We have hired two new employees at the Utah State Records Center, and would like to introduce them to you.
Chaz Leech
Chaz Leech
My name is Charles (Chaz) Leech. Before coming to work at the Records Center I had a very diverse employment history. My first job was a bagger at the “Buy N’ Save” grocery store in West Valley City. The store manager, Louie Kano, taught me how to be a hard worker and develop the work ethic of an exemplary employee.
I spent several years working in the retail grocery business, though I also spent time at eBay, then most recently Discover (personal loan department… not the credit card department). Before this, my favorite job was being in the U.S. Army. I was a pencil pusher (Personnel Administrative Specialist) for a Field Artillery Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. It was rough having to defend our country while stationed in a tropical paradise but I somehow survived.
Most of my life has been spent living in Utah. I was born in West Valley, and then graduated from Kearns High School. Besides Utah and Hawaii, I lived in southern Arizona, Tucson and Sierra Vista specifically. I love the desert and, once upon a time, I loved the heat.
I now live in Kaysville with my bride of 2 weeks. We love going to the movies, out to dinner, and going for drives. For the past year we have been making frequent drives out to Farmington Bay. For those unfamiliar with that area, it is state owned marshlands near Kaysville/Centerville/ Farmington. Our goal is to spot a bald eagle. To date we have seen hawks and a golden eagle. At home we watch TV or read.
Another passion I’ve always pursued whenever I can is photography; not just my own images but old photographs. If I ever get the chance to spend time at the National Archives or Library of Congress in Washington D.C my wife will probably have to drag me out of the buildings. I can pore over maps and photographs for hours and not even realize the time passing by.
My position at the Records Center fits my personal interests very well. With my passions for history, photography, and architecture, it is fulfilling to be a part of Utah State Archives. My plans are to continue working for the state of Utah and write in my off time. I’m leaning towards writing a memoir, as my past has some interesting aspects that I believe need to be shared. More than just a historical piece, I think my story may help others who have endured hardships as I have.
James (Jim) Duke
I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico (I still have to look up the spelling). Skipping ahead a few years I traveled to North Carolina for my LDS mission where I learned lots, like the difference between southern and eastern barbecue. If you plan on taking a trip to North Carolina, you may want to know the barbecue in Carolina was a more vinegar base.
Jim Duke
I have been married twice. I have a 22 year old son who is the blessing of my first marriage. My second marriage was to a great lady who is retired Air Force.
I love learning and would be a professional student if I could be. I have an Associate of Science degree (Psychology) from Ricks College, now Brigham Young University, Idaho. I then went to Brigham Young University but I finished my Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology at the University of Utah. I love history, so I also earned my teaching certification at University of Phoenix. Finally, I earned my Master of Library and Information Science degree from Drexel University. In my free time I enjoy reading and listening to music. I not only enjoy listening to music but I also play the banjo and guitar. I was a member of my high school bluegrass band.
I was a guard at the Rio Grande before I started volunteering in the Utah State Archives in the reformatting section. I now work at the Utah State Records Center in Clearfield, Utah. I have the great pleasure of working with awesome people. Lisa Catano and Chaz Leech are two people who bend over backwards to help make the Records Center what it is.
“A note from Lisa”
I have had the privilege to work with Jim and Chaz over the past few months and I am confident that the Utah State Records Center is in excellent hands. They both take pride and ownership in their daily responsibilities and are always willing to go above and beyond to ensure a great experience for the government agencies we work with. We will continue to be a team of dedicated, hard working employees committed to providing world class customer service.