Chris Cumby grew up in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood in Toronto, Canada, but has become an important part of the Emerald Coast community over the last decade. Through inspirational leadership, coaching and networking in churches and Bible studies, Chris has developed a role here that he describes as a “super-connector of people”, culminating each year in a business conference called Level Up. This year’s Level Up Emerald Coast conference will break out at the Oceans Church in Destin from September 25-27 and host more than 400 entrepreneurs!
Before he came to this beautiful part of the world, Chris had two successful careers in different industries: soft drinks and energy. First, he learned the basics of corporate life with a variety of roles with Pepsi in Toronto. After seven years with Pepsi, Chris became a powerful force in the energy business.
In describing his role with a start-up company in the energy business, Chris describes an early surge: “We did twelve million in profit in the first 18 months!” By helping large consumers of energy, like hotel chains, manage their risk in consuming electricity, Chris’s company likewise became energized. This put him in an environment of abundance.
It also taught him important lessons about life and wealth. As he started to travel and experience more of the world, Chris says, “I’ve seen the richest, and I’ve seen the poor.” All that experience led him to Jesus, and he was born again through baptism last year on March 16!
Now, as a follower of Jesus, Chris has developed an incredible level of discipline. Early each day, he awakens to read the Bible, calls his father (his parents still live in Canada and have been married nearly sixty years), then heads to the gym for strenuous exercise. After all that morning preparation, he’s ready to be the super-connector! “And so every day I seek to walk with Jesus in my heart and look for opportunity from a perspective of helping people. I’ve just always been a helper, a servant.”
That devotion to servant leadership was the catalyst for the Level Up conference. “I truly believe you have to interact. You have to go, you have to have intention and be completely full of faith, because when you are, people, places, events, circumstances and things… I love that they show up.”
As Chris invites Emerald Coast business leaders to join this year’s conference, he exclaims: “Level Up Emerald Coast isn’t just an event – it’s a movement. It’s where faith meets action, leaders rise, and vision turns into reality. This is the room where breakthroughs are born!” You can register for the conference at https://levelupemeraldcoast.com/.
Chris recently appeared on the Christian Capitalist podcast Episode #21, and you can listen to the entire episode on SOWAL Life’s website! We are excited to share inspirational stories of hard work and generous giving to the poor and needy in the name of Jesus Christ, like Chris Cumby and the Level Up Conference!
