Christopher Ferrari, 32
Principal, CSRS Inc.
Christopher Ferrari doesn’t like taking on a lot of clients. It has nothing to do with minimizing his work load—it’s all about maximizing his effort. “My clients are few for a reason. I dedicate a tremendous amount of time on and off the clock working for them,” says Ferrari. That level of focus had led Ferrari to become a partner at CSRS Inc., a Baton Rouge firm offering program management, architecture, engineering and planning services. Ferrari is leading the charge in the company’s partnership with national firm Brailsford & Dunlavey and the LSU Property Foundation to develop a plan for the Nicholson Gateway. He’s also on the board at The Walls Project, was the 2016 Baton Rouge City Champion for Lemonade Day and was a contestant in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2016 Capital City’s Finest event.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- I received two prestigious design awards while I was working in NYC.
- Becoming partner in a great firm.
- Making a lasting impression on my alma mater, LSU, with the Nicholson Gateway project.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
- The Walls Project—I am a board member.
- Cystic Fibrosis—Selected as one of the 2016 Capital City’s Finest.
- Lemonade Day—I was the 2016 City Champion.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Garbage man. I liked the idea of riding on the back of a truck.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
First real job was at Office Furniture World. I learned that hard work is rewarded and appreciated by your employer.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I worked as a general laborer helping antique roadshow people unload and unload furniture in and out of trucks. Fortunately, it was only a couple of weeks.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Phil’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Favorite dish is the diablo chargrilled oysters.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Twelve years of a successful marriage.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
Find a really great cup of coffee.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Becoming a partner at CSRS Inc.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
Finding clients in places I like to visit. Gives me the opportunity to blend my travel with work.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Efficiency. The busier I am, the more productive I become.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Be ready to execute on work that has been delegated to others. Always be able to self-perform.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
I am extremely selective on who I do business with. My clients are few for a reason. I dedicate a tremendous amount of time on and off the clock working for them.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Usually business casual. Sometimes I will wear a suit when the situation calls for it. I mostly dress to match my clients’ attire.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
I love traveling, building a team, and innovating how and what we do. Strangely, I hate asking for money. I do love what I do, and it always feels weird to ask for money for it.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
Being asked to become a partner with them.
MAC OR PC?
I have and use both equally. However, if I had to choose one it would be a Mac.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I have a Facebook and LinkedIn account that I hardly use for personal purposes. I will, however, be using Facebook and other social media platforms for business purposes in the near future.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
I probably surpass 100 every day for each.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
It can die. I don’t get anxious.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
In my work email there are 109, but they are the unimportant ones. Personal email, there’s a ton. About 45,000. So if you want to get my attention it better be work related.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Footprint. It allows me to track all the places I travel to.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Artificial intelligence. Humans better step up their game.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Whatever technology created fake cheese, it’s just ridiculous. Who eats that stuff?
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
Between 6:30 to 7 a.m. I’m trying to get up earlier, but it’s hard.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
I usually choose sleep over breakfast, but when I do eat breakfast it is at home.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I do my best to get involved in organizations that can help me engage with our city’s youth and become a role model.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When I had to pay rent for the first time, with my own money. It was in NYC, so that hurt.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Santorini, Greece. I had high expectations, and it surpassed all of them. Also, my wife and I did an all-nighter in Paris on the way home and that was a pretty unique experience.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Indian headdress. Apparently I have always wanted to be the chief.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Teleportation. I travel a ton, so teleporting would be fun and useful.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Psycho.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I’m not superstitious.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Elon Musk. One of the most innovative minds of our time.
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Superman. I hate green rocks, too.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Perfect Rye Manhattan, straight up with a twist.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
I enjoy all music. Too hard to pick just one band or song.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
I don’t have a single favorite, but I do like all the Bond films.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Ivan Sergei.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Then, spiders. Now, becoming injured to the point where I can’t do anything.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
After giving myself the winning lottery ticket numbers, I would say be more selfish.
PETS?
Yes, two Dobermans. Best dogs ever.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
I met Heidi Klum in a unisex restroom at one of her crazy Halloween parties while living in NYC.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
When I was 16 I was in a near fatal accident. I’ll live with some of the consequences of my injuries for the rest of my life. It forced me to grow up quickly and learn to prioritize what is really important. It made me more decisive. I learned that you really never know how much time you have.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
I really would like to continue expanding our services nationally, and I would really like to work on an international deal.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
There will be fewer jobs for people. AI and automation will consume many jobs available today. A larger percentage of our population will be jobless. When people don’t have something to work on, they usually get mischievous.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Innovation will present new ideas and opportunities.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Truly care about what you do. Don’t waste time because we only have a finite amount of it.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Probably so. Being an owner of a Baton Rouge based company will likely hold me here.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
That we develop an adult culture. By living in other cities and traveling all over, we are missing a good adult culture. Without it, we won’t be able to attract and keep good talent.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Visit every continent, except Antarctica—I can miss that one.
- Drive a car over 200 mph.
- Go to the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
