Chris Soukup

CEO

CSD

Christopher Soukup is a senior leader and advocate for deaf and disability communities. After Chris graduated from Gallaudet University in 2001, he started working at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the world’s largest deaf-led social impact organization, in a community-based role. In 2014, he was appointed CEO of CSD.

Over the past decade, he has led CSD’s global transformation to become a fully virtualized organization; the development of a disruptive software platform for sign language interpreting service delivery; the creation of the first social venture fund dedicated to deaf and disabled entrepreneurs; the launch of a jobs marketplace for deaf and disabled professionals seeking contract work and full time employment opportunities; the implementation of online learning spaces for both children and adults to access educational and training content in ASL; the introduction of a new community foundation
dedicated to strengthening the capacity of nonprofit organizations serving deaf and disabled people; as well as a continuum of innovative direct video communication
solutions designed to bolster the relationship between government and corporate entities and their deaf and disabled customers. Most recently, Chris and CSD are seeking to deploy a new health care-focused initiative that will be introduced nationally in phases this year.

In addition to the oversight of these community-focused brands, Chris has played an important role in the advocacy of key legislation and accessibility during crucial cultural events such as the development of the CVTA bill, a COVID-19 hotline in American Sign Language, and the inclusion of interpreters and captioning at White House briefings.

Chris has served on several prominent committees and advisory boards that address barriers faced by deaf and disabled communities including the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee and the Disability:IN Disability Equality Index Advisory Committee.

Chris has been featured in: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Market Watch, Thrive, Forbes, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, INC, HuffPost, NPR, and USA Today.