Chief Executive Officer Christopher Soukup

Christopher Soukup is a senior leader and dedicated advocate for the deaf and disabled communities. After earning his degree from Gallaudet University, he joined Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), the largest deaf-led social impact organization, initially in a community-focused role. By 2014, Chris became CEO of CSD and has since driven multiple transformative initiatives globally.

Under his leadership, CSD transitioned into a fully virtualized organization and developed a disruptive software platform for sign language interpreting. He spearheaded the first social venture fund for deaf and disabled entrepreneurs, launched a jobs marketplace connecting deaf professionals with opportunities, and implemented online learning platforms in American Sign Language for children and adults. Chris also introduced a community-based foundation to empower nonprofits serving deaf communities and advanced innovative direct video calling solutions fostering collaboration between corporations, governments, and their deaf customers.

Chris is currently leading a national healthcare initiative to be rolled out in phases. Beyond these projects, he has played a pivotal role in advocating for legislation like the CVTA bill and championing accessibility efforts like interpreters and captioning at significant cultural moments, such as White House briefings.

Chris served on key advisory committees, including the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee, and has been prominently featured in major outlets like The New York Times, Forbes, and NPR.