chris geurtsen

Key USAID representative and provincial project manager working alongside United States Military, Department of State, Department of Agriculture, and Afghan officials on the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to promote peace and prosperity in Western Afghanistan. Managed USAID’s Democracy & Governance, Economic Growth, and Stabilization portfolios, with a budget exceeding $4M.

One of three CGGC employees assigned to a quick-turnaround Global Value Chain analysis of the agriculture sector in the Mexicali Valley, funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Identified key subsectors and actors, as well as implications for environmental protection measures in the area. Engaged in an investigation into crucial technologies and economic actors for “clean coal” operations, potential applications for supply chain management strategies in the realm of global value chain analysis, and a review of supply chain sustainability case studies.

Supported Tribal Trust trial team by compiling and coding documents for U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Interior and others, researched and organized files, and trained new employees.

* Guided the formation of a cocoa grower's cooperative aimed at creating volume and improving quality, thus improving price and market access for local smallhold farmers. Member farmers had realized a 50% increase in prices within one year of cooperative establishment. * Selected to be the first Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) ever placed in the Tisman Area on the island of Malekula, and the only PCV within an 8-hour walk in any direction. * Created own work program, identifying local counterparts and securing stakeholder support for projects in an enterprising and self-reliant manner. * Held workshops and awareness talks about money management, cocoa processing, water purification, forward planning and more, honing public speaking and pedagogical techniques.

* Working within the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS), was dedicated primarily to analyses of administrative barriers to investment in Pakistan and the Sudan. * Contributed to Doing-Business indicator-based BEE policy recommendations involving tax and procedural reform for South Africa, Tanzania and other nations. * Recognized for “insightful research support and inputs” to Special Economic Zones: Performance, Lessons Learned, and Implications for Zone Development (a WBG publication released April 2008). * Assisted Regional Program Coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in background research for and development of new country/regional strategy, which was successfully implemented.

2004-2005 National Dean’s List."," * Upper level coursework included Seminar on Late Industrialization; Ethics; Economics in Africa; and Environmental/Natural Resource Economics."]

Helped develop funding strategy and M&E framework for Bethany Model Village in Kikube, Uganda, a project intended to establish institutions and serve as a model for post-conflict ethnic harmony and economic development. * Completed Global Consulting Practicum, a 6-credit course which involved working with an NGO in Jaipur, India to analyze the effects of the Indian commodities futures market on small farmers and identify actionable opportunities; recommendation focused on storage, financing and price information issues. * Recipient of a Peace Corps Fellowship, finalist for 2009 Deloitte Duke-UNC Case Competition. Activities and Societies: * Career Director for International Business Club * Member of Business in Africa, Consulting and Net Impact Clubs, as well as a writer/actor/producer for Fuquavision sketch comedy shows.