CRAIG CHRISTENSEN

For Provo City Council District 1

WHY I’M RUNNING

For 30+ years I have lived in Provo.  As a father of six and an entrepreneur creating hundreds of jobs, I care deeply about Provo’s neighbors and businesses.

Engaging with city and county leaders, I’ve worked to create better zoning and protect open spaces like Bridal Veil Falls, Utah Lake and Provo Canyon.

WHO I AM

I stand on the shoulders of giants who made great sacrifices on my behalf.  American Founders who created this great nation, Mormon Pioneers who settled this state, and family members who contributed to our amazing city.

Both sets of my grandparents emigrated to Provo, both of my parents graduated from Provo High and my father graduated from BYU in the Air Force ROTC.  All six of our kids graduated from TimpView High School.

My wife and I love this city.  Surrounded by our beautiful mountains and friendly community, the Provo lifestyle is remarkable. Serving as your City Councilman is my chance to pay back the great debt I owe.

My professional background

• After graduating with an English degree from BYU I went to work on Wall Street. After two years I entered the Harvard Business School and earned an MBA.
• My first job as an MBA was as a commercial Real Estate Developer in high rise office buildings in Phoenix.
• After reading the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, I moved back to Provo to work with Stephen Covey in organizational development for ten years.
• In 2000 I became an entrepreneur. Since then I have started four companies here in Provo:
  • • the 1st business was a “complete breakdown” (a very expensive and valuable learning experience)
    • the 2nd was a “break even”
    • the 3rd was finally a “break out” (it became an “Inc. 500 fastest growing company in North America”) which I sold to the FranklinCovey Company
    • Now I own a Leadership Coaching Practice
• Starting new companies has helped me to become more creative in problem-solving by learning to listen to customers.