Chris Raneri, DTM

Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a Board Member:

My current job duties consist of managing the deconfliction of daily change management activities, collecting data to analyze network outages and providing trending analysis for work driver and unit cost metrics. My past job duties consisted of supervising employees, managing a multi-billion dollar budget, business planning, leading high profile projects and creating efficiency tools. All of these job duties directly relate to Toastmasters, specifically as a Board Member, because they required me to be detail oriented, to be organized, to be a strategic thinker, to be an active listener, to have great oral and written communication and to be able to work seamlessly across multiple departments while under pressure to produce a successful outcome.

What experience do you have in strategic planning?

As a Chief of Staff for a Vice President and Assistant Vice President for 8+ years, I led and produced strategic business plans which consisted of prioritizing projects using a limited budget, trending the amount of staff needed and work driver information over a 6 year period, and documenting efficiency projects to reduce spending. I was also the Vice-Chair of the District 25 Strategic Planning Committee. This committee created a charter to build the foundation for future committee members while also creating strategic plans designed to assist the district trio with their district planning.

What experience do you have in the area of finance?

I have no direct experience with finance; however, as Chief of Staff I wrote and managed contracts and invoice payments for supplemental workers. I also reviewed departmental finances to find ways to reduce overall costs. This gave me a general understanding of finance for business capital and expense spending.

What experience do you have in developing policies?

Throughout my professional and Toastmasters careers, I have developed many processes that have been the foundation for policies. My key role in policy making is to be an active listener to create the best outcome for everyone.

What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?

One of the best lessons I have learned is to have a growth mindset when presented with an issue. It is easy to make a quick decision without thinking about the outcome; however, the best way is to ask the right questions to understand better what the next steps are before proceeding. Listening and being calm under pressure are key skills that I have learned from previous leadership positions.

What experience and key strengths would you bring to the Board of Directors?

One key strength is the ability to think broadly and to keep the end goal in mind when working on a task. This requires me to think through all details and not just the surface level details. Another key strength is my ability to negotiate with others without alienating everyone in the process. By adapting my communication style and having patience, it is easier to break through roadblocks.

Why do you want to serve as an International Officer/Director?

I am proud of what Toastmasters International has created for its members over the past 100 years, but I believe I possess skills that can help the organization to new heights. I would like the opportunity to advocate for all members and to be part of the decisions that help build the brightest future for Toastmasters.

What volunteer experience do you have outside of Toastmasters?

I have participated in fundraising activities for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of North Texas. I have also volunteered for events that have helped raise funds for the Boy Scouts of America and for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Have you worked with other Boards of Directors outside of Toastmasters? If so, describe your experience.

I have worked alongside the Board for my local triathlon club. While I did not serve on the Board directly, I helped with leading group activities and with providing suggestions on how best to manage the organization.

In your opinion, what are Toastmasters International’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?

One major objective is to achieve financial stability. This can best be achieved by the overall growth of the organization. I believe this growth is centered around the education program that Toastmasters offers. Our program needs to be designed to build relevant skills which can be applied to both professional and non-professional relationships. We also need to be more proactive in developing strategic relationships with corporations that will allow us to build clubs across their footprint.

Additional information about candidate:

I am a critical thinker. This skill allows me to quickly think on my feet and pivot when a new plan needs to be developed on the fly. As a triathlete, things don't always going as planned during a race. Having the foresight not to panic is key to developing a process that leads to overcoming a challenge. My mind never stops working on what comes next and to see five steps ahead of where we are today and where we are going tomorrow.