ABOUT CHASE
Hola Amigos!
Hello, I’m Chase! I recently decided to turn my office daydream into a reality and hop on a plane to Spain. I am currently exploring Barcelona, studying Spanish, and doing some part-time freelance work. I am a travel amateur, making plenty of mistakes, and learning as I go! Hopefully I can inspire others to “chase” their own adventures. If your adventures lead you to Barcelona, let’s grab a coffee!
Originally from a small town in Northern California called Palo Cedro, I spent my first 32 years living in the same state (granted, you could fit several European countries in California). I was living a great life with a successful career, amazing family, and close group of friends (the “California Dream”). California is great, but it’s all I’ve ever known. So, in an effort to shake things up, I decided to ditch comfortability and complacency, and trade it for uncertainty, vulnerability, and adventure!
Most of my friends and siblings are focused on getting married, having kids, and buying a house. And rightly so…there are MANY perks to living the conventional lifestyle. For me, however, the “nonconventional” lifestyle just seems more appealing – quit my 8-5 job, sell my stuff, move abroad, travel to unknown destinations, meet people from all backgrounds, join a cult, overthrow the cult leader, change my name, and disappear from the life I once knew…
Fine, maybe not disappear. But I do know there is more out there to explore and perspective to gain!
Random Facts
I have an identical twin brother named Austin. I grew up playing baseball, golf, and volleyball. I still hold the 4th grade record for the 50 yard dash at Junction Elementary (or I think I share it with Kody Hansen). I once took third place in a sandwich eating competition. Growing up, I hosted an array of game shows, sports tournaments, and beer drinking competitions. I’ve had over 50 roommates in my lifetime. In 8th grade, I was the student body president. I used to be afraid of porcupines in my bed.
Professional Background
I graduated from California State University Chico with a bachelors degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in Project Management. I started out managing projects at a construction consulting firm which dealt with lawsuits and insurance claims involving expensive construction issues. After several years on the project management team, I switched over to the operations side and assumed the role of Operations Director. I helped lead the company’s expansion and emergence as a key player in the industry. During my tenure, the company revenue and team size increased by 300%, as I hired and trained over 100 talented professionals, established standard processes for quality and efficiency, built a strong team culture of collaboration and innovation, and implemented effective growth strategies.
I am currently taking a break from the full-time grind while doing some freelance work for several companies. I hope that this “break” will gear up excitement for my next full-time venture when I return to the workforce. Check out my LinkedIn if you want to hear more about my professional successes!
Uncle “Chee”
Easily the hardest part about moving so far away is leaving my five nephews behind. Yep, five boys…still no nieces. My sister Aly has two (Cade and Callahan) and my brother Austin has three (Stratton, Alden, and Tallon). You would be right to assume they are the coolest and best looking nephews west of the Mississippi. Early on I nicknamed Callahan “Callajandro”, and he returned the favor with “Uncle Chee” (granted, he was only two and learning to talk). I love getting to play Cool Uncle.
