Chairman
Carter Brothers, LLC

Cris Carter is chairman of Carter Brothers, LLC. As chairman, Cris develops the organization’s corporate vision, drives strategic growth, provides access to key contacts at all levels of the business community, supports public relations initiatives, and directs relationship development. Companies such as Wachovia, Tyco, General Electric, Frito Lay, Standard Register, BP Oil and Grainger, count on the award-winning expertise of Carter Brothers for their closed circuit television, access control, intrusion detection, and fire and life safety needs.

As an engaged leader, Cris has firmly established Carter Brothers on a course of achievement. Since its 2001 founding, the organization has experienced exceptional profit and revenue growth. The company has grown from $650,000 revenue in 2001 to revenues of $81 million in 2008. In 2007, Carter Brothers placed major focus on capabilities expansion. The acquisition of fire and life safety leader Edwards Service from GE Security added an additional presence in ten states. Additionally, in 2008, Carter Brothers further expanded its national footprint and capabilities by establishing a strategic alliance with Johnson Controls.

Prior to entering the security industry, Cris enjoyed a stellar NFL career playing most notably with the Minnesota Vikings. Cris’s drive for excellence and performance established him as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. During his 16-year career, Cris appeared in eight consecutive Pro Bowls and became only one of four players in NFL history to catch 1,000 or more receptions. Cris was also applauded for his generous charitable works in the Twin Cities area by receiving the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award - the only league award that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence.

Looking beyond the playing field, Cris expanded his professional endeavors into the business world as an entrepreneur. In 1997, Cris founded the Cris Carter’s Fast Program training facility in Boca Raton, Florida. The program provided a first-class facility accessible for sports enthusiasts at all levels – youth and professional – to train and improve their skills. The Fast Program excelled as a national leader in sports performance development with more than 3,000 square feet of training space and state-of-the-art equipment. The Fast Program yielded an impressive list of client-athletes ranging from the National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, golf, soccer, tennis and collegiate sports.

In 2001, Cris founded Carter Brothers in Atlanta, Georgia, with his brother John Carter, a former senior executive with Barton Malow Company. Since its inception, Carter Brothers has achieved notable success by bringing innovation to the security industry through its unique process driven delivery of design, installation, and maintenance of electronic security, fire and life safety systems on a national level.

Over the years, Carter Brothers has received numerous awards for its achievements. In 2006, Carter Brothers was recognized for a second year by DiversityBusiness.com and named to their award listings for diverse-owned businesses including, “Top Diverse Businesses,” “Small Businesses in the USA,” and “Top African American Owned Businesses in the USA”. In the same year, Carter Brothers was featured in Fortune magazine’s “Top 500” list and Black Enterprise magazine’s “Top 100” issue. The National Minority Supplier Development Council named Carter Brothers the “Regional Supplier of the Year” in October 2007. One of Carter Brothers’ proudest professional moments was receiving the first ever National Urban League “Entrepreneurship of the Year” award at the organization’s 2007 Awards Dinner.

In addition to his business enterprises, Cris is a NFL Football Analyst for ESPN. Previously, Cris appeared on HBO’s Emmy award-winning series Inside the NFL. He also hosts a weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio and is a national columnist for YahooSports.com.

As a dedicated and active philanthropist, Cris is willing to use his resources and time to support the causes he believes in. Cris started his charitable works in Minnesota with youth organizations, inner-city schools and children’s hospitals, and has since helped to establish a host of charitable organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2004, Cris, along with his brothers, founded Carter Brothers Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit intended to support an array of charitable organizations impacting domestic violence, youth outreach, and community development.

A native of Troy, Ohio, Cris attended Ohio State University where he studied communications. He served on the board of directors’ of Builders on Dreams for Youths and was also an international ambassador for the Starlight Foundation. Formerly, Cris served as a board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and mentored youth through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.