnership goes beyond policies and pricing. It is built on understanding the company’s employees, projects, operations, and evolving risks.
That confidence allows TBT Engineering to focus on its people, clients, and communities, knowing it has a local insurance partner supporting its continued growth.
Jones Insurance’s Behind the Business campaign highlights local businesses that invest in their communities, support local causes, and create opportunities for future generations. Discover more stories of community-driven companies shaping Northern Ontario on the Jones Insurance YouTube channel.
