As National Accounts Executive at Norvell Skin Solutions, Cale Carver wears many hats. Whether he’s working on the company’s training and education series, selling spray-tanning booths or handling service calls, his focus remains upon his clients. Helping people, he says, is what he loves most about his job, and taking the steps to become a more centered person has allowed him to excel at customer service. What helped Cale put his life into perspective? ist Magazine had to find out…
Fun, friendly and always willing to help, Cale Carver continues to enjoy all the happiness associated with a life that’s come full circle.
Most people in the indoor tanning industry know Cale Carver as the son of Rick Norvell of Norvell Skin Solutions. This often leaves Cale explaining why his last name is different from that of the man he calls “dad.” In truth, Cale has had two fathers – one his biological father, the other the man his mother married when Cale was a boy – and he refers to both as “dad.” This is no surprise, considering that each man has profoundly affected Cale’s life, as has the love, acceptance and guidance of his family. This created the foundation from which he was able to rediscover his life’s passion and keep his pursuit of it in balance with other obligations. It’s also put a genuine smile on his face, and is the reason why he’s a happy, helpful and well-adjusted person today.
A Boy & his Father(s)
Cale Paxton Carver was born October 19, 1970 in Little Rock, AR, the son of David and Jeane Carver. His father’s career as an Air Force pilot moved the family from Tai Pei to Hong Kong before settling down in Nashville in 1975. His childhood life in Tennessee was fun and simple; Cale went to school with his mother – a schoolteacher – during the day, and played games on the Atari with his father at night. This all changed on October 2, 1980 with his father’s tragic death. “He was conducting a routine training flight with the Air National Guard when the plane’s wing disintegrated in mid-air,” said Cale. “The plane started dropping toward a house and my dad saw that a family was having a picnic in the backyard so he flipped the plane upside down to give it enough lift to barely clear the house.” Though David Carver’s heroic actions saved the lives of everyone at the picnic, the plane crashed in a nearby orchard, killing David and three other men on board.
Losing his father at age 10 had an effect upon Cale that lasted well into his adult years. “The day before he died, he grounded me because I slept in and missed the bus to school,” he recalled. “The next morning, I refused to give him a hug and say goodbye to him like I usually did because I was still upset. Later that day, I wanted to say I was sorry so I started cooking grilled-cheese sandwiches just before he was supposed to come home.” Sadly, David Carver never returned home; Cale and his mother learned of the accident from family members who arrived at their home just prior to the airing of TV news coverage of the tragedy. “For many years, I was angry with myself for never saying goodbye to him,” Cale said. “Fortunately, my mother was my rock during that time, and we spent many nights talking and praying about it.”
While some young people don’t have the benefit of having a father, Cale is fortunate to have had two. A year after David Carver’s death, Cale’s mother met Rick Norvell on January 25, 1981, the day of Superbowl XV. “Someone had stolen Rick’s car the night before and crashed it in front of our house,” Cale said. “Rick went over there the next day to get his car and he happened to knock on our door and start a conversation with my mom. I had no idea this was going on because I was watching the football game at my aunt’s house.” Jeane and Rick started dating and she eventually introduced her new boyfriend to Cale. The two bonded while talking and playing catch with a football and, later that day, Cale told his mother that Rick seemed nice, and that he approved of their relationship. “Over the years, he and I continued to become closer until I just began calling him ‘dad’, which I still do, even though he and my mom are now divorced,” he added. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re all still family and I love all my parents and my sister, Ellen Norvell, very much.”
“Cale joined the Norvell family when he was about nine years old and it was obvious that he has the innate quality most of us recognize as charisma. If he doesn’t win you over immediately with his boyish smile, it won’t be long before his effervescent personality and spontaneity will draw you in and make you a fan of his. Even at family gatherings, he’s always humoring everyone with stories that keep us all in steady laughter. From a professional standpoint, Cale is a key member of Team Norvell. From his first day on the job, he has been a creative and respected contributor to the look and design of our product line, and he always goes the extra mile when it comes to customer care.”
Greg Norvell
Vice President, Norvell Skin Solutions
Finding Himself
After graduating from high school in 1989, Cale began a journey to find his place in life. It began at the University of Tennessee, where he majored in business and economics for two years, then to Middle Tennessee State University where he graduated in 1995 with a pilot’s license. “Due to a recession in the aviation industry, it was hard finding work, so I moved to Atlanta and took a job in the booming dot-com industry,” he said. “Then one day, the company gave me a severance package and told me my job would end in 30 days. To earn some money, I called my dad and asked him to send me a few boxes of Norvell tanning lotions, which I sold to tanning salons in and around Atlanta.” Recognizing Cale’s potential, Rick offered him a job and in 2001, Cale had to do something that many 30-somethings regret: move back home. He would later realize it was one of his life’s best decisions.
Cale will be the first to say that his position at Norvell Skin Solutions has brought many blessings his way, including his wife. “I was spray-tanning attendees at a trade event in Chicago when I met a young lady named Katie Guberud who was a hair-stylist at a salon in Iowa,” he explained. Katie’s boss was considering adding spray-tans to the business and her mother, who was also at the show, talked her into getting it done. “While I was applying her tan, we got to talking and we really hit it off, and I could tell we had many similar values,” he recalled. About a year later, Katie’s boss decided to add Norvell sunless to his salon services and Katie contacted Cale on Facebook. This led to a phone call, which led to more and more phone conversations and after spending a weekend together in San Diego, the couple became inseparable. On September 12, 2012 they married in a beach ceremony in Destin, FL.
When Cale was a young boy, he loved to play his father’s favorite records whenever the Carvers had guests over. This not only sparked an interest in becoming a deejay, it became his life’s passion. “I did it a little bit while I was at college, and after a while, I just let it go, even though I loved it so much,” he said. “Then one night, I had a dream that my dad (David Carver) came to me wearing a pair of headphones, like he was listening to music. He said, ‘I don’t know why you’re not a deejay anymore because you love it so much, and you’re so good at it.’ I woke up that morning and I went right out and purchased two turntables and a microphone!” This was the beginning of what would become “DJ Emcees Nashville”, an entertainment company that supplies music for weddings and other special occasions. “Being a deejay has brought me a sense of peace and happiness that’s also helped bring my life full circle!” he exclaimed.
Family-Friendly Future
Having taken the time to put all the aspects of his life into perspective, Cale says he looks forward to an exciting future. “I love my job with Norvell Skin Solutions because it gives me the opportunity to help so many people, which is what I love to do,” he said. “While I look forward to one day running the company, I also know that isn’t going to happen anytime soon because my dad plans to be involved for many more years. That’s great too, because it allows me to continue learning and growing each day.” With Rick, Ellen and Stacie Norvell also working at the company, it’s a true family business and that feeling of inclusiveness also extends to the staff, Cale says. Speaking of families, Cale and Katie, look forward to someday starting one of their own. “I know I’m off to a late start on that but I’m sure I have a great future ahead of me,” he added.
“Forget about it,” “Let it go,” “Move on”… people give this kind of “advice” every day, but what does it really mean? Is it best to just forget about everything that’s happened to you and ignore what your heart tries to tell you? If so, it’s a good thing Cale Carver chose to embrace who he was in order to improve who he is, which has brought him contentment and happiness. Way to go, Cale!
What’s Up with Cale?
- Current TV Faves: Nashville, Revolution, Vikings, Top Gear, The
- Universe, The Voice & American Idol
- Favorite Foods: Mexican & Italian, steak, meatloaf, mashed potatoes & black-eyed peas
- “Pet Peeve”: Being stuck in a traffic jam
- “Dream Vacation: Touring Europe – Spain, Italy, France, Greece & other hot spots
