Chris Shurian is a Utah entrepreneur, business mentor, speaker, and host of the Bootstraps & Battle Scars podcast. After nearly four decades as a founder, Chris has experienced every phase of the business journey: growth, award-winning success, failure, and rebuilding. Today, he draws on those hard-earned experiences to help other founders navigate their own paths.
Chris began his career in construction, growing Classic Construction Services into a multi-million-dollar business with custom cabinetry and electrical divisions. His leadership earned him major accolades, including 5x Utah Remodeler of the Year, 3x Western Region Remodeler of the Year, Professional Remodeler’s Big 50, Utah Business’s 40 Under 40, and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year nomination.
When the 2008 Great Recession hit, Classic was severely impacted and ultimately failed—one of Chris’s first major “Battle Scars”.
Chris continued building across real estate, hospitality, and restaurants. Facing both successes and setbacks, he learned lessons no classroom could teach. Rather than erasing the difficult chapters, Chris believes founders should leverage them:
Chris created Bootstraps & Battle Scars to foster honest conversations about entrepreneurship—beyond just the highlight reels. Through his podcast, speaking, and mentoring, he shares real experiences so founders can take what resonates and apply it to their own work. This philosophy also led him to launch Founders Exchange, a peer group designed around confidentiality, shared experience, and genuine connection among business owners.
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