Chris Leister

Chris Leister, MBA has a diverse work experience in various industries. Chris started their career at the California Medical Association in 2008, where they held roles such as Accounting Project Specialist, Director, and Senior Director. In these positions, they focused on revenue operations, financial modeling, database administration, and CRM optimization. Chris also built strong relationships with external stakeholders and implemented system-wide solutions that increased revenue and efficiency.

In 2022, Chris became a Board Member and Co-Chair for the Sacramento State OEMBA, an alumni association for students and graduates from the CSUS Executive MBA Program. Chris contributed to the organization's mission of connecting, engaging, and enriching the EMBA community through networking, mentorship, professional development, and community engagement.

Currently, Chris is working as the Business Services Director at West Yost Associates, where they lead the teams in HR, IT, Deliverables (Admin), and Facilities. Chris is responsible for creating and implementing processes and policies, managing departments, providing training and development, and supporting companywide strategic initiatives. Chris collaborates with other directors and managers to identify and implement process and policy improvements and motivate staff to achieve department goals.

Throughout their work experience, Chris has shown a commitment to continuous learning and improvement in areas such as servant-leadership, empathy, team building, staff development, and performance management.

Chris Leister, MBA completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, where they attended from 2001 to 2005. Chris recently earned their Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from California State University-Sacramento, completing their studies in 2021.