Chris originally came to Lawrence as an undergraduate at the University of Kansas. After graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor degree in Political Science, he moved back to Kansas City to attend law school at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). It did not take long for him to realize how much he missed the Lawrence, KS community. After graduating law school in 2006 and working in the Kansas City area for a couple of years, he moved back to Lawrence, KS in 2008 and began working at Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher, Chtd.  He has been there ever since. Chris brings with him over 16 years of legal experience and a background in classical music.  Chris began playing cello when he was in the 4th grade.  During high school, Chris was active in the Kansas City area youth symphonies, and then attended the University of Kansas on a music scholarship where he studied under Professor Ed Laut and performed with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra. Chris originally met Jesse Henkensiefken in high school at the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) All-State Orchestra. They reconnected again in the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra, and then again recently in discussing the mission of the Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance (MAPAA). Chris knows all too well the positive impact that music can have on the mind, body, relationships, and more. He has seen and experienced it first-hand.   

Chris is excited to join the MAPAA board of directors and to be a part of their mission to inspire youths and enrich the lives of others and the community through classical music. In addition to his love of classical music, and music in general, Chris is an avid Jayhawks fan...Rock Chalk! In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Christina, family and friends, and their English-Bullmastiff, Hosmer.