Chip, as he is known to family and friends, attended Arizona State University (ASU), where he acquired a Bachelor’s, two Master’s, a PhD and a life partner, a wife (Joyce), with whom he would spend the next 50 plus years.  Chip and Joyce raised two wonderful daughters and have been blessed with 4 amazing grandchildren. 

Recruiting and helping high risk students succeed at ASU became an early passion for Chip, as he developed and managed the school’s first Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).  Teaching became his next calling as he accepted a teaching position at ASU and then a professorship at Florida State University (FSU).  At FSU, Chip also directed the school’s Counseling Center.  His publications and lectures brought him to the attention of a national audience and opened the door to his next career move.  He accepted a position from a Washington, DC firm to open and manage a regional training center in Atlanta, GA.  He later moved to Washington, DC and took on the responsibilities of leading the oldest minority owned management consultant firm in the country as their Vice President for Operations.  From there he accepted the position of Senior Vice President with a Miami based firm.  Chip led in the acquisition and management of millions of dollars in contracts for these 2 firms.

Upon Chip’s return to Atlanta, GA he was invited by Coretta Scott King (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s widow) to join her at the MLK Jr Center for Nonviolent Social Change.  He helped the Center acquire and manage millions of dollars in grants and contracts.  Chip rose to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  He worked with civil rights leaders, CEOs, politicians and dignitaries from all over the world.  Chip then accepted a position with the GA Legislative Black Caucus as their Executive Director.  At the time Georgia boasted the largest Legislative Black Caucus in the country.  Chip raised funds; developed and implemented programs; organized and convened workshops, seminars, forums and public hearings; researched, drafted and tracked legislation.  Additionally, he responded to the needs of constituents, lobbyists and supporters; wrote the Caucus legislative agenda, speeches, press releases, the newsletter, proposals, etc.  Thus, Chip went from the academic to the private sector and was destined to spend the remainder of his career in the public sector. 

Chip was invited by the Commissioner of the GA Department of Juvenile Justice to serve as the Director of the Division of Campus Operations.  During his tenure the Division grew from 4 self-contained facilities to 11.  It opened the 1st Juvenile Boot Camps in the State.  Chip was responsible for the supervision of 3,000 youth, 2,000 employees, and a $60 million a year budget.  Each facility provided secure housing, education, clinical, recreational and other services.  All youth assigned to the facilities were there under court order.

Chip next served as the Director of the Division of Administrative Services, for the GA Department of Labor.  The Division of Administrative Services included: Facilities Management (over 1 million square feet statewide), Support Services (purchasing), and Internal Security.

Throughout his career Chip & his wife Joyce owned and managed two businesses.  The first of these was William Wheeler Community Consultants (WWCC).  The second was Wheeler Enterprises (WE).  WWCC provided consulting and training services throughout the Southeast, primarily in clinical services and substance abuse.  Training materials developed by WWCC were used by state agencies all over the country.  Wheeler Enterprises (WE) is an e-Commerce Marketing Consultant Business.  The Mission of WE is to create an environment in which Independent Business Owners (IBOs) are mentored, educated, trained and inspired, to achieve their goals and dreams, through the development of strong, duplicatable and profitable e-Commerce Businesses.