Using my story and life experiences to help others grow their grit. Motivational speaking for schools, small businesses, large corporations and corporate events. Founder and writer for a weekly newsletter called "Growing Grit".

Motivational Speaker & Writer

Ramsey Solutions

• Led platform strategy for Ramsey Trusted consumer verticals, optimizing lead scoring for high-performing provider matches.
• Collaborated with senior tech leaders to modernize platform architecture, enhancing efficiency and scalability.
• Spearheaded migration from microservices to a domain-driven architecture, improving overall engineer experience.

Platform Product Manager

• Developed customer journeys connecting Dave Ramsey's content with service providers, scaling Ramsey Trusted to largest business unit.
• Led product discovery and iterative experimentation, achieving first $1M revenue month and 8-figure annual revenue.
• Doubled active business verticals by launching new matchmaking solutions based on high-value consumer needs.

Product Manager

• Shaped UX for core consumer products like Financial Peace University Online and Financial Coach Master Training.
• Transitioned into product leadership, owning cross-functional delivery of online learning and coaching tools.
• Co-led creation of Ramsey’s early design systems, improving developer efficiency by 30% and foundational work towards standardizing UX across flagship experiences.

Frontend Developer

Savi Technology

Brought on in a contract role to assist in releasing an entirely new version of their Savi Tracking web-based application. Collaborated with product owners and the development team in an Agile environment. Converted Flash-based user interface screens to modern front-end technologies, using Java, Spring MVC, JPA, HTML5, CSS and AngularJS.

Web Developer

Tempur Sealy International

Managed day-to-day front-end web development needs for Tempur-Pedic’s online presence, tempurpedic.com. Worked with copywriters and designers to implement online content for interactive product landing pages, ongoing and seasonal promotions, and online web forms. Collaborated with a large and diverse team to  design, develop and release an all new and innovated web presence in November 2013.

Web Development Consultant

Helping dads 10x their grit so they can grow it in their kids | Dad of 4 with dwarfism | Motivational Speaker | Software Engineer Turned Product Manager | Overcoming odds | Inspiring the world.

👋 Hi, my name is Kris. 

I am 4’5’’ tall, and was born with dwarfism.

Doctors told my parents I would never make it.

After I survived, doctors then told my mom to place me into an institution because I’d never walk, talk, or live a “normal” life.

As you are figuring out, it didn’t turn out that way.

“Challenge accepted” has been my mantra.

So has a faith in God and His ability to help me through anything.

That has led me to …

→ Recovering from 20+ surgeries all under the age of 20
→ Graduating high school in 2001
→ Going to college
→ Teaching myself how to design, code and media production
→ Starting multiple small businesses
→ Building a career in tech as a developer and now a product manager
→ Getting married
→ Having 4 kids, 2 with dwarfism

Maybe the doctors were right about one thing, after all.

My life is far from “normal”.

And I am 💯 percent here for it.

You might say I have quite the story.

So do you.

That’s why earlier this year I decided to start sharing my story via #linkedin, one-on-one conversations, and public speaking.

Not for my own gain, but to inspire you to face and share your own stories.

Because that’s the first step to building self-confidence and the life you want.

If you like what you’re reading, be sure to follow and even drop me a DM.

Hope this encourages you to push through whatever you are facing right now.

Kris Hammons

Stonebridge Partners HR

Stonebridge Partners is a small business built to serve small businesses. Our focus is simple — provide smarter, fairer solutions for benefits, staffing, and payroll, while keeping people and relationships at the center of everything we do. We understand the challenges owners face because we face them too — and that’s exactly why we care a little more, respond a little faster, and always put integrity before profit.

Co-Founder

Audience & Income

Member

Elite PEO LLC

Directed Elite PEO to 3 consecutive years of over $50M ARR, with yearly increases of 12%+.

Planned, directed and oversaw Elite PEO's operational policies, rules, initiatives, and goals. I helped the organization execute long-term and short-term plans and directives by implementing judgement, vision, management, and leadership.

I helped the company executives to manage all clients in New School ways utilizing a work ethic infused by Old School principles.

Chief Operating Officer

1P410 Sports Ventures, LLC

1P410 Sports was a fully integrated sports services company committed to structuring a balanced athletic plan for all. Within the 5500 square foot training facility, we provided personal and group fitness training, sports psychology, sports therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and a golf performance center. We utilized technology to help all members attain their goals.

Investor/Board Member

Invesco US

Managed over $80B (topping at $100B) in assets across multiple short-term fixed income sectors and currencies including Prime funds (US Dollar), Canadian, Tax-Exempt, US Dollar Offshore, US Gov't & US Treasury funds. Assets Under Management across Invesco topped $700B.
Authored weekly economic commentaries, presented data analysis on various market segments and provided strategic plan for ongoing portfolio management implementation.
Developed strong rapport with broker/dealer community and maintained attuned ear to market news and movement.
Interacted and collaborated with many internal departments to effectively manage, negotiate and excel through extreme periods of market volatility.

2002-2005 Invesco Fixed Income Internal Wholesaler

1999-2001 Senior Portfolio Assistant

Portfolio Manager

The Briarwood School

Taught Economics, World History, and World Geography to a dynamic group of high school students.  Briarwood is a unique environment with kids who need a more focused and targeted setting in which to learn and thrive.

Teacher

CEO Stonebridge Partners. Simple guidance for complex humans.

After two decades in big and small business — managing billions, scaling startups, and chasing someone else’s definition of success — I realized what was missing: purpose.

In 2019, I co-founded Stonebridge Partners to do things differently. We help small businesses cut through the noise of overpriced benefits, complex payroll systems, and the staffing chaos that never seems to end.

Our mission is simple:
Build real partnerships. Craft smarter solutions. Keep business human.

Because at Stonebridge, we believe small businesses deserve big-league support — without the big-business nonsense.

I share what we’re learning (and unlearning) here on LinkedIn — join me, and let’s build something better together.

I am only a DM away. And you are inching closer to better services from someone who knows and understands the challenges of small business.

taplio

The Battle

Kris Hammons

Tom Gerhardt

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