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Chris Whaley

Collaboration Engineer: Bringing people together to unlock their full potential!

Travels from Knoxville TN, USA

Audience Feedback

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Attendees Find Valuable

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Would See Again

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Talks Given

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Speaks on:

Personal Effectiveness

Teamwork

Adaptive Leadership

AI for Business

Burnout Prevention

Change Management

Speaks to:

Associations & Membership Orgs

Formats:

Keynote

Breakout

Workshop

Guest on "Teach The Geek"
Guest on "The Optimized Workplace"
Guest on "Mastering Engineering Leadership"

Audience members say

Chris transforms audiences with his direct, digestible presentations that make complex concepts immediately actionable. He captivates attendees with engaging insights and practical frameworks for networking, stress management, and relationship building that resonate in both professional and personal contexts. Participants leave his sessions feeling empowered and equipped with clear action plans they can implement right away. Clients seek Chris for his ability to deliver enlightening, high-impact talks that inspire positive change while providing tools attendees can apply immediately.
Key Audience Outcomes

  • Gained actionable strategies for effective networking.

  • Developed a framework for managing stress and redirecting negative situations.

  • Acquired tools to build and strengthen professional and personal relationships.

  • Left feeling empowered and more equipped to implement positive changes.

Chris's Bio

Chris Whaley, an engineer by training, is a former firefighter and rescue diver turned VP of HR! He is the founder and principal consultant of Escape to Expand, where he brings together people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to unlock their full potential. With over 25 years of global experience across public service, consumer electronics, and medical technology solutions, Chris has led teams in emergency services, HR, business transformation, process improvement, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement. He truly is "The Collaboration Engineer"! Chris holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Practitioner, PMI Project Management Professional (PMP), and a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Learn more at https://EscapeToExpand

TYPICAL FEE

Private

Varies based on date, location, and engagement type

What you will receive

A detailed quote with pricing, availability, add-ons, and travel info that's ready to share with your team.

Chris Offers the Following Talks

1 / 2

Adaptive LeadershipAI for Business

Leading in Chaos: Fire Service Insights for Decision-Making, Resilience, and Agility

  • Decisive action under uncertainty: How to make strong decisions with incomplete information

  • Emotional resilience under pressure: How to return to rational leadership after emotional activation

  • Agile leadership in complex environments: How to balance alignment with autonomy

  • Fire‑service frameworks you can use immediately: Using a simple decision model, EI reset tools, and building team clarity

Show more >

1 - 2 hours

Collaborative ToolsVirtual Team Management

Leading Effective Meetings (including virtual and hybrid)

  • Discover proven tools to help build effective meeting habits

  • Recognize special considerations for virtual and hybrid meetings

  • Understand ways to start adoption with your team

Show more >

Organizational CultureOrganizational Change

A Case Study in Organizational Culture Change

  • Understand the basics of organizational culture

  • Review the fundamentals of organizational change management

  • Learn from a case study of Royal Philips

Show more >

MentoringRelationship Building

Developing Social Capital: Networking & Mentoring

  • Understand the concept of “Social Capital” and four key types of networks

  • Learn how to build a relationship map and leverage the factors of trustworthiness

  • Review the GROW approach to mentoring

Show more >

Burnout PreventionPersonal Effectiveness

Avoiding Burnout and Feeling Better Through Energy Management

  • Understand the ways personal energy management impact you and your team

  • Assess your own energy management status in four dimensions

  • Discover ways to better manage energy levels for you and your team

Show more >

Constructive ConflictCommunication

Managing Constructive Conflict

  • Understand how to recognize conflict and keep it from escalating

  • Practice using a framework to help talk to someone about a conflict

  • Recognize practical ways to create options to move forward

Show more >

Frequently Asked Questions on Working With Chris

YES! We can help on anything from a single presentation to developing a custom, multi-day workshop.

Let's start a conversation to see what might be possible. I'm open to finding creative ways to make your event a success!

A PDF copy of the presentation is provided for internal use of your members after the event. I also share all feedback which I receive from the audience through talkadot.

You may record the session for use internally, I just ask for a copy as well.

Chris's Links and Media Mentions

chriswhaley

escapetoexpand.com

Article:
Guest: "Mastering Engineering Leadership" Podcast