Chris Moise

Brainstormer, Business adviser, Christian, Connector, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Event planner, Idea generator, Investor, Parent, Project manager, Social entrepreneur, Technologist

Former entrepreneur who retired from the business world in 2012. I serve as President/Licensee of the non-profit that oversees TEDxNashville since 2010 and focus a majority of my time on growing the platform in middle Tennessee. I am looking to impact the local community with positive dialogue that can change our world in contrast to the negative commentary that is currently dominating our nation. From a business perspective, I worked over 20 years in the entertainment and sports fields including music labels, film companies, television production, sports marketing, and the Internet. I started a video streaming service in 2008 that was eventually acquired by a cable television network. While active in a number of non-profits during my business career, I served on the board of the Nashville Film Festival for 8 years and was president for 3 years. During this time, the Festival grew from one week to two weeks and attracted celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford, Patrick Swayze, and Matthew McConaughey. Festival now attracts 45,000 attendees over its two weeks. I now utilize these business skills to support and impact the Nashville community as it experiences new growth opportunities as a recognized "it" city. I have enjoyed working with a team of creative individuals to grow TEDxNashville from 500 attendees in 2010 to 2,800 attendees in 2017 as a Level 2 licensee.

My passions include the study of global markets and economies, world religions, and the entrepreneurial community in Nashville. I also enjoy getting outdoors (hiking, fly fishing) and exercising. My reading list ranges from The Forgotten Depression, Naked Statistics, and The Theory of Money and Credit to the Qur'an and the Book of Mormon. While I attend a Methodist Church, I have a strong interest in the religious doctrines that tend to separate, versus unite, us and enjoy exploring books of non-Christian faiths. From a community perspective, I focus my energy on events that support the growing technology community and expanding the TEDx platform to the Middle Tennessee community.

"How algorithms are changing our life". This topic came out of a recent brainstorming session for TEDxNashville. My idea is not necessarily that topic, but conceptually based on how technology and the Internet are changing how we communicate, get outdoors, share experiences, get our news, and make decisions. It is the "industrial revolution" for our generation.

Enterpreneurship, Entertainment, Event management, Finance, Internet, Investing, Nashville, Sponsorship, Startups, Technology

I got involved as an initial founder of TEDxNashville in 2010. The licensee organized a group of individuals to launch the first event, but they were having difficulty working together. So I joined as project manager to oversee the effort. We pulled off our first event in 3 months; selling out a local high school auditorium with 500 attendees. We took a big step the next year in moving to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. We proceeded to sell out a 1,100 seat auditorium and moved to a larger theater in 2015 where we hosted 1,900 attendees. In 2016, we received a Level 2 license and expanded to a two day event. We have been blessed to have a strong board of committed individuals and sponsors to make TEDxNashville successful. With local, national, and international speakers, our team believes that TEDxNashville raises the quality of dialogue in the city to embrace the TED motto: Ideas Worth Spreading! And while this will be my first official TED event, we have sent 3 organizers to TED events in the past. If we don't get a chance to meet, say hello to my fellow TEDx'er Leslie Belknap, as she will be joining me at TEDWomen.

Being creative. As a person with lots of initials like CPA and MBA whose first job was as a stock analyst, I have executive produced children's animation, TV shows, and live sports events.