CHRIS GARDNER Biography

Chris Gardner is the owner and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and

San Francisco. Conquering grave challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, Gardner is an avid

motivational and aspirational speaker, addressing the keys to overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles.

Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist whose work has been recognized by many esteemed

organizations.

The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, in

May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. In paperback, the book

spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into more than

thirty languages. Gardner was also the inspiration for the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” released

by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. Will Smith starred as Gardner and received Academy Award,

Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance. Gardner was an associate

producer on the film.

In his second New York Times bestselling book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from

Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, published in May 2009, Gardner shared his philosophies on,

and the crucial steps behind, creating a fulfilling, successful life. The book provided a much-needed

blueprint for navigating tumultuous times with positivity, courage, tenacity, discipline and common

sense. The book was released in paperback in May 2010.

In the fall of 2010, Gardner was named the Ambassador of Pursuit and Happyness for AARP, which has

nearly 40 million members worldwide. His mission is to share his hard-won wisdom to encourage the

50+ audience to pursue new challenges, search for fulfillment at any stage of life, or craft the legacy they

want to leave behind.

Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s childhood was marked by

poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy. Gardner published his

autobiography out of a desire to shed light on these universal issues and show they do not have to define

you. Gardner never knew his father, and lived with his beloved mother, Bettye Jean Triplett (nee

Gardner), when not in foster homes. Gardner is indebted to Bettye Jean for his success as she provided

him with strong “spiritual genetics” and taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could chart

another path and attain whatever goals he set for himself.

Gardner joined the Navy out of high school and after discharge moved to San Francisco where he

worked as a medical research associate and for a scientific supply distributor. In 1981, as a new father to

son Christopher Gardner Jr., he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and

fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree,

Gardnerapplied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a

new trade. Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because,

as he says, “I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who

their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere.”

Gardner earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he

could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. Today, Gardner is involved with homelessness

initiatives assisting families to stay intact, and assisting homeless men and women who are employed

but still cannot get by. It is estimated that 12% of the homeless population in the United States is

employed; in some communities that estimate is as high as 30%.

Gardner worked at Bear Stearns & Co from1983-1987 where he became a top earner. In 1987 he

founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000. Gardner Rich

LLC is a FINRA registered broker-dealer specializing in servicing public pension funds and Taft-Hartley

plans for some of the nation’s largest institutions and unions. In addition to expanding its core business

as an institutional securities broker, Gardner Rich has increased its participation in corporate

underwriting and has expanded its brokerage services to include trading in global markets through both

ordinary and ADR form.

Dedicated to improving the well-being of children through positive paternal involvement, Gardner is a

board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and received the group’s Father of the Year Award

in 2002. He served on the board of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual awards:

the National Education Association’s National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American

Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRP) Award. He also serves

on the board of the International Rescue Committee, which works to provide access to safety, sanctuary,

and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and

oppression. Gardner is still very committed to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, where he and

his son received assistance in the early 1980’s. He has helped fund a project that creates low-income

housing and opportunities for employment in the notoriously poor Tenderloin area of the city.

Gardner has also been honored by the NAACP Image Awards with awards for both the book and movie

versions of The Pursuit of Happyness; Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women’s

(LACAAW) 2006 Humanitarian Award; The Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce’s 2006 Friends

of Africa Award; The Glaucoma Foundation’s Kitty Carlisle Hart Lifetime Achievement Award; The

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA); Covenant House, Common Ground and

other organizations committed to combating violence against women, homelessness, and financial

illiteracy – issues of the utmost importance to Gardner.

Chris Gardner’s aim, through his speaking engagements and media projects, is to help others achieve

their full potential. His practical guidance and inspirational story have made him a frequent guest on

CNN, CNBC and the Fox News Channel. He has been featured on “The CBS Evening News,” “20/20,”

“Oprah,” “Today Show,” “The View,” “Entertainment Tonight,” as well as in People, USA Today,

Associated Press, New York Times, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Jet, Reader’s Digest, Trader Monthly,

Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Post and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,

amongst other publications.

Gardner has two children and resides in Chicago and New York.

contact: Collene Carlson, Gardner Rich LLC

P: 312-922-3333 / ccarlson@gardnerrich.com

latest version of this document: http://www.chrisgardnermedia.com/about/bio

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