Curtis Chan
Specialties
Entrepreneurship
Startup Advisor
Marketing
Public Relations
Advertising
Education
Undergraduate:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bachelor of Science: Electronic Engineering Technology
Connect
Background
Entrepreneur, Mentor, Author, Brand Expert
Curtis Chan is Pres. & CEO/Founder & Managing Partner of two high technology Brand Marketing and Public Relations companies, CHAN & ASSOCIATES and COGNITIVE IMPACT, whose clients range from the Global Fortune 500 and venture capital-funded startups, to small-to-medium businesses.
For three decades, his agencies’ services have helped garner early stage and growth companies significant brand exposure, resulting in either acquisition or IPO, with a total valuation of over $2.5 Billion.
Mr. Chan is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and mentor. He played vital pioneering and executive roles early on in helping to usher in digital audio, digital video, and storage technologies at Ampex, Sony, Roland and Centro. His comprehensive background spans over three decades in ever-increasing executive positions in operations, business development, engineering, and sales/marketing in the IT, M&E, and other related high technology industries.
He is an active mentor and senior advisor to many established and start-up companies, and is a market/technology analyst and senior contributing editor. He has over three decades of experience in brand development, management consulting / company turnarounds, creative advertising, and public relations.
A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Mr. Chan was Vice President of the Fullerton College Foundation; Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor for the Small Business Institute at CSUF and incubators. Additionally, he is a volunteer member of DECA, startup mentor to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cal Poly, SLO, and a member of the President’s Green and Gold Society. He has presented and published over 30 papers worldwide, a book co-author, Editorial Board Member for SMPTE, past Senior Editor for Broadcast Beat and AV Beat Magazines, past Senior Editor for Computer Technology Review, and is a regularly featured Contributing Editor to the many US and international trade publications for over 40 years.
Accomplishments:
Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor for CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship which provides student mentorship and small-to-medium business outreach.
Startup mentor for CSUF incubator and Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Public Relations and Brand Marketing expert helping global Fortune 500, VC funded and small-to-medium businesses increase market share and revenue.
Speaker and lecturer with topics focused on personal growth, business turnaround, sales and marketing.
Business, marketing plan, and market research study development and analysis.
Board and Community Experience:
Fullerton College Foundation: Vice President and Board Member, 2006 to 2020.
CSUF Small Business Institute: Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Mentor, 2001 to present.
Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Startup Mentor, 2010 to present.
Cal Poly Global Waste Institute, Advisor and Brand Expert, 2011 to 2013.
Healing Hearts and Spencer Hospice Foundation: President and Board Member, 2009 to 2012.
Department of Education and Curriculum Affairs: Mentor/Volunteer, 2018 to present.
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers: Editorial Board Member, 2015 to present
