October 20 - America's Great Loop - Chuck Swaim (20 Oct 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

"THE OLD MAN & THE SEA"
As Told By Chuck "Papa" Swaim

REGISTER

Chuck Swaim had one item on his bucket list when he retired – but it was a big one. He and his wife, Linda, would take on the Great Loop—a boating adventure linking 6,600 miles of the rivers, lakes, canals and coastal waters of the eastern United States and Canada. Chuck will share the experiences, surprises and challenges of taking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in retirement.

Their planned route covered 6,600 miles. After 3,300 miles, they had completed what Chuck calls the “Great U” and they paused their journey to sell their Illinois home and move back to the Richmond area. The trip left Chuck with a boatload of stories to tell, including what happens when your boat loses all power at night in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

We’ll also hear about his participation in Key West’s famous Hemingway Look-Alike Society Contest and the charitable work behind the fun, including scholarships for students at the College of the Florida Keys.

Chuck is a four time finalist in the contest. He's the one with white beard in the photo above.

Chuck's first career was as an entrepreneur. He founded Lantus Technologies and Eperitus LLC, and was a member of the Virginia Council of CEOs for 10 years before moving into higher education. He was an early member of Encorepreneur and attended our second meeting in 2013 and he hosted one of our first meetings while serving as an assistant dean at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He later served as division dean at Thomas Nelson Community College before becoming executive vice president of academic affairs at Illinois Central College.

Chuck returns to Encorepreneur with a perspective that should resonate with our members: “Life after careers is far more exciting and rewarding than before.”

OUR HOST

(Formerly Virginia Home For Boys and Girls)

Virginia Home for Boys and Girls (VHBG) is a nonprofit organization that has been serving youth in crisis since 1846. We now provide transitional living services, specialized education, and therapeutic resources to youth with emotional and behavioral health concerns. VHBG's mission is to restore hope through teaching and healing to ensure youth, young adults, and their families thrive.

Easy Parking in the
Regal West Tower Parking Lot at
8998 W Broad St.

encorepreneur! upcoming events

October 20 - America's Great Loop - Chuck Swaim (20 Oct 2026)