Chris Ras Email & Phone Number

Phoenix, Az, Us

Operations, Marketing, Retail, and Commercialization consultant. Fractional CEO, COO, and CMO. Chris is a results-driven executive with extensive experience in leading all strategic and business initiatives to yield company growth and profitability. With an expansive network of experts, Chris and his agents deliver subject matter expertise to accelerate the client’s growth.Mpathe brings over two decades of leadership/management experience in highly complex and diverse businesses. Expertise lies in leading solutions that bring together disparate teams and business units to achieve optimal results for the greater organization. Mpathe Consulting will work side by side with our client’s executive and management teams to design solutions that secure success that continues long after the conclusion of the consulting engagement.

In my role as Chairperson of the Advisory Board at BatchNav, I lead strategic discussions, provide informed feedback, and offer valuable insights to support the company's growth and innovation. I collaborate with the CEO to provide guidance on various aspects of operations and initiatives, fostering a collaborative environment within the advisory panel. As the Board Chairperson, I create optimal contributions from a talented group of subject matter experts and industry leaders.

New York, Us

Provide strategic retail experience and unique ability to optimize businesses with an end-to-end understanding of customers and employees. Inspire exceptional team performances. Diligently designed strategy and performance of all retail divisions, teams, and supporting functions. Lead, coach, and guide the leadership team. Recruit, develop, and mentor key talent layers, including operational VPs, Directors, Managers, and specialists. Create strategies aligned with company goals. • Owned P&L for $500M national retailers, including operations such as Retail Marketing, Store Operations of 83 dispensaries with 2k employees, Store Planning, E-Commerce, Merchandising, Pricing, Promotions, Assortment, and Analysis. • Nurture culture of excellence and accountability while focusing on driving results and employee and customer engagement. • Improve value through supply chain portfolio between store, cultivation, and manufacturing by leading national strategies.• Scrutinize financial and operational data and metrics and integrate with Regional VPs and internal stakeholders (Finance, Procurement, HR, Compliance) to determine opportunities for improvement and to take proactive actions accordingly. • Liaise between functions and internal stakeholders to foster effective partnerships and advance national retail strategies.

New York, Us

Reported directly to COO/CEO and held full strategic and operational oversight in retail, manufacturing, marketing, branding, product development, and HR. Reached growth expectations and vertically integrated development by creating strategies and allocating capital and resources, including manufacturing, retail, cultivation, packaging, and processing for assets in Western US (the nation’s largest cannabis market). Led post-acquisition operations such as The Green Solution (TGS) and Medicine Man. Commercialized Hydrocarbon extraction and edibles kitchen in Arizona after legal, operational, and market considerations.• Led company retail integration with Cresco acquisition and with cost optimization and profitability strategies across vertical value chain. Reformed TGS strategic commercialization strategies for 27 dispensaries and 7 internal product brands.• Replaced post-acquisition CEOs and directed strategic planning and execution in retail, cultivation, manufacturing, marketing, wholesale, distribution, branding, product development, and human resources areas. • Restructured Colorado Value and Supply Chain Infrastructure. Incorporated acquired Medicine Man operations and assets into Colorado operations while maximizing benefits of acquisition and minimizing operation disruptions.• Improved Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization by 9% in CO and by 3% in AZ, CA, and UT.• Established and launched 3PL distribution/finance network to offer comprehensive and integrated solutions for operational and financial business needs. Won numerous Cannabis product awards for Flower, Vapes, and Concentrates.

New York, Us

Reported directly to COO/CEO and held full strategic and operational oversight in retail, manufacturing, marketing, branding, product development, and HR. Led 9 dispensaries, 3 cultivation centers, 1 processing/manufacturing facility, 1 distribution company, and 1 wholesale team with a combined headcount of 300+.• Accumulated and headed best-in-class regional teams in operations, retail, manufacturing, cultivation, transportation, and marketing, delivering hyper-expansion and growth in the world’s largest and most competitive cannabis markets.• Developed lean manufacturing/cultivation best practices for company-wide implementation and use, elevating product quality and cost efficiencies in cultivation, post-harvest, and packaging.• Augmented revenues and profits above budget and board of director guidance for strong financial performance.• Implemented 2 successful acquisition integrations in CA that increased retail footprint by 6x, revenues by 10x, and added cultivation, wholesale, and distribution. Launched successful Utah operations to surpass revenue and profit expectations. • Led Arizona division to outperform market recreational sales growth 20% while installing strategic and targeted actions.

New York, Us

Full P&L market leadership. Established brand and vertically integrated operations, including manufacturing, retail, cultivation, and packaging/processing in AZ and CA as Principal Officer for SWC Arizona (a leading state-licensed and fully integrated medical marijuana company).• Increased sales and market growth 50%, improved gross margin 20%, and improved EBITDA 30% to improve the balance sheet, strengthen brand image, and attract investors.• Pioneered and designed 3 brands: Diamond premium cannabis, Amber Concentrates, and PRESS hard-pressed tablets.• Developed 2 new licensed facilities: San Diego Dispensary and 46K sq/ft GMP manufacturing facility.

New York, Us

Spearheaded total operations and P&L Leadership focused on providing solutions to qualifying patients. Developed brand as well as devised and implemented effective operational strategies and objectives, ensuring achievement of market goals.• Re-engineered the company’s positioning and brand architecture with supporting and scalable systems in cultivation and post-harvest processes to deliver best-in-class product quality at the lowest possible cost per unit.• Governed change by implementing scalable systems, predictive operational KPIs, analytics, tools, and marketing strategies.• Turned around market performance to improve financial standing, competitiveness, and overall success in the market.

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Turned around day-to-day business operations to repair processes, ensuring top customer satisfaction levels/results, leading to an area experiencing hyper-growth. Led turnaround operations, provided internal talent pipeline, and implemented operational improvements. Supervised customer service initiatives for multiple districts and 56 stores with strategic management.• Ranked as top-performing team leader nationwide through team building and achieved first-in-class KPI results. • Exceeded expectations for sales and profits in display of effective strategies and strong performance of market dominance.• Awarded for success in talent development, guest satisfaction, operations, sales, shortage reduction, and peer mentorship.• Enhanced seasonal customer demands by creating innovative strategies aligned with business goals and objectives. • Earned recognition for excellence in leading operations for large volume and highly complex markets.

Scarborough, Maine, Us

10+ years of comprehensive leadership in multiple disciplines within the food industry business, including strategy, operations, private label, product management, marketing, business analysis, and human resource development.• Multi Unit Leadership spanning 150 store locations• Earned recognition for excellence in leading operations for large volume and highly complex markets. • Appointed to McKinsey and Co. Consulting team for 1-year engagement to aid the company’s national business development.

Bachelor'S Degree, Applied Economics, Marketing And Business Management

Marketing/Marketing Management, General