Chris Walker
Whitefish,MT
Summary
Accomplished Executive Director with proven track record of success leading and growing organizations. Strong background in strategic planning, financial management, and team development. Skilled in identifying opportunities and implementing practical business strategies with commitment to staying informed about latest trends, technologies and best practices. Recognized for leveraging strong team leadership and development to drive forward progress. Highly organized, detail-oriented leader skilled in directing high-performing teams to develop solutions and solve operational and technical problems.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
GLP Attorneys, P.S. Inc.
Seattle, WA
01.2022 - Current
- Member of Executive Management Team leading firm operations, strategy, and execution of tactical plans for largest personal injury law firm headquartered in Washington State
- Tasked with developing integrated and scalable marketing and business development program across 10 physical offices and five states
- Responsible for strategic direction and oversight of marketing, business development, brand recognition, community impact and relations, and internal and external communication platforms
- Lead 4-person statewide marketing team in creating successful outcomes for brand, digital marketing, Voice of the Client, and training initiatives
- Met new client acquisition and revenue goals for 2022 and achieved record new client acquisition and revenue goals in 2023
- Collaborated with executive leadership on acquisition of two law firms
- Defined company roles and responsibilities to establish and enhance processes
- Optimized operational workflows, reducing overhead costs and maximizing resource allocation
- Implemented innovative marketing strategies to raise brand awareness and drive revenue growth
- Cultivated company-wide culture of innovation and collaboration
- Enhanced digital marketing strategy and tactics including website optimization, SEO, Google ads, Google search (paid and organic), and media buy
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Larson Gross
Bellingham, WA
05.2020 - 01.2022
- Created new business development role for CPA firm during pandemic
- Closed $1.9M of new business in 2020 and $2.7M of new business in 2021 through personal connections and leading five go-to-markets teams
- Engaged go-to-market teams, referral relationships, and personal community connections to communicate and sell business value proposition
- Served on firm’ Operations Leadership Team
- Drove record growth and worked closely with firm ownership on organizational strategy through pandemic
- Collaborated with marketing department to maintain proper branding
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BDO USA (Formerly Peterson Sullivan)
Seattle, WA
11.2019 - 05.2020
- Transitioned into business development role within newly formed organization
- Engaged go-to-market teams, referral relationships, and personal community connections to communicate and sell value proposition
- Closed $1M of new business in 7 months with $10M of active opportunities in pipeline
- Collaborated with marketing department to maintain proper branding and key messaging
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Peterson Sullivan
Seattle, WA
07.2017 - 11.2019
- Initiated strategy to drive company growth and increase market share and profitability
- Built best-in-class Marketing and Business Development Program
- Managed three direct reports and launched new program with 18 go-to-market teams (160 employees) for industry, advisory and service lines
- Incorporated EOS process into program to create clear expectations
- Conceptualized and managed practice growth programs, targeting existing and new markets
- Collaborated with Board of Directors, Operations, and Human Resources to lead business transformation initiatives
- Launched and served as billable consultant for management advisory practice
- Drove record new business revenue from 2016 - 2019
- Improved cross-selling from 25% to 50% of new business revenue
- Instituted client satisfaction survey, created PS Client Experience defining firm’s service promise, and formalized Tier 1 and 2 client service plans
- Increased YoY Net Promoter Scores from 2017 - 2019 (70% in 2017, 80.3% in 2018, and 84% in 2019)
- Received 2018 and 2019 Best of Accounting Client Satisfaction Awards from ClearlyRated
- Launched three new advisory services: Managed Accounting, IT Risk, and Strategic Business Consulting
- First non-CPA to achieve Partner level
- Collaborated with the CEO to identify and negotiate nine potential M&A candidates, playing a key leadership role in the negotiation and merger with BDO USA
- Conducted market tests and identified barriers of entry related to cost of operation and competition that resulted in firm halting previous plans for expansion in Reno, Boise, Portland, and Bellevue
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Peterson Sullivan
Seattle, WA
07.2015 - 07.2017
- Enlisted to create sustainable, scalable, and integrated marketing and sales program
- Hired and trained 3-person marketing team
- Designed and spearheaded content management strategy across multiple channels through market research, competitive pricing, product marketing, communications, advertising, and public relations
- Grew top line revenue by ~10% annually (industry average is 5%), through savvy marketing and sales tactics
- Improved data gathering and analytics to drive future decisions
- Streamlined data entry in existing CRM, and developed real-time sales reporting, niche business reviews, and new business summaries for executive team
- Onboarded ~20 new go-to-market team members through design of People Development Program
- Launched bi-annual niche fair, internal education series, Niche Leader Forum, and discretionary bonus program
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Redpath & Company, Ltd
St. Paul, MN
11.2012 - 07.2015
- Recruited to formalize marketing organization and to serve as key member of leadership team establishing strategic direction and overseeing daily operations
- Hired and trained team of two direct reports and five industry professionals
- Launched six go to market teams with 24 sales professionals, incorporating EOS process to execute and monitor sales strategies and meet aggressive revenue growth targets
- Oversaw two CPAs in business valuation service area in revenue and gross margin goals
- Conducted market research, analysis, and business intelligence for prospects, clients, competitors, and market
- Created marketing strategies targeting differentiated market positions through email alerts, blog posts, and internal white papers
- Achieved aggressive new business revenue goal for three consecutive years
- Accomplished firm rebranding within 50 days encompassing visual branding, logos, website redesign press releases, and in-person events
- Improved employee morale through corporate culture initiatives, such as Young Professionals Group, Redpath Rounds, Busy Season fun schedule, and reorganization of Employee Relations Committee
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Chartwell Financial Advisory
Minneapolis, MN
07.2007 - 11.2012
- Promoted to develop a go-to-market plan and define and lead teams for M&A, ESOP, ESOP valuation, and general valuation
- Recruited, trained, and directed 2 marketing team members and managed marketing budget and annual revenue targets
- Defined business development activities by region and strategic business unit
- Developed and executed annual marketing plan to achieve overall corporate visibility and new revenue goals
- Identified and drove acquisition and integration of 3 new office locations (San Francisco, Chicago & Portland), attaining 65+ new clients, as a key member of practice acquisition team
- Drove technology innovation and improved data-driven decision making by serving as CRM Administrator for implementation and management of new ERP system
Education
Bachelors in Business Administration (Management & Information Management) -
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND05.1996
Skills
- Mission and Vision
- Revenue Growth
- Marketing Growth Strategy
- Innovation and Creativity
- Marketing Campaigns
- Market Intelligence
- Data Analytics
- Digital Marketing
- Budget Management
- Business Innovation
- Whitespace Analysis/Cross-Selling
- Hiring & Supervision
- Training & Development
- Leadership and People Development
Affiliations
- Legal Marketing Association West Region Board Member – Treasurer-Elect
- EOS Implementer
- Peer 150 CMO Member
Skills Experience
Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, MS Dynamics, Office 365, MS Teams, Zoom, Deltek Vision, Lexis Nexis Interaction, Adobe InDesign, Constant Contact, WordPress, PitchBook and various research databases
Hobbies
Skiing, hiking, mountaineering, running, mountain biking, scuba diving, golf, travel, and dogs
Timeline
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
GLP Attorneys, P.S. Inc.
01.2022 - Current
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Larson Gross
05.2020 - 01.2022
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BDO USA (Formerly Peterson Sullivan)
11.2019 - 05.2020
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Peterson Sullivan
07.2017 - 11.2019
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Peterson Sullivan
07.2015 - 07.2017
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Redpath & Company, Ltd
11.2012 - 07.2015
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Chartwell Financial Advisory
07.2007 - 11.2012
Bachelors in Business Administration (Management & Information Management) -
University of North Dakota
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