Meet Chase Slepak

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chase Slepak a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chase , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My work ethic has been deeply shaped by the two most influential people in my life: my father and my grandmother. Their grit, determination, and unwavering commitment set the foundation for how I approach every opportunity and challenge today.

My Father
My parents divorced when I was so young that I don’t even remember them being together. While I love my birth mother and appreciate her role in my life, my father’s approach to life and work presented a striking contrast. A man of few words, he demonstrated his values through action rather than talk.

From my earliest memories, my father was working—constantly. He took on every job imaginable to make ends meet: fish cutter, delivery driver, salesman, bartender, and more. His ability to juggle these roles showed me what it truly meant to scrap it out and make it work. Even as he worked tirelessly, he always brought me along for the ride.

Some of my earliest memories are of tagging along with him while he sold marketing pieces to bars, made deliveries, or tended bar. I wasn’t just watching—I was learning. I had a front-row seat to the hustle and grind of real work.

Over time, his relentless effort paid off, and he built a successful distribution company from nothing. His business gave me my first real exposure to the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, an industry that has since rewarded me with incredible opportunities. It’s not just a business—it has been and still is a masterclass in grit, perseverance, and the rewards of relentless effort.

My Grandmother
My grandmother’s story is just as powerful. As a first-generation Korean immigrant, her life has been defined by resilience. Even now, at nearly 80 years old, she works tirelessly despite no longer needing to. From the time I was 12, I worked side by side with her on a farm and in a greenhouse. She taught me the value of showing up every day, taking pride in every task, and always giving your best effort.

Her example has always been a reminder that hard work isn’t just about survival—it’s about purpose. She showed me that strength isn’t loud or flashy; it’s steady, unrelenting, and deeply rooted in character.

Their examples shaped how I view life, work, and commitment to family. They taught me to approach every challenge with humility, every setback with resilience, and every opportunity with determination. Today, they as well as my wife and children fuel everything I do!

For me, hard work isn’t just about achieving personal goals or building a successful business—it’s a responsibility to my family. I view every effort I make as an investment in their future, a way to create opportunities for them that my father and grandmother worked so tirelessly to provide for me. It’s about honoring the sacrifices they made and continuing their legacy of perseverance and determination.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m fortunate to lead a dynamic life that bridges both corporate leadership and entrepreneurship. In my corporate role, I focus on driving growth and innovation in consumer-packaged goods (CPG), an industry I’m deeply passionate about. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible people who not only support but encourage my entrepreneurial pursuits. Together, we’ve breathed new life into struggling brands, are actively transforming a manufacturing company, and recently launched an exciting new beverage brand. The opportunities ahead for our team are incredibly exciting, and I’m grateful to be part of such a forward-thinking group.

What makes my journey so fulfilling is how these two worlds feed into each other. My corporate work challenges me to think strategically, solve complex problems, and lead with vision—all of which make me a better entrepreneur. At the same time, my personal ventures give me a hands-on understanding of what it takes to build and scale a business, which makes me a stronger, more empathetic corporate leader. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to do both, and for the lessons, experiences, and relationships that come with balancing these roles. It’s a privilege to pursue what I love while continuing to grow, learn, and make an impact in both arenas.

In entrepreneurship, I’m fortunate to do what I love alongside my father, building and managing ventures that reflect our shared values and passion for creating opportunities. Together, we’ve launched several businesses, including SwingZone Sports Hub, a facility dedicated to supporting athletes; Slepak Enterprises, a real estate holdings company; and Crazy Good, our newest and most exciting venture. Crazy Good is comprised of three interconnected platforms—an online auction site, a direct-buy platform, and a purchasing service—that help restaurant and retail owners efficiently liquidate and acquire assets. I’m particularly excited about expanding Crazy Good by selling affiliate opportunities, allowing others to start their own businesses as Crazy Good affiliates, managing auctions and direct sales in their local communities.

I’m also proud to have launched and successfully sold Cleveland Party Rentals, a business that provided high-quality equipment rentals for events and celebrations. Additionally, we own Uncle Joe’s Good Time, a venture named after my late Uncle Joe, the life of the party in our family and a constant reminder to find joy in everything we do.

Beyond my own ventures, I serve as an advisor and angel investor for small and emerging brands, helping entrepreneurs navigate growth and tackle challenges. Everything I do is rooted in family—from the lessons I learned as a kid tagging along with my dad at work to the drive I feel to create a better future for my own family. These values inspire me every day, fueling my passion for building meaningful businesses and embracing the opportunities that lie ahead.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are grit, efficiency, and saying “yes.” These traits have shaped how I approach challenges, build businesses, and navigate opportunities in both my corporate and entrepreneurial roles.

Grit
For me, grit is about putting your head down, doing the work, and pushing forward no matter what. As I like to say, “Be a plow horse, not a show horse.” It’s not about flashy wins or quick success—it’s about consistent effort, even when the path gets tough. Grit is what keeps you going when others might give up, and it’s a skill you build by showing up every day and doing the work.
Advice: Stay hungry. Don’t expect shortcuts or overnight success. Embrace the grind, trust the process, and let your work ethic speak for itself.

Efficiency
I’ve always believed in working smarter, not just harder. One of my favorite sayings is, “Don’t use five-dollar words to say ten-cent sentences.” Efficiency isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about simplifying, prioritizing, and focusing on what truly matters. It’s learning to make the most of your time, resources, and energy to achieve the biggest impact.
Advice: Identify what’s truly important and cut out the noise. Focus on the tasks that move the needle, and don’t get bogged down in overthinking or unnecessary complexity. Time is your most valuable resource—use it wisely.

Saying “Yes”
Saying “yes” has been one of the most transformative mindsets for me. Whether it’s taking a leap on a new opportunity, tackling a challenge, or stepping outside my comfort zone, I’ve learned to “take the biggest bite you can, then figure out how to chew it.” It’s through saying yes that I’ve discovered some of the most rewarding ventures of my life.
Advice: Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back. Say yes to opportunities that scare you, challenge you, or excite you. Trust yourself to figure it out as you go, and remember that growth happens outside your comfort zone.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple: stay hungry, stay focused, and keep saying yes. You don’t need to have it all figured out to get started. Success comes from showing up, putting in the work, and learning as you go.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

The people who have been most helpful in shaping my journey are my father, my grandmother, and Chris, my CEO, mentor, and best friend.

My father showed me what it means to work hard, juggling multiple jobs to provide for our family and eventually building a successful distribution business. My grandmother, a first-generation Korean immigrant, taught me resilience and the importance of showing up every day, no matter what. Their examples instilled the values of grit and determination that guide me to this day.

Chris has been equally transformative in my corporate career. He’s exposed me to a world I didn’t know existed, offering opportunities and challenges that have pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. His mentorship has been invaluable, helping me become a better leader, entrepreneur, and person. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance and the trust he’s placed in me to take on new responsibilities and explore my potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Chaseslepak.com
• Instagram: Chaseslepak
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaseslepak?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app