Chris is often considered one of the “Ambassadors of StillFire Brewing” and one of the first guys to greet new people and make them feel welcome. Once you meet him, you will get a big hug and greetings moving forward. Someone recently said that he is the nicest person they’ve ever met! He is quick to volunteer, lead a team, and join in on the work and fun. He was also recently appointed to the Suwanee Planning & Zoning Commission. He will tell you unabashedly how much he loves Suwanee and the community!
Please tell us a little about your family.
I’m a divorced, single father of an amazing 15-year-old daughter, Stella. I share 50/50 custody with her mom. Stella and I can be caught eating out in local Suwanee restaurants, especially Mellow Mushroom, S.O.B., and Don Bonachon, but our favorite is probably grocery store sushi. We are both active volunteers and attendees at Gwinnett Church.
Tell us about your current and past career. What do you love most about it?
I have been in commercial construction my entire career, mostly focused on glass façade installation. My employer of the past 12-years often ranks #1 in the country in sales, with over $200 million in annual sales.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
As mentioned above, there are a few favorites for the weekly stop, but my favorite has to be Bare Bones Steakhouse in Buford.
How long have you lived or worked here?
I have lived in Suwanee since 2014, making the short move from Duluth, where I lived for several years, but I have been a resident of Gwinnett for almost 20-years. As a testament to my LOVE for Suwanee, I commute to Kennesaw 3-5 days a week for work.
What is your favorite thing about Suwanee?
Hands down, the community. I have met so many wonderful people that reside and work in Suwanee. I love the diversity and the way that neighbors and friends come together to celebrate and support one another.
What current or former business, or place, makes you feel the most nostalgic about Suwanee?
You’ll find me most afternoons meeting with friends for an after-work beer at StillFire Brewing. When I mention wonderful community, I don’t know if there is a better place to surround yourself with a more loving group of people.
If you could take anyone to lunch, dead or alive, who would that be? Where would you go?
Probably my mom. I never got the chance to know her and I would love the opportunity to have a conversation with her. [We’d go to] S.O.B. to split the Seafood Tower.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
You really can’t beat the beauty of the North Georgia Mountains
What was the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, circa 1977
Tell me something that’s on your bucket list.
I’ve never put much thought into a bucket list, but I would love to take a long train voyage through the Swiss Alps and surrounding areas.
What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
Make love (pause) a verb not a noun!
Who is the most interesting person you have ever met in Suwanee?
Angie and Randall Veugeler. They are two of the most influential residents of Suwanee, yet they are the kindest, most loving, and just downright the coolest people that I’ve ever met.
What type of music do you like?
A little bit of everything, it just depends on my mood. It’s an unpopular view, but my least favorite kind of music is country.
Tell me something interesting about you that most people don’t know.
Anyone that is close to me knows this, my dad robbed a bank when I was a teenager. He spent 21 years in prison and now he lives in a nudist colony in Florida. Whenever I call him, I get his voicemail and his response for not answering is, “Sorry, I missed your call, I don’t have pockets”.
Would you rather sing to a crowd of 50 people or speak to a crowd of 500?
Neither, but give me a couple of beers and I will dance in front of any size crowd.
