Chris Allison

For 16 years, Chris Allison led Tollgrade Communications, Inc. from a start-up funded with $ 6 million in private equity investment to a publicly-traded company with sales that reached $ 114 million and a market capitalization of almost $2 billion in 2000. During his 9-year tenure as chairman and chief executive officer, the company was recognized on multiple occasions as one of the Best Small Companies in America by Forbes, as well as Fortune, Industry Week, Business 2.0, Electronic Business and Bloomberg Personal Finance. In addition, while at Tollgrade, he orchestrated two successful acquisitions for the company that immediately added to its earnings. Chris also navigated Tollgrade through the post-9/11 telecom downturn by maintaining profitability immediately following the "bubble burst."

In 2005, Chris was named Ernst and Young's 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Networking and Communications category for the Upstate New York, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia region. In November, Chris will compete for Ernst and Young's National Award Competition in Palm Springs, California.

In addition to his activities with Upsight, Chris is Adjunct Professor of Economics at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Timesys Corporation, as well as the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.