CHRIS ANDERSON
Award-Winning Credit Union Marketer
CAREER CHRONICLE
The following timeline is a chronicle of transformation. Witness the growth and evolution of an aspiring creative into a seasoned marketing professional, fueled by relentless curiosity and a desire to improve the world around him.
2003
On scholarship to play guitar for Campus Country, Chris entered college to pursue a degree in music business. Outside campus, Chris built a reputation as a local concert promoter, under the moniker WAY Entertainment, organizing nearly 100 concerts over 5 years and building a safe community for hundreds of youth who regularly attended shows. Chris would use MySpace and other early social platforms to promote these shows, essentially jumpstarting his experience in social media promotion and community organizing.
During this time, Chris would cut his teeth in graphic design and gain a foundational understanding of marketing by building websites, designing posters, assembling a street team, and ordering merchandise to promote his band and other concerts he organized.
“Chris put in the work by booking the bands, promoting the shows, and running production. By doing so, he built a vibrant underground music scene in Tupelo throughout the mid-2000’s that impacted hundreds of lives.”
2006
While still earning his degree at university, Chris began his career as Event Technology Supervisor at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, a AAA Four-Diamond resort hotel and conference center, polishing the skills he developed by organizing concerts into corporate and professional event production.
“Chris is incredibly detail oriented and takes care to set up logical processes for himself and his team. His good humor keeps the working environment lighthearted and positive, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that client needs are met. ”
2008
Chris graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Music and a minor in Business Administration. While at university, he was President of the school’s MEISA (Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association) chapter and helped spearhead the school’s first student-run record label, Singing River Records. Chris also planned and executed dozens of events and completed a video production internship, all while working full-time at the conference center.
After graduation, Chris was honored to perform the coin toss at the UNA homecoming game in 2010 with fellow alumnus George Lindsey, best known for his performance of “Goober” in The Andy Griffith Show.
2009
Ready to take on the world, Chris volunteered to work for the African Children's Choir as a Sound Engineer and Chaperone, traveling across the country with 24 African children who sing and dance to raise money for their education back in Uganda and Kenya. He would lead audio production at a different theater or church each night, including performances with Michael McDonald and Paul Rodgers (Bad Company).
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
2010
Upon returning home from tour with the African Children’s Choir, Chris applied to become Listerhill Credit Union's Young & Free Spokester, a digital content creator role, one of the first of its kind in the early years of social media. Chris won this unique job by securing the most public votes, mostly due to the popularity of a self-written and produced music video. This began Chris’s journey in the credit union industry as he managed the microsite, youngfreealabama.com.
In June of 2010, Chris spoke to credit unions from across Alabama and Florida at the League of Southeastern Credit Unions’s 2010 Annual Convention and Exposition in Orlando, Florida. Chris’s breakout session focused on the importance of attracting millennials and what they want from a financial institution.
2011
Now as a Marketing Specialist for Listerhill, Chris and the team launched I Heart My Credit Union, a credit union awareness campaign on Bank Transfer Day, November 5, 2011. This microsite campaign was built to support all local credit unions during the Move Your Money movement of 2011-2012. Chris conducted multiple video interviews with members to produce the launch video.
2012
During this time, Chris also ran a successful moonlighting business, Up Down Media, where he filmed and edited wedding videos for over a hundred couples across the Southeast.
“Chris is a great visionary and executor of what he wants. He is capable in every facet of media production and an especially gifted editor and visual designer.”
2013
As Marketing Manager at Listerhill, Chris led the launch of SET Magazine, a monthly lifestyle publication created “by young people, for young people” — a nod to the credit union’s philosophy of people helping people. SET would run for 5 years, publishing 57 issues with 220 contributors (ages 18-25) writing 550 articles and distributing 340,000 copies to 160 area locations. As publisher (and editor for some issues) Chris would develop systems to streamline content from a single theme idea to the distribution of the 32-page magazine each month. The publication would win the credit union marketing industry's Diamond Award for Best Publication each year it was produced.
“Chris was a very encouraging, responsible, motivated and fun manager. He kept me accountable to my deadlines and provided very helpful critiques when there were areas I needed to work on. Working under him pushed me to become a more organized, confident and efficient worker.”
2015
As Chris’s innovative marketing programs garnered attention from the industry, he was invited to speak about these projects at the Financial Brand Forum, financial marketing’s premier conference in Las Vegas, and the Millennial Financial Services Summit in New York City alongside brands like Wells Fargo and USAA. A feature article ran on the popular Financial Brand website, highlighting Chris and his team’s marketing strategies.
2016
Chris would be promoted to Marketing Director at Listerhill, where he would manage the department of eight and its million-dollar marketing budget. His first major project would be the credit union’s rebrand, followed by a major retail overhaul, CRM implementation, and multiple new product launches.
2017
Inspired by local conversations of innovation and new ideas, Chris joined the executive team to organize the Shoals area’s first TEDx event. Chris would help with event management, marketing, and create the theme artwork.
2018
In 2018, Chris directed a full-scale rebuild of Listerhill Credit Union’s website, overseeing everything from content architecture and copywriting to technical infrastructure and launch. He collaborated with an outside agency to deliver a responsive, secure, and visually redesigned site, with custom tools and performance tracking that elevated the member experience. The project earned top industry awards and even continues to stand the test of time as a modern, high-performing website years later.
2019
At Listerhill, Chris would earn a promotion to Vice President of Marketing and become an active member of the Senior Leadership Team. Chris would establish the vision for the department and continue to lead the marketing strategy, public relations, and community engagement efforts.
Throughout his time at Listerhill Credit Union, Chris and his team’s work would be recognized by their peers, winning 184 national credit union awards, including three Best in Show.
Listerhill's Asset Growth Throughout Chris’s Tenure (in millions)
“I am so thankful to have had the privilege of working with Chris at Listerhill Credit Union. An exceptional leader, gifted in all aspects of design and communication, he really is the best at what he does. I have watched him execute giant campaigns flawlessly, knowing when and how to delegate and pivot. Any company would be lucky to have him. Know that you will be gaining a knowledgeable leader, an intrinsically motivated learner, and a true advocate and friend.”
2020
Motivated by social justice and personal growth, Chris pursued civic engagement by volunteering with the campaign team of local candidates and political organizations. Chris used his graphic design and community organizing skills to give the party and campaign a more modern look. Chris served 4 years with numerous committees and executive boards, including as Chair of the Lauderdale County Democratic Executive Committee and the Shoals Democratic Club.
2021
When challenged by the CEO to develop a primary philanthropy for the credit union, Chris would lead the ideation and development of a nonprofit, charitable program, Kicks for Kids, that would distribute brand-named shoes to elementary school students throughout north Alabama and south central Tennessee. The program, now under the Listerhill Foundation, is continually growing its footprint and filling a need.
2022
Chris sharpened his digital precision when he joined WebStrategies (now Geear) as a CSM Team Lead, managing more than a dozen credit union clients from coast to coast, each ranging from $300 million to $2 billion in assets. At Geear, Chris advised credit unions on digital marketing strategies to grow applications through their websites and guided them through every phase of HubSpot success—from onboarding and data integration to member communication, lead nurturing, and full CRM management across marketing, sales, and service teams.
He mapped complex data integrations between banking systems and HubSpot, transforming raw data into actionable marketing intelligence and scalable automation frameworks. His deep understanding of banking systems, financial marketing strategy, and HubSpot’s CRM capabilities gives him a unique, end-to-end vision of how data moves from raw input to measurable business outcomes.
“Chris is one of those rare marketers who combines deep technical understanding with strategic vision. His mastery of HubSpot and knowledge of the credit union industry consistently elevates every conversation, and his working style fosters both confidence and creativity in those around him. Any team would be lucky to have him.”
2023
In 2023, Chris brought together human creativity and artificial intelligence to design the visual theme for TEDx, blending A.I.-generated imagery with handmade graphic design to create a cohesive and inspiring aesthetic. He also built an interactive AI image generation booth, allowing attendees to create their own AI-generated art onsite and receive it instantly by email. By merging technology and design in a hands-on experience, Chris showcased how AI can make creative expression more accessible.
“Excellent speakers and an opportunity to create an #ai piece with the talented Chris Anderson was a treat.”
2024
In 2024, Chris combined his planning, writing, design, and technical skills to create a 132-page Field Guide and Recipe Book, organizing every detail of his family’s 3-week cross-country RV trip. Designed from scratch in a clean, monotone modern style with a vintage Yellowstone map as the cover background, the book was printed using perfect binding. Each day included itineraries, activity details, weather, travel notes, and custom recipes by his wife, Sara — allowing the book to serve as a practical daily guide. At day’s end, the family gathered to write in their field guides, using the book as a reflection journal to capture memories, gratitude, and highlights from the journey.
2025
After 15 years in credit union marketing, Chris has seen the growing need for digital clarity, flexible strategy, and systems that actually work. Chris has led teams, built award-winning campaigns, and helped organizations connect with their members and leads through automation. Now, he brings that experience directly to credit unions.
In 2025, Chris launched Substation, a freelance marketing practice built for credit unions and the agencies that support them. Substation delivers strategy, execution, and automation systems to power digital growth for credit unions.
