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Chris Berena
AKA: Chris B.

Born and raised in Schaumburg, IL, a suburb of Chicago, I grew up with a love of the city and Chicago sports. My love of sports developed into a passion for soccer, which ultimately led to an athletic and academic scholarship to West Virginia University. I began classes at WVU in 2000, which is where I met Grant, who eventually became my best friend, best man and business partner.

In 2002, I transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago where I captained the soccer eam and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2004. Go Flames! After college, I set my sights on corporate America. However, my role as “Suit and Tie Chris” quickly changed to “Coach Chris” when I decided, instead, to pursue a career in coaching youth soccer.

In 2006, Grant and I reconnected, and the idea of Scrappy Apparel Company was born. I packed up everything (except my future wife) and headed south to Atlanta, GA. The first four years were, to put it lightly, a challenge. While building Scrappy, we weren’t paying ourselves. I worked odd jobs to pay the bills, including coaching, bartending, and waiting tables.

In 2009, I moved back to Chicago to be with my now wife. Grant and I continued to grow Scrappy from different cities, and I resumed coaching soccer. After earning my “A” United States Soccer Coaching License, I worked as a Director for non-profit youth soccer organizations.

In 2016, I moved to Philadelphia. This move allowed me to step back from my Director role, and I was able to focus on Scrappy, start a family, and enjoy everything the city had to offer, including eating lots and lots of cheesesteaks.

My family and I moved to New York City in 2018, and I’m proud to say my focus is now solely on my family and continuing to grow Scrappy Apparel Company. I am 100% Scrappy in my worklife, a husband, and a father to two beautiful girls who love to watch, talk, and play soccer.

Scrappy Apparel Company has changed my life in ways I could have never expected. I am thankful to Grant, Scrappy, soccer, and my family for giving me the energy and drive to continue to grow the business and myself.

Grant Kevins
AKA: Inspector

Raised in Marietta, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, I’ve always considered myself a “city guy” and thrive off the energy and high level of competition it offers. Even from a young age, my parents found it difficult to contain my energy and competitive spirit. Their answer? Soccer. I started soccer at four years old and developed into a high-level player helping to win six state championships and earning an athletic scholarship to West Virginia University.

After attending WVU for two years, I transferred to Clemson University to continue playing soccer and complete my bachelor’s degree in organizational communications. While there, I volunteered at local youth soccer clubs and even coached a JV high school boy’s soccer team, winning all but one game. By the time I graduated, I obtained my “B” United States Soccer Coaching License, which was a huge goal of mine as I had hoped to one day become the Director of a youth soccer club.

After graduation, I landed a sweet gig with CBS television. Two years into the job, however, I realized the corporate world is not for me. I vowed to trailblaze my own path, at any cost, which is when I called Chris and said, “Let’s start a t-shirt company!”

The next few years were not easy. I coached three youth soccer teams, worked as a valet parking attendant and spent any extra time working for Scrappy, for free. As we continued to grow Scrappy, I obtained my “A” United States Soccer Coaching License. I secured a job as the Executive Director of Soccer for a non-profit youth soccer club, where I worked for the next four years.

I’m officially retired from soccer (for now, anyway) and living the “beach life” in Freeport, FL with my fiancé (who somehow figured out how to calm me down) and our two dogs. With all my focus now on Scrappy, I realize how fortunate I am to wake up every day and work a job that doesn’t feel like work. The artists, businesses, and passion projects we work with every day inspire me to work harder. We say “Work Hard and Hustle” because Scrappy Apparel Company was born from it, and we continue to live it each day.

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