President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

Christopher Che

President and CEO, Hooven-Dayton Corporation

Christopher Che

Christopher Che is the president/CEO of the Che International Group, LLC (CIG), a multinational holding company that he founded in 2005 with the objective of creating subsidiary companies in diverse industries through strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Under his visionary leadership, in 2007 the Che International Group successfully acquired Hooven-Dayton Corporation (HDC) as its first wholly owned subsidiary, which he is also leading as President/CEO. Hooven-Dayton Corporation is a 75 year old provider of high quality prime product labels, flexible packaging, promotional coupons and specialty printing solutions and has two state-of-the art manufacturing facilities in Dayton, Ohio. Under his leadership, both CIG and HDC are experiencing exponential increase in revenues through acquisitions and organic growth. As President/CEO, his responsibilities include setting strategy and vision, building cohesive executive teams that will lead the company to the next level, creating a conducive culture of sustainable growth and properly allocating capital resources.

Christopher is an accountant by profession and a veteran Senior Financial Executive with over 20 years of vast and dynamic business experience during which he has held progressive Auditing, Corporate Controller and Chief Financial Officer positions with various progressive, high profile, privately held manufacturing, Service and Technology corporations. Prior to starting the Che International Group in 2005, Christopher held CFO positions for 17 years. Responsibilities included all Operations, Accounting, Finance & Administration; Human Resources, MIS and Treasury departments as well as Risk and Benefits Management in multi-state and multi-national environments. He has significant expertise in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, policy and procedure administration, and design and implementation of internal accounting controls.

Christopher is a proven expert in designing, sourcing and implementing technology (ERP systems) to optimize accuracy and efficiency of accounting operations. Backed by Big 8 Public Accounting Auditing experience, he has significant experience in restructuring financial and operating procedures to provide a solid foundation for exponential growth.

Christopher is an innovative executive who has deep entrepreneurial skills and strong ability to mentor staff, management and owners, creating a cohesive team to finding strategic solutions to business problems and opportunities for growth both internally and through acquisitions. He is a proven strategist who has led the growth of privately held firms from $2million to $75 million through multi-industry acquisitions and integration. Christopher has strong expertise in sourcing capital through building strong relationships with Commercial banks, Private Equity and Venture Capital firms.

Christopher’s specific manufacturing experiences include, concurrently, over 10 years in Flexographic Printing & Packaging; ten years in Corrugated Box packaging; Fifteen years in the Specialty chemical industry. He also spent approximately three years in the Technology and Service industries.

Christopher is a strong believer in giving back to the community through direct involvement. He currently serves as a board member of the Dayton Minority Economic Development Council, the Dayton Area Chamber of commerce, the Southern Advisory Council for the Printing Industries of America (PIA), the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland- Dayton Area Business Advisory Council, and the Small Business Advisory Council of the Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce. Christopher also serves in the membership committee of the Tag & Label Manufacturing Institute (TLMI); mentors minority and small business and is involved in other community outreach efforts in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. He was a long time president of the Tristate Cameroonian Association of Ohio, Indiana & Kentucky during which he pioneered the longest running life insurance program for Cameroonians in the U.S.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting with a minor in Computers from Wilmington College, Ohio in 1985. He proceeded immediately to obtain a Master’s of Accountancy degree From Miami University in Oxford Ohio in 1986.