In this article, Matteson Ellis discusses how Chief Compliance Officers (CCO) can make compliance one of their company's core functions through effective communication. According to Ellis, a modern CCO "must have extraordinary communications skills." CCOs must have the ability to connect with a diverse set of groups from front-line sales staff to the highest levels of executive leadership, all at the same time. "To succeed, a CCO needs access to and strong lines of communication with individuals and units throughout the company," he said. "It's the only way to gain the information necessary to prioritize risks and build the trust and rapport essential to implementing compliance strategies."