CANFIELD -- The path that led Chuck Booms out of education and into a career in insurance and

CANFIELD -- The path that led Chuck Booms out of education and into a career in insurance and financial services started out as a courtesy to the family of a college buddy.
During the 1970s, Booms was a star basketball player at Euclid High School, where his prowess on the court earned him a scholarship to the University of Akron. He played for the Zips for four years and earned a degree in education.
He then went on to obtain a master's degree in secondary school education. While working on that degree, he was a graduate assistant coaching basketball. He then went on to teach at the university and coach there.
"After about three years, I wanted to get out of education and to pursue some business leads," he said.
Courtesy
A former teammate at Akron had parents who owned an independent insurance agency in Lisbon.
"They encouraged me to get into the insurance investment business, but I was not really interested. As a courtesy to them I agreed to interview with a larger, Youngstown independent agency that was looking for some younger people who would perpetuate the agency," Booms said.
To his surprise, he liked what he heard during the interview process.
"I learned about the entrepreneurship of an independent insurance agency, and I liked the concept of owning something rather than working for someone," he said.
In May of 1980 Booms and his wife, Denise, moved to Canfield, and he began working for the Youngstown independent insurance agent. He stayed there three years and then took a job with John Hancock Financial Services to learn more about the financial planning services. He worked there 10 years and held a variety of positions, including sales representative, staff manager and director of recruitment and education.
His own business
In 1993 Booms started Chase Agency.
"I wanted to start my own company, and I wanted to represent the companies of my choosing. For the first year I ran the company out of the fourth bedroom of our home," he said.
He then moved his operation to the top floor of the WPA Building in the center of town, where he offers personal, auto and homeowners insurance as well as business and commercial insurance.
The company also handles life insurance, disability income, investments, pensions and health insurance.
The Boomses have two children. Kristy has followed in her father's footsteps and is playing basketball at the University of Akron. Their son, Chase, whom the agency is named after, is also a student at Akron.