In this month’s Team Spotlight, we feature our Operations Manager, Chris Bears:
Chris joined Boxwell with years of experience in operations and management in the oil and gas and restaurant industries. His down-to-earth demeanor and easy smile make Chris a great addition to our team. Outside of the office, Chris is an avid mountain/road biker and powerlifter. He loves cooking, working on DIY welding projects, and is always up to something wild with his children! For the past few years, for example, Chris and his daughter have participated in the BolderBoulder 10k race along with Team Boxwell.
As Operations Manager, Chris spends a lot of time, well, managing! He oversees all aspects of logistics and the installation processes for Boxwell’s relocatable and portable storage units. This role requires managing the end-to-end process of shipments, ensuring customer satisfaction, and supervising the installation crew. Chris also manages Boxwell’s full-scale installation projects, with hundreds of relocatable containers delivered and installed to a single location. Chris’s role involves efficiently and effectively managing resources to meet or exceed objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner. So, he needs to communicate expectations clearly and put his focus on the outcome. And for Boxwell, the desired outcome is the success of our customers.
A recent article in the “Work Life” section of Fast Company explains what can make a good manager: “A good manager…spends 75% of their time on the job of managing. That involves building relationships and trust, managing work, overseeing career development, and dealing with problems. Only 25% of their time is spent on the technical part of their job, or whatever tasks they likely spent most of their time on as an individual contributor.”
The New Way We Work
For this edition of our Boxwell Team Spotlight, we asked Chris a few questions:
What is something about yourself that most people do not know?
Most people who have been to my house know this, but I love to cook! It has always been one of my biggest passions/ hobbies. Handmade pasta/gnocchi, smoked meats, you name it and I have more than likely at least attempted to cook it!
If you are having a difficult day, what helps?
Very simple things like just hanging out on the couch with my family, a good bike ride or workout, downtime with a book.
Say you are forced to completely change your career, what would you choose to do instead?
I would get my pilot’s license and make a career out of that!
Tell us about your ideal vacation. What necessities would you pack for the week?
My ideal vacation is one with no itinerary where I can cruise around, eat great food, hang out with great people, and see some beautiful sights. My backpack would contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, a headlamp, a water bottle, plenty of socks, sunscreen, and a book.
When you were 10 years old, what did you imagine you would be doing now?
I thought I would play professional sports as every boy who plays sports does, but around 10 years old, I thought I would be a restauranteur as I mentioned I’ve always loved cooking. But I also always held out in hopes that NASA would call me for an Astronaut position!
What book are you reading right now? Give us some recommendations.
After watching Oppenheimer I got started on a WWII and Atomic Bomb kick. So, I am currently reading: American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
Other Book Recommendations:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
The Odyssey by (maybe) Homer
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley
Favorite movie?
That is such a hard topic because I have a favorite movie for every genre but Interstellar for sure! That movie has everything you could want from a science fiction movie. Dune 2 is a close second, though, especially after seeing it in IMAX. Stepbrothers is probably my favorite comedy though!
Here’s a photo of Chris dressed up as Bob Ross for Boxwell’s holiday 80s-themed party. He nailed it!
Best sandwich?
There is a butcher shop/deli in Fort Collins that has a Colorado Ruben which uses buffalo instead of corned beef, and it is incredible.
At Boxwell, we take pride in the diversity of talents and passions within our team, recognizing that each member brings a unique perspective and skill set to the table. We may be outgoing and approachable, but there are intriguing sides to everyone on our team that might surprise you. Since Boxwell was founded, we’ve experienced significant growth, and we now have a team of nearly 25 individuals. Read more about it in our article, “Staying Small and Nimble for Optimal Growth.” Boxwell successfully maintains the right balance between our team, product, and our partnerships. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain committed to fostering an environment where every individual can thrive, both personally and professionally.
About Boxwell
We value the connections we have with each other, our clients, and partners. And we are all genuinely proud of our product and our company culture. Boxwell uses a hands-on approach to business that is carried throughout everything we do. When we need to talk, we pick up the phone. If there are questions, we demo our product. And when we’re intrigued with something new, we give it a try. If a team member needs help, we offer it. When our community needs support, we lend our resources. With compassion and innovative ways of “thinking outside of the box,” anything is possible. That’s our culture.
Boxwell is a leading global provider of portable and relocatable self-storage solutions designed to cater to the diverse needs of businesses worldwide. Our extensive reach encompasses storage facilities across various regions, spanning the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and beyond. What sets Boxwell apart is our commitment to delivering fully customizable, exceptionally durable, and effortlessly movable storage solutions that meet the unique demands of every client. Our products include drive-up self-storage units, relocatable self-storage units, portable storage containers, moving containers, 10 x 20 units and restoration containers.
Work with a Boxwell representative to decide your ideal unit mix, custom colors, door configurations, and more. Your Boxwell storage units will be shipped flat-packed and assembled quickly with just a few dozen nuts, bolts, and basic tools. You will be ready to rent them in no time! Check out boxwell.co or call (303) 317-5850 for more information.
