Chris Lynch

Current

• Executive Vice-President at Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce

Past

• Owner at C Lynch International
• Foreign Service Officer at U.S. Department of State
• Consul General at US Consulate General Hamburg Germany

• Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at US Embassy El Salvador
• International Business Develpment at Caterpillar Financial Services
• International Economist at US Department of State

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Education

• Virginia Tech
• Georgetown University

Recommended

2 people have recommended Chris

Connections

92 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Chris Lynch’s Summary

Currently - Executive Vice President of the Santa Rosa (CA) Chamber of Commerce where I started a virtual business incubator and an award winning series of angel/venture capital investor conferences.

Previously, a career US Foreign Service Officer specializing in international economic, trade and business issues. I was stationed overseas in Europe and Latin America, last as US Consul General in Hamburg (senior US official in Northern Germany).

Member Board of Directors of German American Business Association of California (GABA-CA) and CleanTech Bay, the voice of the Clean Tech sector in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Adjunct Professor of International Business at Golden Gate University.

Chris Lynch’s Specialties:

Start-up, angel and venture capital financing; international business development; government relations (international,federal, California)

Chris Lynch’s Experience

• Executive Vice-President

  Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  November 2004 — Present (3 years 7 months)

  I started the Chamber's economic development programs which features a virtual incubator to support technology start-up companies in the greater Santa Rosa area. The innovative program features mentoring, technical assistance and financing in the advanced technology, clean tech, biomedical, health/wellness and food/wine technology. Another feature is a series of semi-annual VC and angel investor conferences to bring together North Bay start-ups with investors. About 40% of the companies have received subsequent financing and the conferences have won both California and national awards for innovation in economic development.
  
  I also manage the Chamber's government relations activities which includes a committee with over 110 volunteers. The Chamber lobbies federal, state and local governments on proposed legislation, ballot initiatives and regulations.

• Owner

  C Lynch International

  (Privately Held; Myself Only; Management Consulting industry)

  February 2002 — November 2004 (2 years 10 months)

  Advising small technology companies on growing their business through international expansion or government contracts. Projects or clients in California, Chile, Argentina, Germany, Russia and Kazakhstan. Consulted extensively for the Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development (www.SVCITD.org)as well as taught workshops on international trade and negotiating. Worked on government contracts with NASA, Homeland Security and Defense. Chairman of the Board of the German-American Business Association of California and Chair of the International Business Alliance of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

• Foreign Service Officer

  U.S. Department of State

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  1978 — 2002 (24 years)

• Consul General

  US Consulate General Hamburg Germany

  (Government Agency; 11-50 employees; International Affairs industry)

  August 1997 — August 2001 (4 years 1 month)

  As senior US government representative in northern Germany, headed 40 person $4million budget operation. Focused on promoting US business and higher-education links. Organized international conferences on E-government, computer security biotechnology, and Baltic Sea region trade. Worked with Rice, Purdue, Stanford, Northereastern in establishing links with German universities. Extensive press relations.

• Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs

  US Embassy El Salvador

  (Government Agency; 501-1000 employees; International Affairs industry)

  August 1994 — July 1997 (3 years)

  Headed 10 person section which handled US economic policy relations with El Salvador and promoted US business interests in the country. Held international conferences on wireless telecommunications and electricity markets. rganized US pavilion at international fair. On Board of Directors of environmental foundation. Won management awards for innovation and excellence.

• International Business Develpment

  Caterpillar Financial Services

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; CAT; Financial Services industry)

  July 1993 — July 1994 (1 year 1 month)

  Worked on the establishment of subsidiaries of Cat Financial in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. For Mexican subsidiary, developed holding company and five subsidiaries to conform to local law.

• International Economist

  US Department of State

  (Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; International Affairs industry)

  March 1978 — June 1993 (15 years 4 months)

  Served at US Embassies in Madrid (Spain), Santiago (Chile), Bonn (Germany) and Bogota (Colombia). Liaison to host governments on economic policy issues and analyzed local economies. Also served in Washington DC in Office of Energy Policy and handled nuclear energy, renewable energy, electricity, and emergency oil sharing issues.

Chris Lynch’s Education

• Virginia Tech

  MA, Economics, May 1985

• Georgetown University

  BS, Foreign Service, September 1971 — May 1975

Chris Lynch’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch