OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE is the mark for Chase Bowden in his position at Copperweld. This American bimetals manufacturer became a leader in the wire and cable industry by engineering wire differently. Bowden continues to engineer life differently, too. Similar to how Copperweld harnesses the capabilities of copper by evaluating its internal and external factors, Bowden’s dedication to his family serves as the guiding force, representing the core of his determination and resilience in the face of challenging circumstances.
Bowden’s father set an example for him and his brothers, two older and one younger. His faithfulness in the little and big things in life set the bar for his boys. The brothers were competitive in all things and prone to fuss and fight at times — typical sibling rivalry. But the brothers always had each other’s backs against the world.
“We were always there for each other growing up,” said Bowden.
In addition to his father, sports set a foundation for future decisions.
“It’s a big part of who I am today. I started organized sports at a young age — around 6 years old. I already had that competitive nature due to my relationships with my brothers,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you are the most athletic person on the field; if you do the little things right, you’ll be in the right spot and hopefully see the benefits of following instructions and doing what you were taught to do.”
Bowden graduated from Lincoln County High School in 2016. After graduation, he attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to pursue a career as a physical therapist. His life with his girlfriend, Desirea, consisted of classes, studying, and part-time work at an area Vitamin Shoppe until circumstances shifted.
“I lost my father at the end of my sophomore year in college. Then, at the end of my junior year, I lost my stepmom, who was the mom of my younger brother, Dylan. I had to prioritize what’s important. It was no longer just me and my girlfriend (my wife now). We had to set a foundation for Dylan, to be there for him as much as we could with everything going on — losing two parents in less than a year and a half. He was 12 at the time, maybe just turned 13,” said Bowden.
Balancing the challenges of college life and the newfound role of legal guardian of his younger brother, graduating from college remained a priority, as did finding work to better provide for the family of three. He took a job as a warehouse worker at Amazon, working three 12-hour shifts. He worked Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and attended classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
His work at Amazon was on a temporary basis with hopes of transitioning to a full-time role. He became part of their Amazon Brand Analytics program with an eye on a managerial job. Despite uncertainties brought by the COVID pandemic and the potential pursuit of a doctorate program, he decided to continue with Amazon. He relocated to Memphis as part of the launch team for Tennessee’s first Amazon robotics facility.
A short while later, Bowden transferred to Amazon’s Huntsville facility to be closer to his Lincoln County home and spend more time with his wife, who was expecting their first child, and his brother, Dylan. About a year later, Copperweld, where he worked as a high school senior, was hiring. He applied for both.
While he didn’t get the job for which he applied, Copperweld recognized him as a fit for a managerial position, operational excellence manager.
“My focus is [on] improving the process to better serve our customers from either a safety, quality, delivery, or cost side. That’s ultimately what it boils down to,” he said.
It’s his current position and can be attributed to his focused pursuit of excellence in his personal and professional life, setting an example for his son, Stephen, and Dylan, who’s now approaching his 18th birthday.
Bowden said, “I wanted to be the first in my family to graduate college, and I wanted to set an example for Dylan. I hope that between myself and my wife, we have given him the resources he needs to succeed and maybe [avoid] some of the challenges we had. We want him to find a career and do what most parents want their children to do — just be a successful and productive person in society.”
And what’s Bowden’s roadmap to success? “Do what you have to do to get where you want to go. Everybody has challenges, and everybody’s going to face adversity. At the end of the day, if you want something to come through, you have to put the work in to make it happen.”
Bowden’s commitment to operational excellence at Copperweld reflects his dedication to engineering wires and his life. Guided by his father’s example and the bond he shares with his brothers, Bowden’s journey is marked by resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering support. He has navigated life’s complexities with a focus on setting a solid foundation for his family, balancing personal challenges and professional aspirations, a testament to the power of resilience, and paving the way for a brighter future for his son and younger brother.
That’s a commitment to excellence and a conduit to power the future. GN
