Featured Member: Mike Chapman

Meet YPAL’s April Featured Member, Mike Chapman! Find out where he works, what he is reading and his favorite place to ski.

-What is your day job?

I work for Amazon.com as a “Global Workplace Health and Safety Program Manager – Field Ergonomics”. I travel around North America and help solve process engineering challenges.

-What is the best part of your job?

I get to travel around the country teaching and providing guidance on how to improve workplace safety. It’s rewarding helping organizations and business groups decrease injury trends and send people home healthier than when they arrived.

-How are you managing social distancing?

It is an interesting time as we all are trying to navigate this global pandemic. I find that I miss face to face interactions as well as the hands on aspects of teaching and work. I do want to encourage everyone to ignore social media in relation to COVID-19. Look to the information published by the CDC and WHO to avoid getting lost in misinformation and misguided “facts”.

–How are you staying in touch with family and friends during this time?

Facetime and Zoom have been a blessing. Trying to set up time to talk, play games or just seeing friends and family has been easier than I would have imagined. I can only fathom what this pandemic would have been like if we didn’t have our “basic technological advancements” we take for granted each day.

–Why did you join YPAL?

Being a transplant in a new city, I sought out YPAL four years ago as a vehicle for exploring the city and meeting new friends. Young professionals seem to flock to organizations like this in hopes to make a larger city feel small. Although I haven’t been as active as I wish due to the nature of my job – it has been a rewarding experience thus far.

-Favorite restaurant in Louisville? (or fav carry out right now?)

Shout out to Gravely Brewery! We will return!

-What is the best career advice you have received?

I am fortunate to have several impactful mentors. One of my mentors has a quote on her desk that says “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” She embodied this phrase and I try to replicate this in my personal and professional relationships.

-Any advice for those interested in going back to school while working full-time?

It is extremely difficult to manage life, work and school at the same time but it is not impossible. For anyone interested in going back to school, we can find a million excuses not to, but I encourage you to look at the reasons you should. It goes by fast and lean on your friends and family for support.

-Book recommendation?

Emotional Intelligence by Dr. Daniel Goleman. Fascinating read about how we perceive intelligence and a look at the growth and evolution of perception.

-Coolest place you have ever traveled?

I had the opportunity to travel to Big Sky Montana this year and stayed up at the Big Sky Resort. An amazing time and I only fell once on the slopes after taking a wrong turn and having to choose between Expert and Diablo runs.

Do you know a great young professional who we should feature next month? Tell us about them (or yourself) here!

A big thank you to our Featured Member Blog Post Sponsor, Webster University!
Webster University, a global institution, provides adult learners with a quality graduate education in a diverse and personalized learning environment. Take your career to the next level with a graduate degree designed for the working professional. Your future is now! Contact Webster University, Louisville at (502) 896-1835 or visit their website www.webster.edu