Chris Damsgard
About Chris Damsgard
Chris Damsgard is a Co-Founder and Intrapreneur at General Mills' Start-up Accelerator and a Youth Entrepreneur Coach at Play the Voice LLC and Golf By Numbers LLC in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area.
Current Roles at Play the Voice LLC and Golf By Numbers LLC
Chris Damsgard currently serves as a Youth Entrepreneur Coach at both Play the Voice LLC and Golf By Numbers LLC, operating within the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. His role focuses on guiding young entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, and developing skills necessary for business success. Through his coaching, Chris provides strategic advice and support to budding entrepreneurs, facilitating their growth and understanding of business dynamics.
Role as Co-Founder and Intrapreneur at General Mills
Chris Damsgard holds the title of Co-Founder and Intrapreneur within the Start-up Accelerator at General Mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In this capacity, Chris is involved in fostering innovation, leading start-up initiatives, and driving entrepreneurial projects that align with the company's strategic goals. His work at General Mills emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and translating ideas into executable business strategies.
Previous Industry Experience at General Mills
Chris Damsgard has a rich history with General Mills, having served in multiple roles over a span of 21 years. From 2015 to 2020, he was Principal Engineer, Global Reliability. Prior to that, he was Engineering Manager of Control & Information Systems from 2011 to 2015. He also held positions as Senior Engineer II, Control & Information Systems from 2006 to 2011, and Senior Engineer I, Research & Development from 1999 to 2006. Each role contributed to his extensive experience in engineering, research, development, and global reliability within the company.
Educational Background and Early Career
Chris Damsgard completed his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with High Distinction from the University of Minnesota, focusing on Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Business from 1994 to 1998. Early in his career, he gained practical experience through roles at Kimberly Clark as a Process Engineer for Infant Care, 3M as an Engineering Scholar for Traffic Control Materials, and Cargill as an Engineering Intern for Salt Manufacturing. Additionally, he studied at the Federal Bureau of Investigations' Minneapolis Division, achieving recognition from their Citizen's Academy.
Contributions to Smart Manufacturing
With over 20 years of experience, Chris Damsgard has made significant contributions to the Smart Manufacturing sector. He has served as a board member, principal investigator, speaker, and author, playing a crucial role in shaping national strategies in the field. His work focuses on integrating Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) to create actionable results from global strategies. Chris is known for his ability to communicate effectively, influence organizational change, and collaborate across various levels of the industry.