Chris Solt

About Chris Solt

I am an executive leader who works at the intersection of policy, markets, standards, and organizational leadership. My career has focused on building and leading organizations that translate environmental and social goals into real-world implementation through certification systems, market development, industry partnerships, and organizational strategy. I currently serve as Executive Director of Pennsylvania Certified Organic, a USDA-accredited certification organization working across the United States to support organic agriculture, environmental stewardship, and agricultural market development. My work involves organizational leadership, regulatory engagement, certification systems, industry partnerships, and strategic planning in a highly regulated and policy-driven environment. Previously, I served for nearly a decade as Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation, a national trade association focused on ethical supply chains and responsible sourcing. In that role, I led organizational strategy, industry partnerships, membership growth, and national conferences, while representing the organization in national and international industry and policy discussions. Across my career, I have been most interested in how systems change actually happens — how policy, markets, standards, and organizations interact to move industries and institutions toward more sustainable, ethical, and resilient models. Much of my work has involved coalition building, organizational strategy, standards implementation, and helping organizations and industries navigate complex regulatory and market environments. I am particularly interested in work related to environmental policy, market transformation, certification and standards systems, agriculture and food systems, and mission-driven organizational leadership.

Experience

1. Vice President

   World Fair Trade Organization Wfto

   Sep 2024 — Present · Culemborg, NL

Education

• Cleveland State University

  Bachelor's Degree, Social Science

  1999 — 2004

• Southern New Hampshire University

  Master’s of Sceince, Organizational Leadership

  2014 — 2017

Skills

• Customer Service
• Training
• Customer Satisfaction
• Public Speaking
• Project Management
• Employee Training
• Hiring
• Leadership Development
• Event Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Team Building
• Management
• Sales
• Fair Trade
• Technical Training
• Product Development
• Social Media
• Curriculum Design
• Inventory Management
• Retail
• Audio Engineering
• Selling
• Music Production
• Marketing
• Training & Development
• Creative Concept Development
• Visual Merchandising
• Curriculum Management
• Leadership
• Merchandising
• Social Networking
• Event Management
• Social Media Marketing
• Large Group Facilitation