Dave Chalk (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
David Ian "Dave" Chalk (born September 9, 1958) is a Canadian technology entrepreneur and media personality best known as the host of the syndicated Dave Chalk's Computer Show. Chalk first entered the technology business by launching his own computer store, Doppler Computer Superstores. He subsequently launched a technology consulting firm, Chalk Media,. Chalk subsequently hosted programming on computers and technology for radio, television and in-flight broadcasting systems on Air Canada http://www.aircanada.com/en/home.html, as well as contributing to The Globe and Mail
, which made it difficult to learn in the traditional academic setting. Chalk thinks in pictures rather than words, and reading and remembering are major challenges for him.
Despite a challenging childhood and adolescence with the public school system, Chalk was rewarded many years later with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology for his years of accomplishments in the tech field. The University of Fraser Valley’s Alumni Association board nominated Chalk for the honorary doctorate and noted in its nomination document that, “David’s perseverance and determination to excel and achieve success, regardless of adversity, is an inspiration and motivation to all..."
in 1999, raising $60 million in capital. In 1983, Chalk created the first Canadian Technology Magazine, Computer Buyer Magazine. In 1984, Chalk created what would become the chain of Computer Superstores, Doppler. Chalk designed and developed a retail sales management system, built in house, to facilitate Doppler's operations by barcode and multi-location communications. Ernst & Young certified its functionality and assisted in selling it to other industries. By the mid-90s, Chalk turned around a $150 million US Retailer (Ballard Computer) from Chapter 11. Chalk acquired Ballard from Fred Paulsell, the original venture capitalist who founded Costco
. Chalk has also appeared on speaking tours for Microsoft
on behalf of Bill Gates
.
Chalk established the longest-running technology show in Canada ("Dave Chalk's Computer Show"), created the first open-line national radio show on the Corus Radio Network for computer education, and created a training software company, Chalk Media, which he later sold to RIM (Research in Motion
).
on retail store design for Microsoft
, Martha Stewart
on technology implementation for Omnimedia, Charles Lippincott (franchiser of Star Wars & Industrial Light & Magic), and Charles Wang
on retail product positioning for Computer Associates.
, Best Buy
, Bekins Transport, Canada Post, China Government Department of Planning, J.D. Edwards
, Ford, Princess Cruises
, RBC Financial Group, Sunlife and Xerox
.
, Sony
, Samsung
, HSBC Bank
, Research in Motion
- BlackBerry, FutureShop, SaskTel
, Microsoft
, TELUS
, UnderArmour, Business Objects, and Air Canada
.
Chalk has been recognized by his peers for his work including the Retail Council of Canada: Most Outstanding Marketer;, YEO: Entrepreneur of the Year;, 3 Telly awards for TV programming; and a Freddie Award for Best International Educational Documentary: “An insight into life with Dyslexia & learning disabilities.” In addition, Chalk’s media production company that produced his technology show, Connected Life, won numerous awards over a 12-year period, aired in 9 countries (including in-flight on Air Canada) and was rated by TV Guide as 'One of the 50 Best Shows on TV'.
. Moritz also green-lighted Chalk’s web company to raise $480 million for online video content pre-YouTube.
Early life
Chalk was born in London, England, and relocated with his family to British Columbia, Canada as a youth. Chalk has said that it was very difficult to grow up in South Burnaby, BC in the 1960s and recalls that having severe dyslexia and other afflictions he acquired from brain damage at birth meant being dealt with like a pariah.Education
Chalk never finished his university degree and barely graduated from high school. Chalk was born with an undiagnosed learning disability, a severe form of dyslexiaDyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
, which made it difficult to learn in the traditional academic setting. Chalk thinks in pictures rather than words, and reading and remembering are major challenges for him.
Despite a challenging childhood and adolescence with the public school system, Chalk was rewarded many years later with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology for his years of accomplishments in the tech field. The University of Fraser Valley’s Alumni Association board nominated Chalk for the honorary doctorate and noted in its nomination document that, “David’s perseverance and determination to excel and achieve success, regardless of adversity, is an inspiration and motivation to all..."
Career highlights
Chalk started video streaming on the early days of the Internet and developed the first video engine for Yahoo!Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
in 1999, raising $60 million in capital. In 1983, Chalk created the first Canadian Technology Magazine, Computer Buyer Magazine. In 1984, Chalk created what would become the chain of Computer Superstores, Doppler. Chalk designed and developed a retail sales management system, built in house, to facilitate Doppler's operations by barcode and multi-location communications. Ernst & Young certified its functionality and assisted in selling it to other industries. By the mid-90s, Chalk turned around a $150 million US Retailer (Ballard Computer) from Chapter 11. Chalk acquired Ballard from Fred Paulsell, the original venture capitalist who founded Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
. Chalk has also appeared on speaking tours for Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
on behalf of Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
.
Chalk established the longest-running technology show in Canada ("Dave Chalk's Computer Show"), created the first open-line national radio show on the Corus Radio Network for computer education, and created a training software company, Chalk Media, which he later sold to RIM (Research in Motion
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
).
Consultant
Chalk has been asked to consult with industry leaders such as Bill GatesBill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
on retail store design for Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
on technology implementation for Omnimedia, Charles Lippincott (franchiser of Star Wars & Industrial Light & Magic), and Charles Wang
Charles Wang
Charles B. Wang is the co-founder of Computer Associates International, Inc. and owner of the New York Islanders ice hockey team and their AHL affiliates, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers....
on retail product positioning for Computer Associates.
Keynote speaking
Chalk has spent 20 years educating and sharing his lessons through keynote speaking engagements and has given in excess of 300 talks over the years including Stanford Aerospace, MIT on Corporate Culture, the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta, Educational Computing Network of Ontario, the Saskatchewan Institute of Technology and Applied Science. Chalk has spoken to Fortune 1000 companies and Government organizations including 3M3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
, Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Bekins Transport, Canada Post, China Government Department of Planning, J.D. Edwards
J.D. Edwards
J.D. Edwards World Solution Company or JD Edwards, abbreviated JDE, was an Enterprise Resource Planning software company. Products included World for IBM AS/400 minicomputers , OneWorld for CNC architecture , and JD Edwards EnterpriseOne...
, Ford, Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
, RBC Financial Group, Sunlife and Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
.
Awards
Chalk has created many award winning marketing campaigns including: Verizon, Royal BankRoyal Bank
The terms Royal Bank, Banque Royale, Banco Real can connote several different things,* Royal Bank * Royal Bank of Canada** Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, a subsidiary of RBC* Royal Bank of Scotland...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, HSBC Bank
HSBC Bank
HSBC Bank may refer to any one of the following principal local banks for HSBC Group:- Americas :* HSBC Bank Argentina* HSBC Bank Brazil* HSBC Bank Canada* HSBC Bank Chile* HSBC Bank Costa Rica* HSBC Bank El Salvador* HSBC Bank Honduras...
, Research in Motion
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
- BlackBerry, FutureShop, SaskTel
SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications is a provincial Crown Corporation operating under the authority of the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Act. It is the only remaining Crown Corporation in the Canadian telecommunications industry....
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, TELUS
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
, UnderArmour, Business Objects, and Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
.
Chalk has been recognized by his peers for his work including the Retail Council of Canada: Most Outstanding Marketer;, YEO: Entrepreneur of the Year;, 3 Telly awards for TV programming; and a Freddie Award for Best International Educational Documentary: “An insight into life with Dyslexia & learning disabilities.” In addition, Chalk’s media production company that produced his technology show, Connected Life, won numerous awards over a 12-year period, aired in 9 countries (including in-flight on Air Canada) and was rated by TV Guide as 'One of the 50 Best Shows on TV'.
Venture capitalist
Chalk’s most significant fund raising success came during the dot-com era in 1999 when he negotiated with Silicon Valley’s Michael Moritz of Sequoia CapitalSequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a Californian venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Wall Street Journal has called Sequoia Capital "one of the highest-caliber venture firms", and noted that it is "one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms"...
. Moritz also green-lighted Chalk’s web company to raise $480 million for online video content pre-YouTube.