Chris Hedrick Email & Phone Number

United States

Founded and lead the Kédougou Institute, a new non-profit which:-Supports locally-focused development progress in the region of Kédougou, Senegal. -Provides a central source of information and documentation about the region’s progress and challenges, and-Works with partners to innovate, test, refine, and document useful development solutions that may serve as models for the rest of the world.

Seattle, Washington (Usa), Us

Founded and led company aiming to transform workforce development and job placement for the healthcare industry. NextStep grew to train and place more Certified Nursing Assistants in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington than any other firm, addressing a critical healthcare workforce gap through an innovative blended learning solution paired with a unique job placement and retention service. NextStep built placement relationships with the largest long-term care facilities in its initial markets. In 2023, NextStep's learning platform and nurse assistant training content were merged into Care Academy, creating the nation's leading company for training and placing nursing assistants and home-based care workers, and the remaining NextStep assets were returned to shareholders in 2024.

Ke

Provided strategic counsel and mobilized resources for world's leading social enterprise enabling smallholder farmers, who comprise 70% of the world's poor, to have big harvests, healthy families and rich soils.

Kigali, Rw

Led innovative experiment to create a new model for higher education quality and access that Scientific American called a "daring global experiment" to bring "top-tier instruction to the neediest parts of the planet." Grew university student body from 50 original students to 400 in Rwanda. Innovative curriculum combining online courses with in-person seminars and practical internships resulted in 100% employment of graduates and all students on track to graduate with US-accredited degrees in 4 years or less. Founded and secured funding for unique campus in Rwandan refugee camp, providing high quality higher education for the first time to refugees.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Led largest Peace Corps program in the world, with team of 300 employees and Peace Corps Volunteer development agents. Conceived and coordinated first-ever Peace Corps initiative across Africa to support malaria prevention efforts, engaging 3000 Volunteers in 24 nations in collaboration with Ministries of Health, USAID, and the CDC. Drove programmatic and training innovation, recognized as leading Peace Corps worldwide, receiving prestigious international learning award. Negotiated and led development of largest agreement worldwide between Peace Corps and USAID on food security. Provided administrative and financial oversight for complex overseas operations in multicultural environment. Often spoke to media and met with governmental officials in French and local African languages. Top Secret security clearance.

Raleigh, Nc, Us

Founded and led venture capital-backed learning technology and training services firm with over 300 employees. Guided Intrepid's strategic direction, focusing on innovation, operations, finances, and client, board, and investor relations. Under my leadership, Intrepid was named by Inc. magazine as one of fastest growing companies in America. Company grew from one employee to one of the most respected corporate training firms in the world, with clients including Boeing, United Airlines, Microsoft, Autodesk, Bank of America. Services part of business profitably sold in 2014 to Xerox. Learning technology part of business sold profitably to Vital Source in 2017. See: www.intrepidlearning.com

Olympia, Wa, Us

During both years as the Governor’s Science and Technology Advisor, Washington was named "the Digital State," as awarded by the Progress and Freedom Foundation, recognizing the nation's best use of technology in government and education. Developed strategic plans to enhance Washington State as a national leader in high technology use and business growth. Served as liaison to technology businesses, venture capital community, and educational institutions. Named by Governor to lead highly visible State Year 2000 efforts, providing communications leadership and strategic direction for multi-agency, public-private effort. Frequently served as media and legislative spokesperson.

Seattle, Wa, Us

First employee and key driver of strategic program and operations development of Foundation that later became the core initial program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Worked with Foundation Executive Director to build crucial partner and grantee relationships. Developed and oversaw grant review process for $200 million initial funding. The Gates Library Foundation was an outgrowth of my work managing the Libraries Online program at Microsoft and was created after the presentation I organized to the Gates Family proposing that the Libraries Online project become their first major philanthropic initiative.

Redmond, Washington, Us

Managed national philanthropic programs and interactions with major educational institutions. Developed and led Libraries Online program that later became a core program of the Gates Foundation. Led dramatic growth in Microsoft relationship with United Negro College Fund. Served as liaison to PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), which became the largest recipient of Gates Foundation global health funding. Grew relationship with community college system, which led to the largest software donation up to that point in industry history. Served as frequent media spokesperson and testified before legislative and congressional panels. Conceived and organized public event at Washington state community college for Bill Gates and President Clinton.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Responsible for consolidating and leading new office to promote better understanding by Americans of the rest of the world—one of the three statutory goals of the Peace Corps. Oversaw multi-million dollar program of scholarships for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Grew program linking thousands of American schools with Peace Corps Volunteers in the field. Responsible for enhancing “alumni relations” between agency, the National Peace Corps Association, and more than 100,000 former Volunteers. Coordinated relationships with government voluntary service organizations in Japan, Korea, France. Drove Peace Corps Director’s domestic agenda. Led development of first Peace Corps web site. Political appointment vetted by Clinton White House, with security clearance.

Olympia, Wa, Us

Led legislative and local government relations for state agency charged with protecting Puget Sound. Engineered plan and successfully lobbied for doubling of state funding for Puget Sound water quality. Drafted and managed through legislative process landmark shellfish protection statute. Developed and oversaw media and community communications strategy. Frequently served as media spokesperson and testified before state legislature.

Washington, District Of Columbia, Us

Served as Peace Corps Volunteer in remote village in southeastern Senegal. Collaborated with local public health system in preventative health efforts, aimed at reducing the burden of malaria and other diseases. Worked with community to create a first-ever eco-tourism lodge in the region. The project was featured in New York Times. Promoted agro-forestry techniques and dry-season gardening, enhancing income and nutrition levels. Worked in local dialect of Pulaar and in French with fluency.

Directed district operations for Congressman who was Chairman of the International Trade Subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee. Served as liaison to international trade business community. Primary political advisor to Congressman, having managed previous two re-election campaigns. Managed community and press relations.

Rhodes Scholar, International Politics And Public Policy

Ba, Political Science