Chris Westfall

Chris Westfall is an American motivational speaker, entrepreneur and author from Dallas, TX, best known as the national elevator pitch champion. According to former Kodak CMO and “Celebrity Apprentice” guest star, Jeffrey W. Hayzlett, Westfall has the best two-minute speech in the USA. In his book, "The Mirror Test",[1] Hayzlett says that the new elevator speech is 118 seconds long – about the length of the average elevator ride in New York City. Westfall was recognized as the grand prize winner of the elevator pitch competition in February 2011.[2] Westfall has appeared on CNN, ABC NEWS, NBC-TV, and has worked in broadcast for some of the largest companies in the world.[3] His first book will be published by Greenleaf in 2012.

Currently, Westfall is the owner of Westfall & Associates LLC and Your Online Video[4]], a Dallas-based video production company. He is a featured keynote speaker for Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HP)[5] where he aids international sales executives with advanced leadership strategies.

Westfall began his career with a series of progressive marketing and sales responsibilities at Fortune 100 companies(Verizon and AT&T).[6] He also led international branding efforts at TIGI International,[7] a division of Unilever, where he led key aspect of the company's marketing. As an executive at AMX Corporation, he built sales teams from scratch while managing marquee partnerships with Hilton, Hyatt, MGM Mirage and Starwood. Westfall has built and led sales teams from scratch, and spearheaded the introduction of innovative new software and hardware product solutions.[8] He later ran worldwide sales and marketing for NuVo Technologies, a Cincinnati-based manufacturer of home audio solutions.[9][10]

Chris Westfall obtained his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. He received his Master in Business Administration from Texas Christian University (TCU), recognized by the Princeton Review as the top school in the nation for developing strong business communications skills,[11] where he graduated with honors. He has been recognized with a top teaching award for his work with MBA students at the top-10 MBA program at Southern Methodist University.[12] TCU has honored him as the "Communicator of the Year".[13] Originally from Chicago, Westfall resides in Dallas with his wife and two daughters, and is an avid supporter of the performing arts.

Reference

  1. ^ Hayzlett, Jeffrey. "The Hayzlett Group". The Mirror Test. The Hayzlett Group. http://hayzlett.com/mirror-test. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  2. ^ [cite: http://moveupormoveout.com/PDF/DBJ_0311.pdf "Executive People, Public Eye"]. Dallas Business Journal: 30. March 11–17. cite: http://moveupormoveout.com/PDF/DBJ_0311.pdf. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  3. ^ Westfall, Chris. "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Your Online Video. http://youronlinevideo.net/#aboutus. 
  4. ^ Westfall, Chris. "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Your Online Video. http://youronlinevideo.net. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  5. ^ World's Largest Technology Company turns to Elevator Speech Champ for Sales Strategies. March 23, 2011. http://moveupormoveout.com/PDF/HP_CW.pdf. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  6. ^ Westfall, Chris. "Bio". WestfallOnline.com. http://moveupormoveout.com/wordpress/bio-chris-westfall/. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  7. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Toni & Guy. http://www.tigihaircare.com/. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  8. ^ "Peole On The Move at AMX, Russound, KEF and Velodyne". Dealerscope. Dealerscope. http://www.dealerscope.com/article/peole-on-the-move-amx-russound-kef-velodyne-55964/1. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  9. ^ Silver, Stephen. "NuVo Names Westfall VP". http://www.dealerscope.com/article/chris-westfall-has-been-named-vice-president-sales-nuvo-technologies-400760/1. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  10. ^ >. "NuVo Technologies Promotes Two". Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/press/home-theater-news/nuvo-technologies-promotes-two/>.. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  11. ^ "Harriet B. Harral". Montgomery, Copley & Associates. http://www.montgomerycopley.com/hharral.html. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  12. ^ Meek, Genevieve (January 21, 2011). "For Immediate Release". http://moveupormoveout.com/PDF/SMU_WestfallAward.pdf. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  13. ^ "For Immediate Release". February 24, 2011. http://moveupormoveout.com/PDF/TCU_CW0211.pdf. Retrieved 9 May 2011.