Both sides of Mr. Hubbard’s family originally settled in what is now Clay County, Kentucky, in the late 1700s and have remained there to this day–to say he has long-term ties to the Appalachian Region would be a huge understatement.
Raised on a farm which had been (and still is) in his family for many generations, his childhood was typical for kids in rural Appalachia during the 1970s: when not in school, time was spent completing chores–helping with the tobacco crop, tending the family gardens, and taking care of livestock–spending quality time with close and extended family, and enjoying a life of freedom with his brother and cousins during their free time.
After his mother remarried, Mr. Hubbard moved to London Kentucky, graduated from Laurel County High School (1989), and attended the University of Kentucky from 89-93.
After leaving college, Mr. Hubbard joined the United States Air Force, completing Basic Training and Tech School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, Air Base Ground Defense School in Fort Dix, NJ, and then getting stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, FL.
While serving his two enlistments, Mr. Hubbard won numerous awards and commendations, participated in “Operation Safe Passage” at Howard Air Force Base in the country of Panama and in “Operation Desert Shield” at Eskon Village in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Hubbard was Honorably Discharged in May 2001 and began working as a financial advisor with New York Life and NYLife Securities in their Panama City, Florida, office.
Beginning in 2003, Mr. Hubbard entered local government and spent the next eleven years running the day-to-day operations of three different cities in Florida. In 2014, he moved to Savannah, GA, worked two years in the multi-family rehab space, and then got his Georgia Real Estate License.
In 2018, he moved again, this time to a 175 year old historic home in Louisburg, NC; he received his North Carolina Real Estate License, working primarily in the Raleigh tri-cities area. At the end of 2019, Mr. Hubbard moved back to Kentucky to be closer to family, got his Kentucky Real Estate License, and began recruiting economic development to his area.
When not working with “Rebuilding Appalachia”, Chris enjoys spending his time with his girlfriend of 14 years, Debbie, and all their animals on their farm, spending time with his extended family, and traveling around Appalachia.
Interesting trivia: In 2023, Chris went back to Florida in an attempt to assist one of the cities he had worked at previously and was the first public official in the state to recommend investing in precious metals as a store of value and a hedge against inflation!
