Chris Talley

Chris Talley is a Senior Advisor for Encore Leadership Advisors. He is a three-plus decade FORTUNE 100 C-suite leader and counselor. Through the years, Mr. Talley has led communication, culture, engagement, and branding teams, crisis/reputation management initiatives, and M&A activities at USAA, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, and others, culminating in his role as USAA SVP and Chief Communications Officer. Additional areas of specialty include talent identification and growth, CEO and Board communication, and programs designed to educate and inform regulatory and rating agencies.

Mr. Talley also leads Talley Communication Strategies and provides senior counsel for clients and companies across the country, leveraging his experience as Sr. Partner and multi-office General Manager at FleishmanHillard, one of the world’s most prestigious communication consultancies.

Mr. Talley has a passion for giving back. He devotes time speaking at colleges across the country, supporting and mentoring students seeking careers in communication. He also serves as chair of the Hemisfair Conservancy Board, which is spearheading the redevelopment of the site of the 1968 World’s Fair in downtown San Antonio. Additional board service includes Endeavors (nominating and governance committee), Alamo Area Council - Boy Scouts of America, and the South Texas Medical Foundation (executive committee), along with the Baylor Journalism, PR & New Media advisory board.

Mr. Talley earned a journalism degree from Baylor University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix and is a trustee for the Institute for Public Relations. He and his wife Laura have been married for more than 34 years and are proud parents of three adult children and two grandchildren.