Chief Architect User Stories
Chief Architect Inc began selling software in 1992. We have come a long way since that first release and would like you to join us in our 20 year celebration. Please share your Chief story with our user community. New or old, let us know how you are using the software or how the software has impacted your business!
Chief Architect saved my life.
OK, that might be a little bit of a stretch, but maybe not.
I started drafting by hand on paper while doing custom woodworking projects, then got into whole house remodeling, then into new home building. I then purchased Chief Version 8, and started drawing just my own plans for projects I was building.
In 2004, I fell 12' off a roof, & ended up in a wheel chair for 3 months, and off work for a total of 6 months. During my time off, I decided that I didn't want that to ever happen again, so I spent that time off pouring through the training videos, and practicing, practicing, practicing. Once I was able to walk on crutches, I went out knocking on the doors of builders & others I knew in the business, and started pushing my design services. I got a couple of shots from some builders I knew, & it worked out just right.
I was pretty sure that the next time I fell off a roof, it would probably kill me, so Chief Architect allowed me to change careers, therefore keeping me off roofs for good!
Chief Architect – The One
I started my designing career for Home Desperate (As I Like to call it) on their 3D program 20/20 Design. After 3 years and about 1,000 kitchens later, I got an offer to work for a local Contractor, so off I went, sold on the idea that the 3D software was the ticket I needed to make his company better.
That’s when I learned 20/20 can’t do anything but kitchens, and I needed Something stronger. So off to AutoCAD I went… Then I must have test drove every known software out there – DataSoft, VisaCAD, PlanSoft, Punch, Revit, AutoDesk, and on and on.
Then, one day, a friend of mine sat me down and turned on CA 9.0 – After 5 minutes of him drawing an entire house, framing it, roofing it, and putting in the foundation – I flew off my chair and began the journey. The very next day, I talked my boss into buying the latest Chief Architect 9.5. All those wasted hours @ the OTHER type programs, taught me what a gift CA was. With Chief Architect 9.5 it help me find a home as a LEAD Designer / Drafter for a major contracting firm, with Chief 10 I was able to out bid and out produce all Drafters & Architects in my area, we had become the go to design build firm for Orange County.
Then Chief X1 ushered in my solo career with David Michael Designs - And now with the latest CA version, I have had over 1,000 jobs completed in almost every State in the US as well as Canada and Mexico, not to mention, England, Scotland, Finland, Australia, Fiji, Brazil, and on and on. From residential to commercial, non profit to great profit - All from the comfort of my office, not more then 10 feet away from my Master. The traffic time I have saved in my life alone, do to CA – its worth a second lifetime. I can not say thank you enough to Chief Architect, but here I will try - Thank You Chief Architect, Thank You Chief Architect, Thank You Chief Architect..!:)
Giving Back I started the free website: www.ChiefTutor.com as a way to say I really do appreciate all that you have offered all of us users.