Bio

For over twenty years Chris has served as a partner or principal in dozens of companies providing various levels of leadership and support. He has a broad base of industry experience including real estate, private equity and high-tech, among others. In addition to domestic engagements, Chris possesses a background in international business having worked on several projects in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. He has worked with businesses at all levels ranging from enterprise clients such as Adobe, Bosch, BMW, and American Express, to locally owned and operated small businesses. He has held leadership positions in Capital Markets, Operations, Finance, and Executive Office, while participating in multiple merger and acquisitions. Active in his local and global community, Chris has volunteered for dozens of mission-oriented and professional non-profit organizations. He has served as a Board member or Committee member for many organizations such as Ballet Austin Guild, The Trail Foundation, American Association of Private Lenders, and many others. In 2019 Chris was appointed to the Board of Trustees for St. Edward’s University where he is a member of the fiduciary, trustee, and development committees. In 2022 Chris was nominated and appointed to the Board of Directors for The Trail Foundation where he serves on the Endowment Committee. Chris is a two-time nominee for the Austin 40 Under 40 Award for his work in the community. In 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Member of the Year Award, by the American Association of Private Lenders, for his contribution to the association and the industry. In 2020 Chris realized a lifelong dream and founded his “forever company”, an alternative investment management company simply known as “Ragland” where he works closely with family offices and high net worth individuals on their capital deployment strategy in various markets, foreign and domestic. In 2021 Ragland launched its first private investment fund, allowing accredited investors to participate in the same strategy as family offices. Since that time, Ragland has added three additional offerings in diverse sectors including Aviation, Cannabis, and International Private Equity. Chris holds a BA in Entrepreneurship as well as an MBA in Global Entrepreneurship from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and is “all but dissertation” for the Doctoral program in Economics and Business from Universitat Jaume Primero in Castello, Spain.