Craig Radford

As a speaker, author, coach, chairman, presenter, and executive, Craig Radford has dedicated over twenty years to enhancing accessibility, effective communication, and job creation for the Deaf community. He spent the first twelve years of his career playing a key role in the dawn of Video Relay Services (VRS). His impact on the growth of VRS resulted in one of the largest private equity acquisitions in Utah history. After founding and selling two successful businesses, Radford helped launch Connect Direct, an organization that provides a revolutionary new approach to customer support for the Deaf. He has helped align Connect Direct with the American Red Cross, Comcast, and Google to provide direct customer support services in sign language, resulting in truly equitable communication access for Deaf customers and new job opportunities for the Deaf community. With Connect Direct now experiencing rapid growth, his role has expanded to Vice President of Emerging Markets with Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) and is focusing on a new Telehealth program called Health Signs Virtual Care, which will transform lives in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities by allowing access to health care virtually with ASL-fluent medical professionals. Radford was a member of the coaching staff for the USA Deaf Olympic basketball team, helping guide Team USA to gold and silver medals in 2014 and 2015, respectively. He is the author of two books, Why Other People Get Lucky: A Definitive Guide on How to Change Your Luck (360 Empowerment Press, 2012) and Does God Exist? (Christian Faith Publishing, 2019). He holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Business Information Systems from Utah State University and has begun an MBA in marketing at the University of Phoenix. He is Post-Crisis Leadership Certified and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certified by the University of South Florida and is also Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Utah Deaf Education and Literacy, Inc.