Voldi Chandler: Putting it All Together
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
NAPA — Voldi Chandler gained experience in a variety of trades before deciding on a career that incorporated all of them. “Prior to getting into the trades, I was doing microwave electronics, which got me interested in working with high voltage electricity,” he recounts. “After that, I got a job with an HVAC company, where I learned about everything from sheet metal work to framing, roofing and plumbing. After gaining experience in so many different areas, I decided to get into general construction, where I could both apply the knowledge I had and continue to learn more. Not long after becoming a foreman for a construction company, I realized I could do the whole job myself, so I got my contractor’s license and hit the ground running.”
Today, as owner of Chandler Construction, Voldi cites multiple favorite aspects of his job. “First off, I love working with my crew—I have a great bunch of guys and we have fun working together. I also enjoy watching projects come together and seeing the results of our work. However, the greatest thing is hearing a client tell me how much they love what we built for them. That makes it all worthwhile.”
A resident of Napa, Voldi says he appreciates the close-knit character of his adopted hometown. “Napa is a very tight community—it’s sort of its own little microclimate. That’s why, if you own a business here, you have to do right by people. If you don’t, word gets around quickly.”
Outside of work, Voldi fills his free time with a variety of active pastimes. “I have a pool table and a really loud stereo, so I spend a lot of time enjoying those,” he says. “I also like mountain biking and spending time with my daughter, Kyah. We both love music, so one of our favorite activities is going to concerts together.”
In his life and career, Voldi espouses the importance of maintaining a balance between the two. “When you’re self-employed, it’s easy to become a workaholic, but you don’t want to work so much that it detracts from your quality of life,” he explains. “The way I look at it, you should work to enjoy life, not just to make as much money as you can. If you’re working so much that you’re not enjoying your life, you’re doing it wrong.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Voldi says he’d get to work on a much-anticipated building project. “I would buy a piece of property in the mountains and build my dream house. That has actually been my plan for a while and I’ve already started designing it. It’ll have a game room, a home theater, an indoor shooting range—all the essentials.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: “Archer.”
Q: What was your first concert?
A: Faith No More and Billy Idol at the ARCO Arena in 1992.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
A: On the weekends, I like to go out and get an all-American breakfast with eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy.
Q: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: Legos.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d go to Peru to see the ancient city of Machu Picchu.
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