Here’s what others have to say about my work . . .

RECOMMEND AND TRUST

"I've known Chris Valas for over seventeen years.  He was instrumental in accelerating our product operations, and helping address quality and productivity challenges with the team.  His style is collaborative and direct.  I trust him and recommend him highly."

— Brett Jackson, 7x CEO, 2x COO, Angel Investor, Growth Advisor

KNIT TOGETHER STAKE HOLDERS

"I've worked with and known Chris for over 25 years.  He has an uncanny ability to not only deliver results, but to build cohesive, high performance teams with enduring DNA.  His ability to knit together disparate stake holders and consistently find common ground to move strategic projects forward is a tough skill to find.  What's really intriguing is that the consulting platform is the perfect environment to leverage Chris' skills."

— Steve Kim, 3x CTO, Partner - Investment Strategy and Risk

DEEP EXPERIENCE OF WHAT WORKS

"When I worked with him, Chris demonstrated an unusual ability to get up to speed quickly, understand key issues in an entirely new industry, and offer useful insights by applying his deep experience of what works, for both customers and buyers.  He got us organized to move faster and to improve activities that were key to the business.  Moreover, he's great to work with, and can help you find new perspectives that you can put to use today.  I recommend him without reservation."

— Randy Eager, 5x Co-Founder, 3x CEO

LASER FOCUS ON MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

"Chris Valas and I have been acquainted since 2001 and have worked together closely.  I have always appreciated his raw intellectual horsepower and his laser focus on making things happen.

"He has such a broad background in a variety of industries and has worked with so many companies that it makes him an ideal consultant.  So many guys come out of private industry and simply don't have his breadth of experience."

— Patrick Rooney, 3x CFO, former Deloitte Partner

PERSONAL TRUST

"Chris Valas offers a truly unique and extremely valuable "Rent-A-CTO" service.  He's especially helpful at vetting technology leadership hires, and sourcing and managing technology vendors.

"I've worked with Chris at two companies, and on both occasions he came up to speed very quickly, and was crucial in helping weigh product trade-offs against user, design, and market needs.

"Chris is able to explain complex technology in plain English so you can make smart decisions and move forward with confidence.  He's great with tech vendor selection - can read between the lines and figure out how good they really are.

"In addition, Chris develops a personal trust with his clients that has proved enormously valuable to me -- he provides a great return on the investment!"

— Jason Palmer, 2x CEO, impact investor, former Deputy-Director Gates Foundation, former Presidential candidate

EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROJECTS

“As a CEO, I absolutely loved working with Chris. He's able to take extremely complex projects that others would approach with art (or more often, black magic) and turn them into science.

Specifically, his characterization of project needs into the categories (priorities) of "Must", "Should", and "Wish", combined with data-driven schedule estimation results in projects that consistently achieve that so rare trifecta: On time, on budget, and at high quality. Who says you have to pick just two?”

— Dave Nelsen, 3x CEO, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, noted speaker on Social Media for Business

CONSIDERATE OF PEOPLE'S ROLES

"He guided us constructively in his recommendations on our technical programs and activities. It was advice we could put into immediate use and it worked.

"He was very considerate of people's roles within the organization -- taking the time to learn how we work and how we're structured -- and then respecting and adapting his recommendations to that reality.

"He continued to help educate and coach us, helping us become much more effective and efficient around our process and product decision-making.

"He recognized where we were, and showed us a path forward that we could actually execute.

"He kept me personally informed as to our progress and our risks.

"I would highly recommend him to CEOs with challenges like ours!"

— Lesa Scott, 2x CEO

BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, MAP A WAY FORWARD

"Chris has something few management consultants offer: he commands a technical expertise that matches best-of-class CTO’s, while at the same time, he operates with a sensitivity to organizational culture that is extraordinary.  The latter ensures his technical guidance is heard and heeded by the array of stakeholders and actors that must be brought along to ensure a complex project’s success.

"He’s an excellent, active listener, a careful communicator, and a skilled facilitator.  Candid and personable, Chris is comfortable and conversant with individuals that represent the full spectrum of technical experience—from technophobe to technocrat.

"He knows how to bring people together, help them come to a common understanding about complicated matters, and map a way forward that makes change processes transparent and doable."

— Vicki Boyd, Founder, Senior Vice President