Chris grew up in the life of the church and was active in the church's Pilgrim Fellowship as a high school student at Maine West.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University, he is a special education teacher at Addison Trail High School and also holds a graduate degree.

Chris also coaches high school boys tennis and has coached Special Olympics basketball. He has chaperoned many PF events over the years including the PF service trip to the Duvall Home for the Handicapped and the canoe trip to the Boundary Waters.