AMAZING ALUMNI CHASE COLLINS HICKORY’S

Hickory's Helper

It’s not every day that you move out, earn an Associate’s degree, and manage your own business – all by the age of 19.

For Chase Collins, CVCC alum (‘22), the motivation for self-discipline and self-progress feels ingrained. These accomplishments did not come easily, however. Collins navigated several hardships prior to becoming the businessman he is today.

During high school, Collins was motivated to create a small business, Hickory’s Helper, LLC, which provides exterior maintenance solutions to homes in Catawba County and surrounding areas. After graduating high school in 2021, he put this idea on hold. Collins was set to attend The Citadel on a USMC NROTC Scholarship. After unexpected life changes—his father suffered a stroke and needed a home caretaker—Collins made the decision to leave The Citadel, move back home, and start from scratch. Still, he felt stuck as his weeks became a routine of short term jobs, caregiving, and thinking about his future.

As the days blurred, Collins realized it was time to invest in himself, pursuing a degree in higher education and putting his business idea into action.

“I realized needed to be financially independent and take personal responsibility if were to be of service to my family and community,” Collins said when asked why he chose to start Hickory's Helper, LLC.

Center, to representing CVCC at the National SkillsUSA Competition, Collins took advantage of every moment to build up the Red Hawk community. His ambition for business and service led him to participate in the Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund (EEVF), a partnership between CVCC and the Catawba Valley Chamber of Commerce. The EEVF course establishes class cohorts and supports students by helping them start their own business with a grant up to $5,000.

He enrolled in CVCC’s Business Administration program that Fall, taking online courses while continuing to build up Hickory’s Helper, LLC. The online courses motivated him to branch out further and get involved in a college community in ways he never dreamed.

From taking online and in-person courses, to getting involved with the Small Business

Collins was inspired by the knowledge and skills he gained with EEVF. Along with commitment to his Business Administration courses, he showed up to every EEVF course at the Small Business Center, developed a business proposal, and received a grant to help him continue Hickory’s Helper and boost his impact in the community.

Humbled by this grant, and motivated by college mentors, Collins graduated from CVCC with an Associate’s in Business Administration within 12 months. He transferred to Appalachian State University during Fall of 2022, where he continues his education as a Junior at the Walker College of Business.

He continues to give back to CVCC and his community by investing in the wide business network of Catawba Valley. He speaks on behalf of CVCC, attends conferences at the Workforce Solutions Center, and credits much of his academic achievement to his time at Red Hawk Nation.

In late 2022, Collins was honored to receive Hickory City’s Business Well Crafted Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He remains grateful for the generous Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund, which has allowed him to continue serving residents and commercial clients in Catawba County.

“In the last two years have had the great experience of being a full-time student and maintaining full-time employment,” said Collins. “While balancing both of these can be stressful, it has taught me how to manage time, compartmentalize, and have selfdiscipline. Many would assume one detracts from the other. In fact, it has the opposite effect. find my academic studies help me in my professional pursuits and vice versa, motivating me to pursue even more.”

“This career path has given me a profound launch pad. However, the connections have made and the network have built through this endeavor and my other professional experiences are of equal value.” As he looks forward to graduating with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Collins plans to keep working at Hickory’s Helper, to keep growing, and to keep encouraging those who wish to fulfill the dream of starting their own business.

ABOUT HICKORY’S HELPER

Hickory’s Helper LLC, provides exterior maintenance solutions for both commercial and residential customers.

Since May of 2022, Hickory’s Helper has expanded to gutter cleaning and maintenance, pressure washing, soft washing, and other exterior services to more than 60 residential customers and over 15 commercial contracts.

The company also offers part-time employment opportunities.