Born and raised in New York, Chip developed an appreciation for wild things and wild places at an early age roaming the woods and streams in the Catskill Mountains. He received his BS degree in Fisheries Resource Management at the University of Idaho and worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) in Eastern Idaho. Chip worked for IDFG for 42 years and retired as the regional supervisor for the Panhandle Region, a position he held for 19 years. Along the way he earned a masters degree in zoology from Idaho State University, held a biologist position in the Upper Snake Region, was a Fish Culturist and a Regional Fishery Manager in the Magic Valley Region, Staff Biologist in the Panhandle Region, and State Fishery Manager based in the headquarters office. He is a career-long member of the American Fisheries Society, and served as President of the Idaho Chapter in 1996-97. He also served on the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources Board of Trustees/Advisory Board, including a term as president, and he is a Fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute. He and his wife have two grown children and four grandchildren. Collectively they enjoy all the wonderful things wild Idaho has to offer, including fishing, hunting, camping, river running, hiking, birding, wildlife watching, canoeing, and sky and landscape gazing, among other activities.