“Leading with Clarity, Growing with Purpose”
Chris Flakus is a distinguished executive leader with over 30 years of proven success in healthcare IT, staffing, workforce development, and consulting. As the current CEO and board member of CSI Companies—a nationally recognized healthcare IT solutions company—Chris has consistently demonstrated exceptional operational expertise, strategic foresight, and a relentless commitment to organizational growth and excellence. Under his guidance, CSI has more than doubled its revenue from 2021 to 2024, surpassing $500 million with EBITDA exceeding $50 million annually.
Chris’s career journey reflects a deep mastery of leadership, operations, and people development. At CSI, he orchestrated a complete structural overhaul, transitioning the company from brand-based silos to a high-performing shared service model. This transformation created a more agile, collaborative environment that not only increased efficiency but also reinforced CSI’s core values. His leadership has always been hands-on and deeply invested in results—bringing together HR, IT, Finance, Legal, Marketing, and Operations under one vision.
One of Chris’s most notable strengths is his strategic acumen in mergers and acquisitions. He has led due diligence efforts for multiple targets, culminating in the successful acquisition of MedSys in 2024. With deep involvement in the process—from collaboration with bankers to cultural integration—Chris brings both analytical rigor and a human touch to high-stakes transactions. His unique value is amplified by his international experience, having partnered with RECRUIT’s global leaders across Europe, Asia, and Australia, offering him a nuanced understanding of cross-cultural business dynamics.
Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated a commitment to inclusion, innovation, and community impact. His award-winning diversity initiative, CSI Connect, won RECRUIT’s inaugural CEO Challenge in 2022. The program aimed to increase access to careers in healthcare IT by investing in underrepresented talent, embodying Chris’s belief in creating opportunity at scale. Additionally, he founded CSI Gives Back, a nonprofit focused on supporting children with special needs and terminal illnesses—underscoring his dedication to purpose-driven leadership.
Chris’s earlier roles laid the groundwork for his current success. As COO of CSI from 2014 to 2021, he led the company through a period of transformative growth, increasing revenue from $100 million to over $300 million while maintaining EBITDA above 10%. He implemented operational improvements across all business units, elevating productivity and profitability. Prior to that, he served as President of CSI Professional and CSI Tech, where he launched new business lines and expanded the company into key U.S. markets including Charlotte, Nashville, Dallas, and South Florida.
Chris’s leadership style is collaborative, transparent, and grounded in empathy. With a background in psychology and education from the University of North Florida, he brings a people-first mindset to executive management. He is passionate about hiring, training, and nurturing high-performance teams, and his track record includes recruiting top executives from multiple industries to build best-in-class teams at scale.
Chris also brings experience as a founder, having co-led Merit Consulting, where he drove $3 million in billings within just 2.5 years. His early career at ATS Services/AccuStaff provided a foundation in recruitment and staffing, where he managed multi-office operations and drove consistent profit margins. These formative experiences instilled a sharp operational lens and a keen sense of market responsiveness that continues to shape his strategic decisions today.
A lifelong learner and advocate of excellence, Chris is guided by a strong desire to give back. His international experience—particularly with Japanese firms—has provided him with a valuable global perspective. Fluent in the language of growth and collaboration, he is now focused on sharing his insights through board service. His goal is to help small to mid-cap companies thrive by mentoring leaders, advising on strategic challenges, and scaling sustainable success.
Chris’s personal life is centered around travel, family, and building meaningful connections. He is involved with several nonprofit boards and passionate about contributing to causes that align with his values. His personal motto, “Leading with Clarity, Growing with Purpose,” embodies his leadership philosophy—grounded, visionary, and purpose-driven.
Character:
Chris brings humility, purpose, and authenticity to every role he undertakes. He is driven by a passion for developing people and creating value beyond the bottom line.
Knowledge:
With over three decades in executive leadership, Chris is a subject-matter expert in healthcare IT, staffing, and strategic operations. His international exposure and M&A experience round out a well-versed, global executive profile.
Strategic:
Chris excels at transforming vision into reality through data-driven strategies, operational restructuring, and growth-focused initiatives. His leadership has directly translated into triple-digit revenue growth and successful acquisitions.
Communication:
A natural collaborator and speaker, Chris is adept at inspiring teams, aligning stakeholders, and simplifying complex ideas. His leadership style is marked by clarity, transparency, and an ability to connect across cultures and functions.
