Born in Washington, D.C., USA. Raised in Kyoto, Japan from age 13. Father retired a Captain in the U.S. Navy after 30 years of service in naval intelligence. Mother was a homemaker who witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Graduated from Tenri University near Nara, Japan in 1981 with a Diploma in Japanese Language. Other education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from the University of the State of New York, and an MBA Degree in General Business at Capella University. Currently pursuing a PhD Degree in Business Administration at Touro University International.
President of The Christiansen Corporation, a Georgia corporation involved in new business development and real estate investing throughout Canada, Europe, and the USA.
Was a Sales Representative at the IBM Corporation in Michigan and Texas, USA prior to starting own company. At IBM, sold and supported AS/400 and UNIX systems, maintenance contracts, ERP software systems, and management consulting services to middle-sized manufacturing companies in the USA.
Professional experience prior to IBM includes marketing management positions in American, British, Swedish, and Taiwanese technology companies.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. Significant exposure to Russian and Spanish. Major interests include boating, cross-cultural communication and management, golfing, information systems, interpretation & translation, writing, and swimming.
Listed in "Who's Who Worldwide" in 1994, and "International Who's Who of Professionals" in 2001.
Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) by the American Marketing Association (2001).
Formerly the Treasurer and Vice President of Marketing for the Board of Directors of a New York APICS Chapter (1999).
Noteworthy personalities met include the late Princess Diane in Seoul, the Queen of Denmark in Copenhagen, US President Gerald Ford and Dr. Henry Kissinger in Kyoto, Caspar Weinberger and Michael Dell in Taipei, Sylvester Stallone in Toronto, and Bill Gates in San Francisco.
Business travel to 30 countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. Long-term residence in Japan, Russia, Taiwan, USA.
Black Belt in Shorinji Kenpo, 1976.
Future plans include learning gourmet cooking, writing a book on how national culture affects business performance, and taking a cruise around the world to include a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia, Mongolia, and China.
Contact:
The Christiansen Corporation, 320 Marsh Trail Circle, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 USA
Email: bchristiansen@diplomats.com
