Biography:Chris Coffey

For more than 25 years, I have worked and lived in a PhD world. My doctoral colleagues have been superb learning guides. My journey in education has been notably different from theirs; Mine started with law school and the dramatic arts.

After graduating from Fairfield University in Connecticut with a BS in marketing, I did a stint in the U.S. Navy, worked at a variety of jobs including ski instructor, attended law school for a while, and generally followed the pursuits that allow young men to find themselves. With marriage, I settled down and set about becoming an actor in New York City. For six exciting years, I studied acting and directing and struggled to find my place in the legitimate theater.

In 1980, my career took an upward turn when I was called to Los Angeles to appear in my first feature film: A Change of Seasons with Bo Derek.

My role in the film was one I had rehearsed in real life, ski bum. While in Los Angeles, I appeared in several prominent guest roles on the television series Dallas, Colby , and Emerald Point and more feature films and television roles followed. In retrospect, my acting roles prepared me for my later work as a consultant and teacher in executive and management coaching.

In parallel with my acting career, I was working and learning at the Center for Leadership Studies, where I met Paul Hersey, Marshall Goldsmith, and Frank Wagner. That changed my life. My stage and movie experience proved extremely useful in teaching and presenting. I had found my calling. By 1984, I was totally out of the acting business and fully engaged in consulting as a member of the prestigious Keilty, Goldsmith & Boone firm in LaJolla, California.   KGB were pioneering leaders in developing programs to teach Excellence in Management.   I began by leading Excellent Manager Workshops for middle managers and above at IBM, Warner Lambert, Citibank, Apple and other Fortune 500 companies.

Through the ensuing years, my life's work has become developing and leading workshops that range from 90 minute keynoted speaking engagements to 3 day workshops. The different workshops cover a wide range of subject matter but each pertains to leadership development and excellence focusing on "Helping Successful People Get Even Better".