Aaron and Chelsey Roney
Aaron Roney, engineering manager, Cruise
Chelsey Roney, co-founder and COO, Proxi
How did your love story begin? We met in 2006, the summer before our senior year of high school as lifeguards at a pool in our hometown in Texas. Aaron: Aaron was sitting in the break room at the pool reading. Chelsey walked in to the breakroom, and Aaron was surprised that he had never seen her before, and couldn’t help but notice how gracefully and confidently she entered the room. Aaron went to introduce himself, and with a puffed-out chest and a deeper voice, did his best to make a good impression. Chelsey was clearly not impressed, as evidenced by future events. Desperate to find a way to see her again, Aaron got other people to plan events where another connection could be made. No such event ever worked out. Aaron “poked” Chelsey on Facebook, but, much to his chagrin, no “counterpoke” was ever returned. Months later, Aaron learned that his friend’s girlfriend was actually Chelsey’s best friend. Seizing the moment for such a convenient “in,” Aaron asked said friend, “Hey, you know me, I’m a good guy, can I have her number?” Number attained, Aaron called, and eagerly awaited the ensuing conversation. The conversation resulted in a date to a local fair. Chelsey would later reveal that she “had absolutely no recollection of ever meeting “any Aaron,” and was definitely not interested, but her mom had frustrated her that day, and that made her just mad enough to say “yes” for rebellious purposes only. The date was absolutely amazing, and it was very clear, very early, that we fit each other incredibly well. We’ve been together ever since!
Favorite thing about one another: Chelsey: Aaron’s curiosity. It’s insatiable. He loves learning about anything and everything, which makes him a super interesting person to talk to. He never runs out of new things to talk about. Aaron: Chelsey is incredibly driven, while simultaneously leaving people around her in a wake of awe and respect. When Chelsey sets her mind to something, she does it, and the people around her comment on the absolutely incredible impact she has on everything she touches. From high school student council president, to university student senator, to sorority president, to leadership of several entrepreneurial enterprises, to loving her children fiercely with all her might, there is nothing Chelsey cannot do when she so chooses.
Favorite date night: Dinner and drinks. We love going out to eat. I love how our stressful day unwinds over a drink, and we get to talk about work and the world in a deeper way than we usually do in the day-to-day.
Favorite tradition you have as a couple: Pre-COVID, which also happens to be pre-kids, we loved going to Hawaii every year. We both love doing nothing but laying in the sun with a good book at the pool. We’re going to navigate what this tradition looks like post-COVID and post-kids, but we know it will be a different type of fun!
What does your happily ever after look like? Raise our kids. Enjoy the day-to-day and don’t sweat the small stuff; COVID has underscored there’s nothing more than the present moment. Find some mutual hobbies we can take on in the next few years together – life looks different after kids so trying to figure out what we can enjoy together. So far, we have cooking and travelling! Retire with a tiny space in Hawaii and a tiny space nearest to whichever child loves us the most.