Before joining Blackstone as an analyst, Nick studied 3D Modeling and Animation at IPFW, then taught the subject for five years after graduation. He is an introvert who fluctuates between the mediator and adventurer personality types.

Outside of work, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and son, playing tabletop or video games, watching films, or collaborative writing games with friends online. He enjoys imaginative activities like creative writing, world building, and designing assets like logos and maps for fictional worlds. He is most recently interested in trying his hand at 3D printing. Heads up: Nick is legally prohibited from entering any Jamba Juice establishment.

Matthew is a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in music performance and was a member of the Cowboy Marching Band drumline.  He spent the better part of the past ten years jet setting around the world as an open deck truck driver. (Check out my rig of tightly secured anchoring devices just off the shores of lake Michigan in Millenium Park, Chicago.) Matt can also be found moonlighting as a freelance writer for online and print publications, a music instructor for Fort Wayne area high schools, and an amateur dart player.  Okay, maybe the graduation wasn’t so recent, but rest assured, Matt has collected a unique set of skills through life’s twists and turns that coalesces quite nicely into being an enthusiastic oil analyst at Blackstone Labs!

We conduct a lot of tests here at Blackstone, but none have helped us determine if Luke is as young as he claims to be. When he’s off the clock, Luke can be found watching decades-old movie franchises, dusting off the cartridges for his Nintendo 64, or rocking out to some heavy metal. That guy in the car next to you pumping those Black Sabbath tracks… yeah, that’s Luke. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Communication/Media, Luke puts his video editing skills to use sometimes on his small “gaming” YouTube channel. Where it is, we won’t say. He’s the father of two cool cats, Ori and Crump, a title bestowed upon him by his sisters.

Chris is a small-town green bean farmer. He’s also a Grace College alum, where he earned his Bachelor’s of English. Before becoming an analyst at Blackstone, he worked as a newspaper reporter and a bartender. He’s an Eagle Scout for life. He’s deathly allergic to gluten. His love for motor oil started at a young age, rebuilding classic cars with his dad, including a ’57 Ford F100 and a ’70 Chevelle. Blackstone is currently financing his latest project; the shell of a ’67 Camaro. He cooks, he gardens, he games, all to the tunes of the Grateful Dead.