Chris Anderson
Award-Winning Credit Union Marketer
Career Chronicle
The following timeline is a chronicle of transformation. Witness the growth and evolution of an aspiring creative into a seasoned marketing professional, fueled by relentless curiosity and a desire to improve the world around him.
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2003
On scholarship to play guitar for Campus Country, Chris entered college to pursue a degree in music business. Outside campus, Chris built a reputation as a local concert promoter, under the moniker WAY Entertainment, organizing nearly 100 concerts over 5 years and building a safe community for hundreds of youth who regularly attended shows. Chris would use MySpace and other early social networking tools to promote these shows, essentially jumpstarting his experience in social media promotion and community organizing.
“Chris put in the work by booking the bands, promoting the shows, and running production. By doing so, he built a vibrant underground music scene in Tupelo throughout the mid-2000’s that impacted hundreds of lives.”
During this time, Chris would cut his teeth in graphic design and gain a basic understanding of marketing by making posters to promote his concerts and designing merchandise for his band and others.
2006
While still earning his degree at university, Chris began his career as Event Technology Supervisor at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, a AAA Four-Diamond resort hotel and conference center, polishing the skills he developed by organizing concerts into corporate and professional event production.
“Chris was a fun, outgoing supervisor. He always made it known that he appreciated our hard work and rewarded us whenever he had the chance. He was very organized and made it clear what we needed to get done everyday. He is a people person and did his best to make everyone happy, especially the clients.”
2008
Chris graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Music and a minor in Business Administration. While at university, he was President of the school’s MEISA (Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association) chapter and helped spearhead the school’s first student-run record label, Singing River Records. Chris also planned and executed dozens of events and completed a video production internship, all while working full-time at the conference center.
After graduation, Chris was honored to perform the coin toss at the UNA homecoming game in 2010 with fellow alumnus George Lindsey, best known for his performance of “Goober” in The Andy Griffith Show.
2009
Ready to take on the world, Chris volunteered to work for the African Children's Choir as a Sound Engineer and Chaperone, traveling across the country with 24 African children who sing and dance to raise money for their education back in Uganda and Kenya. He would lead audio production at a different theater or church each night.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
2010
Upon returning home from tour with the African Children’s Choir, Chris applied to become Listerhill Credit Union's Young & Free Spokester, a digital content creator role, one of the first of its kind in the early years of social media. Chris won this unique job by securing the most public votes, mostly due to the popularity of a self-written and produced music video. This began Chris’s journey in the credit union industry as he managed the microsite, youngfreealabama.com.
In June of 2010, Chris spoke to credit unions from across Alabama and Florida at the League of Southeastern Credit Unions’s 2010 Annual Convention and Exposition in Orlando, Florida. Chris’s breakout session focused on the importance of attracting millennials and what they want from a financial institution.
2011
Now as a Marketing Specialist for Listerhill, Chris and the team launched I Heart My Credit Union, a credit union awareness campaign on Bank Transfer Day, November 5, 2011. This microsite campaign was built to support all local credit unions during the Move Your Money movement of 2011-2012. Chris conducted multiple video interviews with members to produce the launch video.
2012
During this time, Chris also ran a successful moonlighting business, Up Down Media, where he filmed and edited wedding videos for over a hundred couples across the Southeast.
“Chris is a great visionary and executor of what he wants. He is capable in every facet of media production and an especially gifted editor and visual designer.”
2013
As Marketing Manager at Listerhill, Chris led the launch of a monthly lifestyle publication, "SET Magazine," that would run for 5 years and publish nearly 50 issues. Over that time, Chris ran the magazine as publisher and even editor or writer as needed. The magazine would also draw 150 writers to write 550 articles and would distribute 340,000 copies to 160 area locations. Chris would develop systems and processes to streamline content from concept to distribution. The publication would win the credit union marketing industry's Diamond Award for Best Publication each year it was produced.
“Chris was a very encouraging, responsible, motivated and fun manager. He kept me accountable to my deadlines and provided very helpful critiques when there were areas I needed to work on. Working under him pushed me to become a more organized, confident and efficient worker.”
2015
As Chris’s innovative marketing programs garnered attention from the industry, he was invited to speak about these projects at the Financial Brand Forum, financial marketing’s premier conference in Las Vegas, and the Millennial Financial Services Summit in New York City alongside brands like Wells Fargo and USAA. A feature article ran on the popular Financial Brand website highlighting Chris and his team’s marketing strategies.
2016
Chris would be promoted to Marketing Director at Listerhill, where he would manage the department of seven and a million-dollar marketing budget. His major projects would include a credit union rebrand, website overhaul, several comprehensive campaigns, and multiple new product launches. Each of these projects would win national credit union marketing awards. Throughout his time at Listerhill Credit Union, Chris and his team would win 101 CUNA Diamond Awards and 83 MAC Awards.
2017
Inspired by local conversations of innovation and new ideas, Chris joined the executive team to organize the Shoals area’s first TEDx event. Chris would help with event management, marketing, and create the theme artwork.
2018
At Listerhill, Chris would earn a promotion to Vice President of Marketing and become an active member of the Senior Leadership Team. Along with leading the marketing strategy, Chris also focused on strengthening project management processes, build digital automations, and create efficiencies to better prioritize his team’s energy.
2019
At Listerhill, Chris would earn a promotion to Vice President of Marketing and become an active member of the Senior Leadership Team. Along with leading the marketing strategy, Chris also focused on strengthening project management processes, build digital automations, and create efficiencies to better prioritize his team’s energy.
Listerhill's Asset Growth Throughout Chris’s Tenure (in millions)
“I am so thankful to have had the privilege of working with Chris at Listerhill Credit Union. An exceptional leader, gifted in all aspects of design and communication, he really is the best at what he does. I have watched him execute giant campaigns flawlessly, knowing when and how to delegate and pivot. Any company would be lucky to have him. Know that you will be gaining a knowledgeable leader, an intrinsically motivated learner, and a true advocate and friend.”
2020
Motivated by justice and his own core value of compassion, Chris pursued civic engagement by volunteering with the campaign team of local candidates and political organizations. Chris used his graphic design and community organizing skills to give the party and campaign a more modern look. Chris served 4 years with numerous committees and executive boards, including as Chair of the Lauderdale County Democratic Executive Committee and the Shoals Democratic Club.
2021
When challenged by the CEO to develop a primary philanthropy for the credit union, Chris would lead the ideation and development of a nonprofit, charitable program, Kicks for Kids, that would distribute brand-named shoes to elementary school students throughout northwest Alabama. The program, now under the Listerhill Foundation, is continually growing its footprint across north Alabama and south central Tennessee.
2022
WebStrategies - working with clients across the country with digital marketing and automation with HubSpot.
2023
Chris is back at TEDx doing an AI image generation booth and design the theme with and combination of human + AI.
2024
Family vacation manual
2025
Now, as an award-winning marketing executive with 20 years of experience developing his craft and exploring his passions, Chris is searching for new challenges and opportunities for further fulfillment to make a positive change in the communities around him.