Chris grew up exploring the mysteries of streams and forests in Michigan, especially the AuSable River.
After studying engineering at Michigan State, Chris came to the Pacific Northwest and was smitten with the beauty of the mountains, streams, and old-growth forests of Oregon. Work and graduate school at Stanford in Materials and Chemistry took Chris away from Oregon for a few years, but he returned over 25 years ago and has been hiking, biking, and fishing here ever since. Chris worked more than 20 years in high tech before becoming an entrepreneur. In 2006, he founded Trillium FiberFuels, a research company focused on creating sustainable bioethanol from agricultural residues. More recently, Chris started the craft distillery Spiritopia with a focus on regional products and sustainability.
