Hi, I'm Chet Grant.
I grew up in Clio, Michigan, one of five children.
My dad worked for GM and my mom was a teacher. Mom stayed at home until we were all in school before going back to work as the school librarian.
Dad was a WWII veteran in the army air corps.
As a family of seven, there was always many activities occurring all the time. The Grant shuttle bus was on the go every day.
As each of us graduated, we all attended college in various disciplines.
I attended Michigan State University earning a BS degree in Metallurgical Engineering and a MS in Materials Science.
Upon graduation in 1968, I hired into the Buick Motor Division and had the great opportunity to experience a wide range of metallurgical processes and projects. Buick at that time was a fully integrated complex, making much of its own parts and vehicle components. It was a great time for someone with my background.
As GM changed, I ended up my career working for the Powertrain division, still as a materials engineering manager.
Over my career, I had many opportunities to learn many things outside of my chosen field.
I volunteered professionally in my materials field as chair of committees, conferences, and on a laboratory association board of directors.
While there, I had the great opportunity to serve as the board chair for 3 years. This was truly a most valuable learning experience.
GM also supported my involvement in several leadership training events and classes.
I learned from some great teachers about the value of good leadership and the importance of understanding processes and how to properly control them over time.
This brought me into contact with teachers like Dr. W Edwards Deming and Stephen Covey.
I value what I learned from them still to this day.
In 1970, I met my wife and best friend Marilynn.
We married in 1972 and spent the next 20+ years working and enjoying life.
I continued to be involved in volunteer activities along with my work.
Marilynn continued her teaching until the early 80’s when she made a career change and became a CPA. She made another career change and worked for what is now Genesys hospital.
The one thing that was missing in our lives was the chance to be parents.
Thanks to Marilynn’s persistence, we became parents in 1996 to our son Travis.
This was the best thing to ever happen to me.
I genuinely enjoy being a dad and have my wife to thank for her persistence and belief in me as a dad. Now I had the precious roles of both dad and husband. Sometimes, you just do not know what you don’t know. I was fortunate to have someone who knew me well.
After I retired in 2004, I continued to work at various jobs and volunteer roles. This included teaching, boy scout leader, high school robotics coach and mentor, and working in our local community. As a family, we enjoy our times up north at our cabin boating, fishing, hunting, and relaxing. There are always projects to do that we work on as a family.
I have always paid attention to what happens in government and what the politicians and bureaucrats promised but usually did not deliver. Over time, I began to feel as though our government in Washington represented us less and less. The job became one of power, money, and self-preservation and not about what I needed.
Eventually, I came to the belief that the system was broken and needed to be changed.
What concerned the Washington establishment was not what concerned me. Our country suffers from a severe lack of leadership from all parties and governmental functions.
I began to study and relearn about the Constitution and why it came about. While involved in my studies, I came across Convention of States and began yet another learning adventure.
The more I learned about COS, the more I felt like this was the best solution for our country.
We the people have the power to change things in Washington.
We just need to act and not sit back waiting for someone else to do it.
I want to leave my son a country that he can be proud of and live a life full of liberty and happiness and the freedom to pursue whatever he wants.
