Christopher B. Walker Summary of Qualifications Professional intercollegiate athletics administrator with 20 years of successful, progressively responsible experience in the industry. Specific areas of proficiency include but are not limited to: Athletics Development including Capital Campaigns, Major Gifts, Annual Funds and Planned Giving, Ticket Sales and Operations, Public Speaking, Public Relations, Marketing and Branding, University Relations, Strategic Planning, Financial Management, Funding and Construction of Facilities, Gender Equity and Diversity, Project Management, NCAA Rules Education and Athletic Program Administration. Demonstrated communication and leadership skills with the ability to build consensus and drive results in a collaborative manner with internal and external constituents. Professional Experience Washington State University Department of Athletics, Pullman, WA Associate Athletic Director/Development (October 2008 -- present) Pac 12 Conference member institution 400+ student-athletes in 17 Athletic Programs 170 staff in 7 Athletic Facilities Annual Budget of $50 Million Department Leadership Member of the Athletic Director s Executive Staff, which sets the direction, policies and goals for the department Assist the Athletic Director with various departmental strategic planning initiatives and goals, as well as policies and procedures development Direct the department s development operation and oversee the ticket office/sales units Recruit, hire, train and manage 4 Director-level positions and 22 related full-time staff Member of the University s NCAA Certification Self-Study Committee, serving on the Gender Equity, Diversity and Student-Athlete Well-Being Subcommittee Involved in departmental budgeting process, including funding model for facilities development Promote the program and University by speaking to community groups across the state and region Athletics Development Responsible for the strategic planning for all athletics fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, capital and endowment major gifts, estate gifts, priority points system, donor relations/services, game day parking, and hospitality and events Serve as athletics point of contact for The Campaign for Washington State University, with an athletics goal of $75 Million Through December of 2014, athletic department has raised $93.5 Million during campaign (124.7% percent of goal with six months remaining until the close of the campaign) Supervised record annual fund growth of over $3.3 Million in my tenure ($2.6M in FY11, $4.7M in FY12, $5.7M in FY13; $5.9M in FY 14) Department set record for most total dollars raised in FY13 with $15.6 Million and five of the six best fundraising years in program history have come under my direction Serve as staff liaison, while providing leadership and direction, to several volunteer fundraising groups and various other volunteer athletic committees Individually manage a portfolio of 120 major gift prospects and donors, while overseeing the development work of other gift officers that work with an additional 650 major gift prospects and donors
Number of donors supporting the Cougar Athletic Fund (WSU s athletic booster organization) has grown 53 percent in the last three years, from 4,084 in FY11 to 6,260 in FY14 University Relations Provide leadership in the strategic planning and implementation of The Campaign for Washington State University, a $1 Billion Capital Campaign Athletics department liaison with WSU Foundation and Office of Alumni Relations leadership Collaborate with University leadership on a variety of issues as well as stewardship of key donors Serve as point of contact with University President s office on home, away and postseason football and basketball contests for game tickets, credentials, hospitality and travel accommodations Member of various search committees for the hiring of University personnel Facilities Active participant in facilities master planning, funding, design and construction Led fundraising, and involved in planning, design, funding model and construction for: o Cougar Football Project Phase One, Football Premium Seating Addition ($65M cost; completed September 2012) o Cougar Football Project Phase Two, Football Operations Building ($60M cost; completed May 2014) o Basketball Video Board ($3M cost donor funded; installed November 2011) o Soccer Field Renovation ($2M cost donor funded; completed August 2014) o Strength and Conditioning Center Renovation ($550K cost donor funded; completed June 2010) o Indoor Practice Facility Renovation ($28M cost; design and fundraising in progress) o Baseball Clubhouse ($7M cost; design and fundraising in progress) Managed all donor recognition opportunities Ticket Sales and Operations Oversee ticket office/sales unit, including season, single-game and group game sales, ticket office operations and accounting Football season ticket sales for 2012, 2013 and 2014 were the three of the four highest in school history Manage premium ticket sales efforts for the Cougar Football Project, a two phase renovation to Martin Stadium; first phase added 1,200 club seats, 44 loge boxes and 21 suites and opened in September 2012, with the suites and loge boxes sold out and 91% of club seats sold Executed courtside seating program at men s basketball games that generated nearly $60,000 of new revenue annually Implemented outbound sales program -- hiring Director and two Assistants Directors -- to increase tickets sold and revenue generated for all ticketed sports Led creative improvements in the areas of digital ticketing, ticket transfer and the integration of tickets and annual giving through enhancements in the department s partnership with Paciolan External Relations Leadership role in development and ticket operations/sales Supervise regional staff members in Seattle, Spokane and Tri Cities, that are responsible for carrying out marketing, branding and communications efforts for the department in their markets Collaborate with other external units on department social media, marketing, branding, communication and website strategies and programs Work closely with IMG College, department s multimedia rights holder, on various projects including inventory, fulfillment and hospitality, as well as collaboration on joint prospects/clients Compliance Partner with compliance office to educate donors and season ticket holders on NCAA regulations
University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of Athletics, Wilmington, NC Associate Athletic Director/External Relations (July 2006 -- September 2008) Colonial Athletic Association institution 300+ student-athletes in 19 Athletic Programs 75 staff in 4 Athletic Facilities Annual Budget of $11 Million Department Leadership Member of the Athletic Director s Senior Staff, which sets the direction, policies and goals for department Oversaw the external side of department including development (capital campaign, major gifts, annual fund), marketing (corporate sales, advertising, radio and television broadcasts, merchandising) and ticket sales (season, single-game, group, parking, operations and accounting) Worked closely with the Director of Athletics to create department s facility master plan and long range funding plan as well as annual budget planning and implementation Supervised sport programs Served on hiring committees for head coaches and administrative staff Promoted the athletics program and University by speaking to community groups University Relations Athletics department liaison with University s External Relations, Advancement and Alumni Relations offices Served on various Vice Chancellor level University-wide planning and policy making committees Provided leadership in the strategic planning and implementation of University Capital Campaign Member of various search committees for the hiring of University personnel Athletics Development Served as the department s chief fundraiser by cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a portfolio of approximately 50 major gift prospects and donors Provided senior level management and leadership to a three-member staff as well as leadership and direction to a 30-person booster club Board of Directors with five officers Department received nearly $5.5 million in cash and pledges during my tenure, an increase of approximately 30 percent from the previous two years Largest gift in athletics program history obtained during tenure, a $1M pledge for a proposed Student- Athlete Academic Center Implemented a scholarship endowment campaign to secure long term funding of athletic grants in aid Established athletic department priorities and projects for the University s Capital Campaign Ticket Sales and Operations Managed Priority Point System, used to allocate season ticket locations for men s basketball games Directed courtside season ticket sales for men s basketball which generated $60,000 in revenue annually Men s basketball home game attendance was at 90 percent of arena capacity during tenure and 3,600 season tickets sold in 2007-08 accounted for an increase of approximately $45,000 in revenue Facilities Assisted Director of Athletics in facilities master planning, funding, design and construction Coordinated the Herbert Fisher Baseball Field House capital fundraising project, a $1.2 million facility renovation, completed in December 2007 Managed donor recognition opportunities in athletic facilities
External Relations Corporate sponsor revenue increased by 14% during tenure Secured two new major corporate sponsors and served as the liaison with most of the department s major corporate partners Managed the restructuring of the UNCW W-Club, the department s organization for former letter winners Executed the implementation of a new ticketing and fundraising system/database that streamlined the external staff s operations Compliance Partner with compliance office to educate donors and season ticket holders on NCAA regulations Student-Athlete Welfare Counseled prospective student-athletes and parents during official recruiting visits Worked with various sport programs and community groups to initiate community service activities for UNCW student-athletes Southern Methodist University Department of Athletics, Dallas, TX Associate Athletic Director/Development (May 2002 June 2006) Member of department s management team, which set the direction, goals and policies for a 17-sport NCAA Division I, Conference USA intercollegiate athletic program Oversaw the strategic planning and implementation of the department s development plan, including prospect research, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, events, annual giving and major gifts Department raised approximately $22 million from private donations during my tenure Provided direction and leadership to a staff of five in the athletic development office while managing the department s day-to-day operations Other administrative responsibility included oversight of media relations office, radio and television broadcasts, and rowing and equestrian programs Increased both money raised and membership in the Mustang Club by 10 percent during tenure Responsible for the sale and administration of 24 luxury suites and 637 club level seats located at Gerald J. Ford Stadium that generated annual football ticket revenue of over $800,000 Led the initial fundraising efforts for the Crum Basketball Center, a $13 million practice facility that received nearly $7 million in pledges prior to my departure Coordinated the Lettermen s Hall of Champions capital fundraising project, a $500,000 facility enhancement completed in the fall of 2005 Created and executed a regional fundraising strategy to broaden and expand Mustang Club membership and donations throughout the state of Texas, which resulted in increased participation in the five areas with the largest concentration of SMU alumni Implemented an e-mail communication campaign, targeting University alumni and friends to become more engaged in athletics, which resulted in both increased donations to the Mustang Club and season ticket sales Represented the athletic department at University alumni, friend and fundraising events Responsible for presentations and briefings to University administration and Board of Trustees on various athletic department projects and initiatives Member of Vice Presidential level committees involving University-wide policies Search committee member in the recruitment and hiring of head coaches, including men s basketball program, administrative staff, and University positions Counseled prospective student-athletes and parents during official recruiting visits Assisted in the establishment of an annual student-athlete parent orientation event that allowed each administrative unit in the athletic department to introduce itself to parents and incoming student-athletes
Southern Methodist University Department of Athletics, Dallas, TX Assistant Athletic Director/Communications and Broadcasting (May 2000 April 2002) Member of department s management team and provided day-to-day oversight of the media relations office and SMU Radio Network Offered management and leadership to a staff of seven in the media relations office and 12 that worked on radio broadcasts Served as department liaison with local, state and national media as well as the University s public affairs office Generated publicity through positive working relationships with local, regional and national media Provided crisis management counsel when appropriate to Athletic Director and head coaches Directed informational flow of materials for entire athletic department, including media guides, game programs, press releases and website Oversaw all press and broadcasting operations at home football games Served as executive producer of SMU Football and Basketball Radio Network Negotiated all radio contracts, working with the University s Department of Legal Affairs Controlled advertising inventory and oversaw network advertising and sponsorship sales Sport administrator for two programs rowing and women s tennis Served as volunteer for SMU Mustang Club s Morgan Campaign Fund and Membership Drive, individually raising over $25,000 in two years Florida State University Department of Athletics, Tallahassee, FL Assistant/Associate Sports Information Director (August 1996 May 2000) Primary media contact for the men s basketball program and assistant contact for the football program Writer and editor of men s basketball media guide and game program, COURTSIDE Editor of TRIBE Magazine, Florida State s football game program Served as advance person for FSU football program on away trips, arriving before the team to coordinate hotel, practice/walk through and travel accommodations Assisted the Athletics Marketing Director with men s basketball advertising and promotional campaigns Directed and oversaw game day media operations at home events Coordinated interviews for Florida State administrators, coaches and student-athletes on a daily basis Assisted in the development and maintenance of budgets for the sports information office Southern Conference, Asheville, NC Assistant Commission/Public Relations; Assistant Director/Public Relations & Special Events (July 1994 August 1996) Served as public and media relations director of an NCAA Division I athletic conference Prepared and maintained budgets for all conference printing projects and special events Designed, edited and wrote league media guides and press releases Planned and implemented special events, including the league s 75th anniversary celebration and football and basketball media days Supervised the conference s Director of Publications Coordinated the conference s awards program Administered two league championship events and assisted in the administration of three others Served on the conference s public relations, television and championships committees
Education Bachelor of Science in Communication Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida; May 1992 Coursework towards a Masters in Sports Administration Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida; August 1992 December 1992 Professional Development National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA) member National Association of Athletics Development Directors (NAADD) member National Association of Athletics Development Directors Pac-12 Conference Representative Community Involvement Past Pullman (WA) Chamber of Commerce Board Member Pullman (WA) Youth Baseball Association Board/Committee Member Pullman Hawks AAU Youth Basketball Coach Supper Optimist (Wilmington, NC) Youth Baseball Coach/Volunteer Armstrong Elementary School (Dallas, Texas) Dad s Club