Sponsor Spotlight: Chris Straw

President, Team Quality Services

Some partnerships are perfectly aligned from the start. When Chris Straw discovered STARTedUP, he was already building something just like it.

Long before he became a sponsor, Chris was already doing the work. In 2017, he launched LaunchTank in DeKalb County — a local pitch competition designed to give students a real shot at earning real money. It wasn't just a way to give back. It was, in his own words, a smarter way to make a bigger impact.

When he was introduced to STARTedUP and saw what the Foundation was building across Indiana, the decision was easy.

"I started a similar program in DeKalb County back in 2017 and always wanted it to grow state-wide," Chris said. "When I was introduced to STARTedUP and I saw how they could take it to the next level and across Indiana, it was a natural progression."

LaunchTank became part of what STARTedUP is today, and Chris became one of the Foundation's most committed advocates.

A Connector at Heart

Don Wettrick, STARTedUP's CEO, doesn't hesitate when asked about Chris's impact.

"Chris Straw was among the first ambassadors of Northeast Indiana who introduced us to several great education, business, and university leaders," Don said. "He has been an integral part of our growth and has been a relentless advocate and connector."

That connector role goes beyond financial support. Chris has made countless introductions, to students, educators, and business leaders alike, and continues to invest his time and energy into the Foundation's mission alongside his sponsorship.

What Drives Him

Chris didn't grow up thinking of himself as an entrepreneur. That's part of why this work matters so much to him.

"I didn't ever think about being an entrepreneur when I was younger," he said. "I like that we are introducing students into the concept of solving problems and thinking that way. Whether or not they start a business doing that is up to them, but either way, they will be useful with that mindset wherever they end up."

His favorite moments as a sponsor are the ones that happen in conversation, like when a student is excitedly tallying up their sales, and then the math hits them.

"So many times, students spend hours on something they are selling, sell it for X dollars and say, 'I made X dollars!' You did, but when you do the math on how long it takes you to make the widget — what's your hourly wage to make, package, sell, deliver, order materials? You can hear it in a business class and do all kinds of schoolwork that should teach them about it, but so many times, it isn't until it's something they are working on for themselves that they really get it."

That moment of genuine understanding, when a concept stops being academic and starts being real, is exactly what STARTedUP is built to create. And it's exactly why Chris keeps showing up.

For anyone considering getting involved, his advice is straightforward.

"Investing time, dollars, resources into our future workforce, caretakers and community members is never a bad thing. What you are investing in is the process, not the business. Getting our youth to think differently about their environment and how to be a contributor and not just a consumer."

We are grateful to have champions like Chris Straw in our corner, and we are proud to call him a partner in this work.

Learn more about Chris and Team Quality Services at teamqualityservices.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.