FALL 2022 Chase Carpenter (’12) Combining family legacy and entrepreneurial spirit to inspire and educate children L iving with parents who went to trade school and later became licensed barbers, barber schoolteachers and business owners, Chase Carpenter (’12) was raised with an entrepreneurial spirit. This upbringing inspired him to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurial Management, and he now owns multiple businesses, with two focused on educating children. “Growing up I was raised in a barber shop in Bowling Green, Ky., with my mother, father and grandfather who all worked alongside each other for over 20 years,” Carpenter said. He saw his family members manage being self-employed, and he witnessed their moments of success and the moments they learned from. “The biggest lesson I learned from them was how they built relationships, and how they used their ability to be positive influences on people’s lives,” he said. Carpenter attributes his time spent in the shop with his family to his decision to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurial Management and wanting to be an entrepreneur. His time at WKU built upon that desire. “My WKU experience molded me into who I am and what I do to this day,” Carpenter said. He is the owner of Bundles of Joy (BOJ) Daycare, Bundles of Joy Preschool and Like Us Academy, and he is co-owner of One Roof event space—all in Bowling Green. “From my perspective, the experience of going to college had a deeper impact on my life versus the curriculum itself,” Carpenter said. “The relationships that were cultivated from attending the University have been lifelong, and with relationships come different networks.” Carpenter explained that long nights studying, early morning classes, the freedom of college and working hard to pass challenging courses prepared him for his future. 60 WKUSPIRIT ALUMNI.WKU.EDU
WKU Spirit Fall 2022: Page 60
