Draft:Aaron Hurst (entrepreneur)

Aaron Hurst (born April 9, 1974) is an American entrepreneur, author, and expert on the science of purpose. He is the founder of Imperative and Taproot Foundation.

Early life and education
Hurst was born on April 9, 1974. He attended the University of Michigan in 1992 and graduated in 1996. He won Hopwood Award for his underclassman essay. He also received the Student Leadership Award from the Alumni Association in 1996. In 1995, he went to Charles University for six months, where he studied Czech history and culture.

Career
Hurst started his career in 1997 as a product manager at iOwn. He worked there for two years, and in 1999, he joined iSyndicate as the director and product manager for three years.

In 2001, Hurst founded the Taproot Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages design, marketing, IT, strategic management, and human resources professionals in pro bono service projects to build the infrastructure of other nonprofit organizations.Hurst catalyzed the US's $15 billion pro bono service market and helped establish markets in over 30 countries. He served as the senior advisor and president of the company until 2013.

Personal life
Hurst resides in Seattle with his two teenage children and wife, Kara, Amazon’s head of sustainability and co-author of their children’s book, ‘Mommy and Daddy Do It Pro Bono.’

Awards and honors

 * Michigan Campus Compact Award (1996)
 * Draper Richards Kaplan Fellow (2002)
 * Ashoka Fellowship (2005)
 * Manhattan Institute Social Entrepreneurship Awards (2006)
 * Commonwealth Club 21st Century Visionary Award (2007)