Chris Richling is co-owner and operator, along with his wife, Juli, of British Swim School – Seattle, where they manage four territories focused on water safety and youth development. Before acquiring their business through a self-funded search, Richling spent more than a decade in leadership, engineering, and corporate strategy. He served as a U.S. Navy officer, a product manager at Tektronix, and a strategic business development manager at Fortive.

He holds a BS in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from Chicago Booth. Drawing on his background in strategic M&A, business development, and operations, Richling brings a unique perspective on the intersection of disciplined execution, personal resilience, and entrepreneurial adaptability.

At the ETA Conference, he shares lessons from his transition from corporate leadership to franchise ownership, emphasizing how relationship-building and strategic flexibility drive success in small business acquisition and management.