Success

I was applying what I was learning in school to something real—it wasn’t just theory.

Andy Keller discovered his entrepreneurial spirit at Chico State.

“It hit me in my junior year that I really wanted to run my own business,” says the inventor and president of the ChicoBag Company that makes eco-friendly reusable shopping bags.

Andy started the company in 2005 with an idea and three local customers. Today, he has thousands of customers, and his bags are seen just about everywhere. They are sold throughout the United States, Taiwan, and Canada. They’ve been used as promos at the Emmy Awards and are bought as souvenirs at Yosemite and Denali national parks.

Andy, a 1997 grad, used his time at Chico State to explore his entrepreneurial options. With some coaching from business professor Richard Davis, Andy started a local advertising company. “It helped pay for school,” he says. “And I was applying what I was learning in school to something real—it wasn’t just theory.”

Andy also appreciated the guest speakers College of Business professors brought into their classes. “My favorite classes were when local people came in to speak about their business. Now, I’ve come full circle. I give back to the University by speaking in classes myself. I know how important that was to me when I was there.”

Chico students find this focus on practical application, teamwork, and problem solving in classes all across campus—from agriculture to communication to music to nursing.

Learn more about successful alum entrepreneurs.