From founder Chris Wallace Caldwell

Catalysis LLC has been around for over 14 years, but there was a period of time when I agonized about the decision to form my own company.

Prior to moving to Portland, I was the executive director at a science museum. I grew the budget and attendance of the museum significantly in those years, nurtured an amazing and growing team, and was part of some innovative partnerships with major science museums around the country.

But then life (as it does) handed me some changes. I moved my family to Portland so I could take advantage of a consultant position that offered me room to grow. I found myself nestled in an old-but-perfect rental house in a small Portland neighborhood. My kids and I could walk to the community center, bookstore, toy store, coffee shop. In other words, heaven for a single mom.

While I relished getting to know each new client deeply as we tackled their challenges together (strategic planning, volunteering programs, navigating change) – implementing the firm’s style didn’t feel natural to me. I also knew how hard I worked, meeting every client’s expectation, yet continually navigating and justifying family needs as I balanced long hours and work travel.

I explored other positions, but the scary idea that kept floating around my head was … starting my own consulting firm.

A familiar question would pop into my head, “Who am I to do this?!”

That question sure as hell shut me down.

Instead, I started looking for a position that could create the circumstances I wanted, rather than creating them for myself. But the idea would sneak back in.

After about nine months of considering my next step (a perfect gestation period, now that I think about it), in a single day everything snapped into focus. My daughter suffered a bad concussion on the school playground. That night as I lay watching my daughter sleep (unable to sleep myself), I reflected over the challenges of the day and I suddenly knew the answer to my question, “Who am I to do this?”

Surprisingly, it was another question:

“If not me, then who?!”

Essentially, if I wanted more control over my work, my time, and my life there was NO BETTER person to do this than me.

I made my decision right then and there. The next few weeks were about creating my business name, structure, and website. I wanted my business to allow for other perspectives other than my own, so I deliberately chose the name “Catalysis” to build a team that could bring their own strengths in sparking change.

Now the vision is no longer just mine.

We have a team that is dedicated to supporting individuals, nonprofits, and companies be the best they can be.

Turned out starting Catalysis was one of the best decisions I ever made.