Chip Skinner is a Gainesville-based consultant, public utility board director, and youth sports advocate whose career reflects a deep commitment to community and clear communication.
Raised in various towns across the US, from the Florida Keys to Chicago, he developed early resilience and adaptability—skills that would later define his professional path.
After graduating from the University of Florida with a BA in English and a minor in Secondary Education, Chip pursued a career spanning public relations, infrastructure consulting, nonprofit development, and strategic communications. His approach is rooted in honesty and clarity, qualities sharpened during early roles, including a memorable on-air media moment with the Florida Department of Transportation.
In 2024, he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority (GRUA) board, where he helps oversee policy, budgets, and planning for public utility services. He brings a straightforward, community-first mindset to the role.
Outside of governance, Chip is the founder of Gainesville Area Lacrosse Inc. (GALAXI) and currently coaches the Eastside High School varsity boys’ team. For over a decade, he’s used sport to mentor local youth.
A father and grandfather, Chip continues to focus on mentoring, public service, and helping others lead. “I triage everything into four buckets—Urgent, Semi-Urgent, Normal and ‘When I Get to It,’” he says. “You learn what really matters.”
Clear Talk and Quiet Impact: A Conversation with Chip Skinner
Q: You’ve had a diverse career—from consulting and nonprofits to public utility work. What started it all?
Chip: I think it really started with how I grew up. We didn’t have much money early on, but my parents supported my hobbies. I learned to be resourceful and curious. My dad was an entrepreneur—he helped start Twistee Treat in Florida—so I got used to business talk from a young age.
Q: You studied English and education at university. How did that lead to your current work?
Chip: Studying English taught me how to communicate clearly. That’s been useful in every role I’ve had—especially consulting. Whether it’s a press release or explaining a complex utility issue, you need to make things make sense for people.
Q: What was one of your early lessons in public communications?
Chip: Definitely when I worked with the Florida Department of Transportation. I was doing an on-air interview and didn’t realise the mic was still live. I explained how a car could go airborne if it hit a road depression at high speed. It wasn’t wrong, but I learned quickly: always assume you’re still on record.
Q: What does your role at Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority involve?
Chip: As a board director, we oversee the utility’s operations—budget, rates, intergovernmental work, all of that. I help translate technical and financial info into something the public can understand. People should know where their money’s going.
Q: Why is transparency in utilities so important?
Chip: Because people are paying for it. If you don’t explain decisions—why rates change, why a project takes time—you lose trust. My job is to keep that bridge strong.
Q: Outside of consulting and utilities, you’ve made a big impact through lacrosse. Tell us about that.
Chip: I started a nonprofit called GALAXI—Gainesville Area Lacrosse Inc.—to give kids access to the sport. I’ve coached middle school to varsity levels. It’s not just about the game—it’s about confidence, structure, having someone in your corner.
Q: What drives your commitment to mentoring?
Chip: I didn’t always have someone guiding me. That’s part of it. Also, seeing players I’ve coached come back years later to say thank you—that means more than any salary.
Q: How do you manage so many responsibilities at once?
Chip: I use a four-tier system: Urgent, Semi-Urgent, Normal, and WIGI—When I Get to It. It helps me stay grounded and not burn out.
Q: How do you define success now?
Chip: If my clients are happy, that’s success. If a kid I coached finds their footing, that’s success. I try to under-promise and over-deliver.
Q: Any final thoughts for people trying to lead or give back in their own way?
Chip: You don’t need a fancy title. Just start showing up. Listen more than you talk. And take care of the people around you.
