Meet Chris Harris
Chris received his Bachelor's of Science degree in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1993. His degree had a concentration in music education. He then completed one year of graduate work focused on a full school year of interning and student teaching. Following a year of grad school Chris and his fiancé moved across the country to her hometown in Orange County, CA. Over the next four years Chris was a high school band and choir director at two different high schools in LA and Orange counties. He even taught English for two years.
In 1998 Chris moved back to Tennessee. He taught for two more years as a high school and middle school band director. He was also Director of Musical Activities for the School District. All three bands Chris directed received multiple marching and concert awards including Grand Champion in marching competitions, State Champion percussion sections, and Superior ratings on Grade VI music in symphonic band festivals.
After leaving the education field in 2000, Chris entered the world of retail management. Chris first worked for Wal-Mart from 2000-2006. His final position with Wal-Mart was as the store manager of the Woodbridge store right behind Potomac Mills. At the time, the Woodbridge store was one of the busiest stores in the country with annual sales topping $93 million.
From 2006-2010 Chris was a store manager for Bed, Bath, and Beyond. He ran both the Tyson's Corner and Pentagon City stores during his time with the company.
Finally Chris wrapped up his retail career as the manager of Gander Mountain here in Fredericksburg.
In each assignment in his retail career Chris was brought in to clean up a store in trouble. He was asked to fix the appearance of the store, employee morale, and profitability. In each case Chris was able to work with his team , develop a plan, and execute that plan to the benefit of the customers, employees, and share holders.
In 2011 Chris left retail to begin to build his own small business. In 2012 Maid in Heaven, Inc was incorporated and the real adventure began. Chris has been working with his many associates over the years to continue to grow the company to take care of as many local clients as possible.
Chris and his family have lived in the Salem District since 2003. Both of his older kids attended Smith Station Elementary, Freedom Middle, and Chancellor High Schools. Chris has had close relationships with many of Jessi and Rhiley's teachers over the years. He was the freshman representative on the Chancellor Band Booster board for one year and then treasurer for two years.
Currently Chris has a stepdaughter attending Freedom Middle School. Having been not only a teacher, but also a parent and a member of a booster organization, Chris has a broad range of experience and expertise to draw upon when it's time to make critical decisions affecting the future of our kids.