Christian Kanady

Michael ‘Christian’ Kanady (; born April 27, 1979) is an American multi-disciplinary Entrepreneurship and investor. In 2010, he founded Echo Investment Capital investment firm, as well as Echo Energy, an independent oil and gas subsidiary company of Echo Investment Capital with over $1 billion in managed assets. Kanady serves as the chief executive officer of Echo Investment Capital and Echo Energy, both headquartered in Oklahoma City.
== Early life and education ==
Kanady is a fourth-generation Oklahoman. He was born in Oklahoma City, one of three children of Michael B. Kanady and Randi Ann Kanady. Kanady’s mother worked as a healthcare administrator for an Otorhinolaryngology|otolaryngology practice in Oklahoma City. Kanady’s father served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. The Cold War-Vietnam GI Bill (Veterans Benefits Readjustment Act of 1966) allowed him to be the first in the family to both attend and graduate college. Kanady's father later became the business owner of Ridgecrest Pharmacy.
After attending the Casady School, a K-12 independent, college-preparatory school, Kanady was educated at the University of Oklahoma. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Energy management|Energy Management and Finance in 2005.
== Career ==
After college, Kanady began work at Chesapeake Energy|Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an American energy company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration.
Kanady left Chesapeake Energy in December of 2008 to begin his own entrepreneurial pursuit and investment initiatives.
In 2010, Kanady founded the Echo companies. Echo identifies as a multi-strategy investment firm spanning life sciences, media and entertainment, real estate, national security, and energy. The firm has deployed more than $1.2 billion in capital, which includes Kanady’s role as lead investor in major initiatives such as Echo Minerals, Prairie Surf Studios, Zeno Technologies, and Wheeler Bio.
Echo is one of the largest mineral rights owner in the state of Oklahoma, according to The Oklahoman. Kanady oversees more than $1 billion in assets under management. The company has acquired interest in over 6,500 unconventional and conventional wells across Oklahoma and Texas since its founding in 2010.
== Personal life ==
Kanady is the father of three children. On December 2, 2017, Kanady married Kate Richard, the chief executive of Warwick Investment Group. They both reside in Oklahoma City. 
=== Philanthropy & board affiliations ===
==== Oklahoma City Innovation District ====
Kanady is the sitting chairperson on the board of directors for the Oklahoma City Innovation District, a 501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3) non-profit organization spanning Oklahoma’s diverse sectors in healthcare, bioscience, aerospace, manufacturing, education, technology, and energy. 
==== Greater Oklahoma City Chamber ====
Kanady is active board member for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and is responsible for overseeing activities and initiatives regarding Oklahoma City's economic development, government relations, education and workforce development, and tourism. 
==== Riversport OKC ====
Kanady is on the board of directors for Riversport OKC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that focuses on outdoor activities, fitness, and living a healthy, active lifestyle. Riversport OKC's non-profit initiatives include monetary support for community youth and outreach programs and provide coaching, equipment, and athletic facilities for Olympic hopefuls training in OKC.
==== Oklahoma Contemporary ====
Kanady also sits on the board of trustees for Oklahoma Contemporary, a non-profit Contemporary art|Contemporary Art Museum located in downtown Oklahoma City.
Category:1979 births
Category:American businesspeople
Category:People from Oklahoma City