TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS KARELUS

CHRIS KARELUS

TEAM LEADER FOR GAS DISTRIBUTION

Our Team Member Spotlight this month features Chris Karelus, Gas Distribution Team Leader. Chris grew up in the Buffalo Area where he currently resides with his family. He attended the University at Buffalo at the same time as his wife Kristie, and it was their shared love of volleyball that brought them together. The college sweethearts have three children, Luke (13), Cameron (14), and Jaycee (16), whose recent driver’s license has added to the number of grey hairs on Chris’s head. Their family is completed by their two dogs, Harley (a bulldog), and Penny (a boxer puppy that gave them the fun and sanity they needed to get through the coronavirus quarantine this year).

While Chris has a comprehensive engineering, building and construction background, specifically in the design of water distribution, sewer, and stormwater management, he’s not just about work. He has an avid love of the outdoors. His whole family hunts (especially deer), and they even process their own meat. Chris also enjoys fly fishing, especially in the fall. As a collegiate athlete (volleyball), he also has a vast knowledge of how to eat right to get your body working its best. Ask him about healthy fats and nutrition! If you talk with Chris for any length of time, you may even catch him saying, “I kid you not.”

Chris brings a depth of experience in natural gas distribution system planning and engineering to our team. As one of our “maverick” Project Leaders, Chris understands that our processes at JHA are here to serve us, not the other way around. His clients are always thrilled with the excellent level of service he brings to their projects, and that is what it’s all about!

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

Chris Karelus

WHAT WOULD YOUR PERFECT WORKDAY INCLUDE?

Delivering good news about final approvals on a project to a client and helping them get the job constructed. There is just something awesome about seeing a project that you plan get built.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE WORLD?

the Salmon River

WHAT CORE VALUE OF JHA MOST RESONATES WITH YOU, AND WHY?

People matter most. My dad always told me work is 99% of the time about the people you work with and 1% of time about the project you’re working on. I’ve tried to work with that in mind every day of my life.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POSSESSION?

My guitar.

WHAT IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU LAUGH?

My kids. They’re just goof balls and find a way to make us laugh all the time.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

I didn’t have to work for it or earn it…it is definitely my salvation. Jesus is just too good not to brag on Him every time I get a chance!