He was 18 when he made the decision.
Like many young men at that time, September 11 attacks changed the trajectory of his life in an instant. By the end of that day, Chase Penman knew he would enlist. There was no hesitation.
More than two decades later, that same clarity still defines him. It just shows up differently.
Today, Chase is known across the Valley as the founder of Warrior Woodworking, a name that has quietly become synonymous with precision-driven design and architectural wall craftsmanship. But to understand the work, you have to understand the discipline behind it. And that story does not begin in construction.
It begins in Iraq.
At 19, Chase was deployed as part of a combat unit out of Fort Hood, serving as the lead driver on escort missions through some of the most dangerous regions in the country. Sadr City. Fallujah. Ramadi.
“To be trusted by my team with that responsibility at that age was a tremendous honor,” he says.
The year was defined by intensity and real danger. The kind that leaves an imprint long after you return home. He survived an IED attack. He came back grateful. And like many veterans, he carried experiences that would take time to process.
“Serving this country was a privilege. I would not change a thing. I love this country deeply.”
That mindset; steady, disciplined, grounded in responsibility, became the through-line of everything that followed.
For years, that path pointed in a different direction. After leaving the military, Chase spent more than a decade as a financial advisor while working in mergers and acquisitions in fintech. It was structured, predictable and successful on paper.
But it was not fulfilling.
Construction was never part of the plan. In fact, it started almost accidentally. A side project. Something creative to balance the rigidity of corporate life. Then came a single moment that shifted everything: a custom accent wall in his own home.
Interest came quickly. Demand followed faster.
He offered a handful of projects on Facebook. Five clients booked within two hours. Within two months, he walked away from corporate America entirely.
Four years later, Warrior Woodworking has become one of the most recognized names in the Valley for custom architectural feature walls, bespoke media installations, decorative ceilings, and refined outdoor builds.
But even now, Chase does not talk about growth first. He talks about process.
“To me, craftsmanship means honoring every detail. It means refusing to cut corners, even when a project becomes demanding or runs longer than expected.”
That philosophy shows up immediately in how he approaches a space. Before design, before materials, before pricing, he studies the environment.
“I’m paying attention to how the client lives. The materials, the color palette, the overall feel of the home. A wall can be built in many ways. The best design is the one that feels completely natural in that space.”
It is a design-first mindset, rooted not in trends, but in restraint and intention.
Lately, that intention has been expressed through materials like micro-cement and lime-wash; finishes that add depth, texture, and quiet sophistication without overwhelming a room.
“I want clients to feel genuinely amazed. Like the space became something more than they imagined.”
That standard is not accidental. It is built on the same principles that defined his early years; discipline under pressure, accountability to others, and an understanding that details matter most when the stakes are high.
But if the military shaped how he works, fatherhood has shaped why.
His son, Jameson, is turning two. And with that came a shift that is harder to quantify but impossible to ignore.
“I’ve always been driven to provide, but fatherhood gave that purpose a new level of meaning. The legacy that matters most is the kind of man my son becomes,” he says. “Because that reflects the example I set.”
It is a perspective that brings everything full circle. The discipline. The career pivots. The decision to leave stability for something more aligned.
Because at its core, Chase’s work is not just about walls.
In a world that often prioritizes speed and scale, there is something rare about someone who still believes in slowing down enough to get it right.
Chase Penman does. And it shows in everything he touches.