Since founding this company with Geof all those years ago, Chris has done (and continues to do) just about everything that might need doing. He provides direction and support for the underwriting team, dreams up most of the marketing and advertising that you see from us, and is pretty much the face of Mercantile. Chris grew up just outside of Peoria, Illinois, graduated from Loyola University with two magna cum laude bachelor degrees, and  earned his master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Center (formerly at the Wharton School of Business). He did a brief stint at Georgetown University Law Center before realizing that the world didn’t need another attorney. In addition to his duties here at Mercantile, he’s also the CEO/Chairman/Cofounder of an upscale men’s barbershop called Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club (their straight-razor shaves are what keep his face so smooth). Chris loves soccer and often discusses “proper football” with Nikos while the rest of us tune out. If you read his blog, you’ll probably learn more than you ever wanted to know about him.