Christopher “Chris” Cureton: Creator of The United State of Brand Design™ Framework & Strategic Alignment Advisor

    • Full Name: Christopher Cureton

    • Birthdate: April 8, 1987

    • Birthplace: Monroe, North Carolina

    • Current Residence: Charlotte Metro Area, North Carolina

    • Spouse: Amy Cureton (married 2019)

    • Children: Liam Cureton, Grayson Cureton

    • Parents: Frances Cureton, Barry Cureton

  • Chris Cureton is a recognized expert in strategic alignment, brand design, and executive-level marketing, advising growth-stage companies on how to align product, marketing, and sales for transformational growth. His proprietary ideas and frameworks—including the USBD Framework and Strategic Alignment Model™, the Misalignment Tax™, the StrategicOS™, and Almost Aligned™—have helped executive leadership teams unlock clarity, consistency, and commercial success.Item description

  • Christopher Cureton was born in Monroe, North Carolina, and raised primarily in the neighboring rural town of Waxhaw during the 1990s. He attended Western Union Elementary—originally founded as the first high school for Black students in Union County—then Parkwood Middle School, and later Parkwood High School, a place marked by both controversy and legacy. While the school’s Confederate soldier mascot symbolized a divisive past, Monroe was also the hometown of civil rights leader Robert F. Williams and NASA’s Christine Darden—figures whose legacies quietly shaped the cultural duality of his upbringing.

    Chris was raised by his mother, a well-respected early childhood educator, in a single-parent household. His father, a Navy veteran with a natural knack for the arts, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and remained a distant yet caring presence until his death in 2022. Navigating a Black Southern experience in a small-town setting gave Chris both grit and grace. He balanced football and track with art club and music, embodying the duality of discipline and creativity that would define his future work.

    It was a high school teacher who first named what she saw in him—a “Renaissance Man”—and encouraged him to pursue a career in design, where his natural curiosity, work ethic, and emotional intelligence could converge. That early mentorship became a turning point, eventually leading Chris to Alfred University in upstate New York, where he began his formal studies in fine arts and design.

    The belief that anchors his life and leadership today is rooted in faith and action: “Faith without works is dead.” For Chris, vision only becomes reality when backed by deep, consistent effort—a principle that continues to guide how he shows up for the work, his clients, and the mission of alignment.

  • Education:

    • Associate Degree, Graphic Design, The Art Institute of Charlotte

    • Studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design at Alfred University and The Art Institute of Tampa

    Professional Development Certifications (2025):

    • AI for Organizational Leaders – Microsoft & LinkedIn

    • Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy – LinkedIn

    • Generative AI for Business Leaders – LinkedIn

    • Product-Led Generative AI Innovation for SaaS Companies – LinkedIn

    • Change Management Professional Certificate – LinkedIn

    • Managing a Cross-Functional Team – LinkedIn

    • Strategic Partnerships – LinkedIn

    • Email Marketing: Strategy and Optimization – LinkedIn

    • Using AI as Your SEO Assistant – LinkedIn

    • SEO Professional Certificate – Moz

  • BOLTGROUP

    • Principal & VP Brand Design (Jan 2024 – Present)

    • VP Brand Design (Apr 2022 – Jan 2024)

    • Creative Director (Apr 2020 – Apr 2022)

    Chris Cureton, Strategic Alignment & Brand Design Consultant

    • Independent practice advising executives on alignment, brand, and go-to-market strategy (2007 – Present)

    Previous Roles

    • Art Director, birdsong gregory (2017–2020)

    • Senior Art Director, Concentric (2016–2017)

    • Visual Branding Manager, Addison Whitney (2016)

    • Senior Graphic Designer & Graphic Designer, Addison Whitney (2013–2016)

    • Designer, Mood Media & BOLTGROUP (2010–2012)

    • Image Editor, Charlotte ViewPoint (2011–2014)

    • Upcoming Book: The Five Laws of Brand Design: Achieve Strategic Alignment Across Product, Marketing, and Sales

    • Charlotte Ideas Festival (2024): Panelist, "Humanities + DESIGN"

    • Appalachian State University (2023): Guest speaker on brand-led business scaling

    • Charlotte Podcast Festival (2020): Panelist on podcast branding and SEO

    • AutoCare Association (2025): Best 360 Degree B2B Campaign – CRC & BOLTGROUP

    • Transform North America Awards:

      • 2025: Best Creative Strategy (Plano, Ugly Stik), Best Visual Identity (Shakespeare)

      • 2023: Bronze – NSI Industries

    • GDUSA Awards (2021–2025): Recognized for branding, packaging, advertising, and digital design across clients including Oransi, CRC, Metabo HPT, and Elements Brands

    • AAF AAAwards Charlotte (2018): Silver ADDY – Integrated Brand Identity Campaign (AGDATA)

  • “I've had the pleasure of working with Chris Cureton for the past three years on a variety of large-scale projects...His leadership, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to excellence make him an invaluable partner.”
    – Julie Williams, AVP Marketing, CRC Industries

    “Chris is a great collaborator and creative thinker who understands the ins and outs of successful brand development...”
    – Hillary Cirillo, Global Brand Strategy Manager, Sealed Air

    “Christopher consistently demonstrated a wonderful ability to adapt while driving an elevated approach...”
    – Audrey Rodriguez, Head of Global Brand Marketing, Golf Pride

    “His design leadership helped our business to truly understand the Customer Experience...”
    – Shane Hill, Director, Supply Chain Transformation, Chick-fil-A

    “Chris...helped us both internally to unite our teams and commercially present a cohesive story...”
    – Jim Piazza Jr., CMO, NSI Industries

    “Chris's thoughtful approach resulted in design work that has stood the test of time...”
    – Evin Ellis, Director of Marketing, AGDATA