Chris Hurdle

Tell me an interesting/fun/cool fact about yourself.
When I was a little kid, I had this hardcore obsession with school buses. I literally wanted to be a bus. My mother loves to remind me of how I would stand there and mimic the engine and sounds of the air brakes. As I got older, 2nd-grade era, I went from wanting to be a bus to wanting to be a school bus driver, to wanting to be a school bus designer…it wasn’t long before the school bus faze drove out of my life for good.

Give me a snapshot of your work history.
My very first “paid job” was something resembling an internship but for younger teens, at the City of Rochester Municipal Archives & Records Center back in New York. Fast forward to a few years ago, I was Student Assistant to the Vice President of Administrative Services at Lake Michigan College. In between my first job and BCF I’ve held positions in retail, the food industry, and arts sector.

Give me another snapshot of what it is you do here at BCF.
Here at BCF I assist in the administration and promotion of grants, scholarships, and special projects. I also aid in tech support and am active with the Youth Advisory Committee (T.E.A.M.)

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I love to get outside and enjoy the good weather (because if you blink, there’ll either be a snowstorm or a heat warning). Kayaking is one of my favorite things to do outside until I kayak too far down a river and have to wade in the same spot for a bit to rest my arms. Happens every time. I also enjoy performing whenever I get the chance to. Additionally, I love to spend time with friends or just vibe out at a local coffee shop!

What kinds of activities energize you?
Doing things that allow me to feel like I belong. Things that make me feel like I am part of something positive and big.

What’s something you’ve done, but you’ll never do again?
Zipline over Niagara Falls. Don’t get me wrong it was beautiful and I’m glad I put my big boy harness on and went for it but, yeah, I am perfectly fine with experiencing my favorite place from the safety of the ground.

What’s your favorite place to eat around here?
There is this brewery in South County, I believe New Buffalo, that has some of the best BBQ food I’ve ever had. I’ve been trying to remember the name for months now but can’t. A close second favorite would be Nola Roux. Their bourbon chicken is a must.

What is the one thing you cannot resist?
A good adventure! I am always down to try and experience something new. Whether it be a type of cuisine, learning a new language, pushing my boundaries, etc.

What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?
As a summer job, I once attempted to work at an outdoor pest control company, eliminating mosquitos and things like that. I lasted one day.

What’s one of your favorite parts of your job?
One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to be the bearer of good news! There is nothing better than letting a teacher know that they WILL be able to fund that special project for their students or reassuring an organization that may have been one month away from closing its doors indefinitely that it now has the support it needs to get back on its feet.

What makes you excited to work at BCF?
Everything that I do here at BCF is mission-driven. I consider myself pretty lucky to be a part of this team, knowing that I am getting a chance to aid in building strong communities throughout the Berrien County area is pretty exciting.  

Contact Chris by clicking here.