Meet Rene’ Chase | Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rene’ Chase and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rene’, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
I hold a strong belief that if you are not giving back in some capacity then you are missing out on what is most important in this life. Giving back is not always monetary and can be as simple as using your talents to teach others or helping others get a second chance. We need to spend more time giving back in our communities and doing our best to improve the areas we live in so that the legacy we leave when we are gone is not only for our children and family but also for our community and that we in some small or large way touched the lives of those around us. It can seem so overwhelming when you look at the issues we have in this country but if you just take a step back and look at what you can do in your own backyard to make a difference then you can see the direct impact you can have. If businesses would just take a beat and look around they would see all of the areas they could be making a difference in. They have the potential to change he lives of their community, their employees, and even their customers. I believe that when you have been blessed to have more than what you need then you take that extra and use that to help others and then you pray they will do the same. It is not only about giving back but giving second chances. We have so many people around us who for whatever reason made a life altering mistake and now society turns their back on them or won’t give them a fair chance and this is not at all how we are to be as individuals. As a society in general we have stopped teaching our children to have empathy and help others and rather just taught them to push harder, get more, be successful which in and of itself is not all bad but when we lose the ability to have empathy and give back then we as a society are losing. The corporate world has to exist and companies have to make money and have a right to make large profits and keep those profits no doubt because if they didn’t we wouldn’t have free enterprise and employment opportunities I am just saying my personal belief is there has to be a balance of reinvesting into our communities and along with that empathy can be taught. So all of that to say that giving back is at the core of who we are as a company. Giving back can be done in so many ways and some of those ways are more important than any monetary donation a company can make. People will always remember who took the time to show kindness , no judgement, and most important empathy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our company was started in 1994 and really took off in the spring of 2000. I believe what sets us apart is that we have never forgotten where we started and the customers that helped us get to where we are now. We started our company with our own money and never looked for investors or took a business loan to get started. We used every extra dime to get what we needed to keep going and reinvest in ourselves. I know we are a small company compared to others but I like the fact that I know each employee and about his family and life. Our story is unique in the fact that we started a property maintenance company on the side just to make extra money and that grew into a small business all the while our electrical business began growing as well so in 2000 we had 2 small companies running out of one location and our employees would either be working on the property maintenance side or electrical side depending on the day and even the weather. I am proud to say we have never had to lay any employee off and have always had work for our guys consistently for over 25 years. In 2006 we added a store front to our building and opened a third company which is an outdoor power equipment company and in 2022 opened a second sales location for the outdoor power equipment company, We learned early on that we needed to diversify because our economy can change at any second and we saw that first hard in 2008 and again when Covid hit. We were able to keep running full force when both events hit our economy and again did not have to lay anyone off. We have seen phenomenal growth in 2022 and even more in 2023 and that is hugely in part to our 26 year old son taking over a lot of the leadership of the company and using social media and all of the new ways companies can market themselves and stay relevant. When he came back to the company in 2017 it was a game changer for us and we would not be where we are today had he not came in and showed us new ways of doing things. I believe you have to be open to the younger generation and how things can be done different and better and that your way of doing it for some many years isn’t always the best. I have heard so many business owners say that they just keep doing what they are doing because it has worked for them so why change? Well, my belief is that if you are not open to new ways of doing things eventually you will become extinct and things will move on without you. I am excited for 2024 and look forward to seeing growth and change and also staying open to how we can be a better employer and what that looks like for our employees. We are only as good as our employees and I have to say I believe we have the best. They all treat customers with respect and dignity and show integrity in every job big or small. Our story is one of just believing in ourselves and our employees and reinvesting daily into our company.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I believe our Dayton area has vastly improved over the last few years and there are so many new and exciting things to do. I am a gym rat in the early mornings so I would say I would have to take them with me in the mornings to the gym I belong to which is MPower Gym in Vandalia and I also do training at Express Fitness Studio in Dayton. Both gyms are the best we have in this area hands down. My small town of Brookville has so much to offer in the way of small businesses such as the best ice cream shop in Ohio or there are a few boutiques, a flower shop, and of course other small businesses that provide services for our company and myself personally. Downtown Dayton has so many amazing places to eat and then we have an excellent shopping area known as The Greene. All of these places are 30 minutes or less from my home which is yet another reason I love the area I live and work in.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for the strong women in my life and in particular my mom, my aunt Soni, and my aunt Gwenda. I lost my mom at age 16 and my aunt Gwenda 6 years ago however their impact on my life can be seen everyday even though they are no longer with me. I am so fortunate to still have my aunt Soni with me today and every time I am with her I learn something and I am reminded of who I am and where exactly I came from. These 3 women showed me how to be independent, fierce, unapologetic, and yet still be compassionate and empathetic at the same time. They each changed the lives of those around them and they were constantly giving back in their communities to make things better for others. They showed me that you can be strong and soft at the same time, you can be fierce and vulnerable at the same time, and you can be a leader and empathic at the same time. I am blessed to have been surrounded with so much love from them and they each have made me who I am today.

Website: www.chase-elect.com and www.ccoutdoorpowerequipment.com

Instagram: ccoutdoorpowerequipment.com

Linkedin: Rene’ Chase

Facebook: Rene’ Chase

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