Cris Charbonneau

Cris Charbonneau Vice President, Communications and Marketing Areas of Expertise: design thinking, cross-sector marketing and communications, community engagement “My parents immigrated to this country in 1965 with all their possessions in two suitcases and $500 in their pockets. Their sacrifices and hard work ethic to provide my brothers and I greater access to education and opportunities is something I value and feel a great responsibility to extend to others.” Prior to joining KnowledgeWorks, Cris served as the deputy secretary of communications for the North Carolina Department of Transportation where she led all communication efforts for the second largest transportation network in the U.S., and was responsible for the strategic development, integration and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities and integrated print and online communications; media relations; marketing; and public awareness and education programs. Prior to joining NCDOT, she was appointed to transform communication and outreach for the Wake County Public School System, the 16th largest school system in the nation, as their chief communications officer. Cris launched the Office of Family and Community Engagement, implementing new and innovative ways for the school district to strengthen school-based parental engagement and community partnerships to increase student learning and development. Cris led large-scale, integrated marketing communication efforts across media relations, crisis management, website development, design and social media, launched parent academies and orchestrated community outreach efforts. Cris was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the repositioning of a 20+ year old brand and corporate marketing initiatives at VIF International Education as their director of marketing. There, she most notably created the communications and brand strategy for the Global School Network. Her nearly 20 year career also includes corporate brand and marketing communications roles for companies like Microsoft, Sony Ericsson and AT&T Wireless. Cris is a native of Portland, Oregon and a proud University of Oregon Duck where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Located in Cary, North Carolina, a mom of four, Cris serves on the Boards of Wake Education Partnership in Raleigh, N.C., and GoGlobal NC, an international education foundation.