Chris DeGroof
Chris DeGroof is currently the COO for North Star Alliances (NSA), where he oversees NSA’s programs and events, ensuring the timely and efficient execution of projects while staying within budget.
Chris is an accomplished operations executive with 27 years of experience throughout several industries including community engagement and public outreach, consumer products, supply chain management, and management consulting. Chris specializes in account management, project management, kaizen/continuous improvement, supply chain management, global sourcing, and the establishment and management of key performance indicators.
Chris’ most notable achievements include the start-up of brand new divisions within four different companies, all achieving multi-million dollar revenues within his first year at each respective company. Previous roles include his five years at children’s toy company, Applause, Inc., in which he managed accounts and projects for Disney Consumer Products, Universal Studios, General Mills, and Tricon Global Restaurants, introducing more than 250 million toys into the market including 35 million talking chihuahua stuffed toys for Taco Bell’s famous promotional program. During his 10 years as Vice President of Operations at EZ Shipper Racks, Inc., Chris managed teams in Asia as well as in the USA for concurrent and multi-faceted programs, including global supply chain operation projects for Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, and MTD Products. During his two years at Fitness Ventures International, Chris led the Operations and Supply Chain Departments in the delivery and installation of fitness centers for Hilton Hotels, multi-family housing complexes, corporate gyms, and universities throughout the USA, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While at NSA, Chris served as lead project manager for several high-profile initiatives including Metro’s “Long-Range Transportation Plan” and Google’s award-winning “Be Internet Awesome” campaign.
Chris holds an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA. Chris has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Fernando Valley chapter of APICS, the Association for Operations Management. In his free time, Chris is passionate about the environment and wildlife, devoting the last 17 years serving as a board member, an officer, and volunteer for organizations dedicated to wildlife and scientific research.