Updated:
John Trask & Associates
John Trask & Associates is anchored by a family whose patriarch, John M. Trask Jr., served as Associate Administrator for Finance and Investment in the Small...
John Trask & Associates
John Trask & Associates is anchored by a family whose patriarch, John M. Trask Jr., served as Associate Administrator for Finance and Investment in the Small Business Administration during the Carter administration. His son, John M. Trask III, runs the office as Proprietor and Managing Director, operating from a commercial property the firm owns at 65 South Main Street in Pennington, New Jersey. The family's wealth is rooted in a blend of public-sector financial leadership and subsequent private investing activities. The office deploys capital across private equity, venture capital, private credit, and real estate, concentrating on North America. In venture, the firm targets early-stage healthcare services and biotech companies. Its real assets include the Orange Grove Estate and a citrus farm on St. Helena Island, South Carolina — a geographic outlier that suggests a tangible allocation to income-producing land. The firm also maintains a commercial property portfolio, with its own headquarters serving as a listed asset. The structure appears to favor direct, physical assets and private company stakes over fund commitments. Donna Perrine is listed as a key associate, and the office shares address and management ties with a related entity, Garrison Family Office. Michael P. Tusay, linked to Twin Chimney Inc. and Archimedes Investors LLC, is another affiliated partner, suggesting an interconnected network of family investment vehicles. The Trask family's long-term support for the D&R Greenway Land Trust and The Watershed Institute, where John Trask served as a Trustee, indicates that land conservation is a parallel focus to their for-profit real estate holdings. The firm's structural differentiator is its quiet, hybrid model — blending a conventional family office with a web of satellite entities like Twin Chimney Inc. and Archimedes Investors LLC. This creates a legal patchwork for holding assets spanning South Carolina farmland, New Jersey commercial real estate, and private market investments. The lack of a public website reinforces a posture of discretion, with the office operating more like a private holding company than a branded investment firm.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Pennington
Corporate office
Pennington, NJ, United States
Principals
John M. Trask III
Proprietor and Managing Director
John M. Trask Jr.
Founder
Donna Perrine
Associate
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How is John Trask & Associates structured?
The firm operates as a single-family office with John M. Trask III as Proprietor and Managing Director. It is not registered as an investment advisor and does not solicit outside capital. The office shares common ownership and management with several satellite entities, including Garrison Family Office, Archimedes Investors LLC, and Twin Chimney Inc., which may hold distinct pools of assets within a broader family portfolio.
What investment stages does the firm target in private markets?
John Trask & Associates targets venture capital investments, with a confirmed sector focus on healthcare services and biotech. The firm also allocates to private equity, private credit, and direct real estate. The venture-stage deals are likely early to growth-stage, given the smaller, direct-investment posture typical of this office rather than large buyout participation alongside institutional funds.
Does the firm participate exclusively in direct deals?
While the firm's known holdings skew toward direct assets — such as a commercial office building and a South Carolina citrus farm — it also makes direct private company investments. There is no public evidence of fund-of-fund commitments, suggesting a preference for direct principal investments in both operating companies and physical real assets.
Where does the underlying wealth originate?
The firm's wealth originates from John M. Trask Jr., who served as Associate Administrator for Finance and Investment at the U.S. Small Business Administration during the Carter administration. His public-sector finance role was followed by private investment activities, which formed the capital base now managed by his son, John M. Trask III.
Does John Trask & Associates maintain philanthropic structures?
Yes. The family has a documented history of philanthropic support, including John Trask's long-term board service with the D&R Greenway Land Trust and significant donations to The Watershed Institute. The Beaufort County Open Land Trust is also listed as a beneficiary, aligning the family's charitable giving with its direct investment in South Carolina land.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: