Amber "Bear" Kessler Freer Email & Phone Number

Support full-time staff with ICLS' J-1 Intern and Trainee exchange program by reviewing participant applications, program evaluations, and program support concerns.

United States

• Led teams of 8-10 employees with a coaching / mentorship approach, resulting in 4 internal promotions, 2 external promotions, and cross-functional leadership opportunities. Created peer leadership opportunities that included mentoring new hires, leading team refresher trainings, updating resources, and helping other teams.• Collaborated with colleagues after a major reorganization, streamlining processes, standards of work, employee handbook, and metric reporting tools across 8 regional teams by overhauling SharePoint resources, updating knowledge articles, and taking on scheduling tasks in workforce management.• Conducted interviews, hiring, and onboarding process for 17 new hires and 3 department transfers during a period of 300% record-breaking increase of call volume and enrollments. All while navigating disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and leading my team with compassion and flexibility.• Created a one-to-many training series with a task force of trans, non-binary, and ally colleagues,conducting transgender / non-binary inclusivity trainings across teams, equipping employees with tools to better serve enrolling gender diverse students.• Advocated and implemented creative performance solutions for neurodiverse employees, sharingmethods and results with leadership.• Analyzed data and reports, tracking program key performance indicators and insights, proposing solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy, and driving customer success/retention.

United States

• Provided consultative experience from early onboarding to retention management, sharing benefits of online school with thousands of families interested in remote education opportunities, meeting, or exceeding yearly school enrollment goals.• Translated technical concepts and enrollment procedures to fit different customer types and skill levels, ensuring success.• Student enrollment subject matter expert, assisting colleagues, mentoring new hires, and providing knowledgeable and empathetic service to enrolling families through clear and concise discussions, webinars, and written communication.• Contributed to special projects, including but not limited to, creating and maintaining Google site with resources and highlights for fully remote team, planning remote-based team activities, piloting new workflow and chat program within Salesforce, and contacting families with complex enrollment situations that needed careful attention to detail and expert knowledge of school enrollment processes.

Greater Chicago Area

-Assist with a variety of tasks for daily and event designs including: creating bouquet and arrangement designs, organizing route lists, handwriting notes for orders, and setting up at events.

Oak Park, Il

Sr. Account Services Coordinator (September 2016 - October 2017)Account Services Coordinator (September 2015 - August 2016)Account Services Assistant (September 2014 - August 2015)Program Assistant (December 2013 - August 2014)• Supported hundreds of international students participating in the J-1 Work and Travel cultural exchange program, acting as a liaison between participants, employers, housing providers, and Spirit.• Guided employers through the J-1 participant hiring process, checking in throughout the season and solving problems in a calm, diplomatic manner.• Developed leads and drove retention for participant housing by researching and cold-calling leads, networking through employers and previous housing providers, and checking in regularly with existing housing providers.• Created my role from the ground up and enhanced our team structure, updated our employee handbook, and improved our standards of work and processes in close collaboration with managers and C-Suite leadership.

Greater Chicago Area

I worked with a number of Chicago theatre companies since 2013.Credits Include:-New Millennium Theatre Company Costume Designer, Interim Marketing Director (2015), Company Member (2015-2017)*"The Princess Peach Conspiracy" *"The Big, The Trouble, and The Little China"*"Old Hobbits Die Hard"*"Kings and Thrones and Sh!t" in Stage 773's 2016 One Act Festival*"Sex a.k.a Wieners and Boobs"- Red Theater Chicago Costume Designer and Artistic Associate (2016-2017)* Anton Chekhov's "The Wedding"*"R + J: The Vineyard" an ASL adaption of Romeo and Juliet featuring Deaf and hard of hearing actors*"Beowulf"-Gorilla Tango BurlesqueCostume Intern (2013-2014), Costume Designer*"Because I Love You"-Compass Creative Dramatics. Stitcher (2013-2016) * Sewed costumes for the summer youth camps-American Demigods* "A Very Orwellian Christmas"

Greater Chicago Area

- Provided excellent customer service to customers who needed passports and visas for international travel, often meeting tight deadlines- Acted as a resource for specialized knowledge of visa regulations and requirements for several countries- Encouraged repeat business and referrals by maintaining a high-quality, personal approach

Fort Wayne, Indiana Area

-Sewed Vera Bradley purses and bags using industrial machines-Maintained Vera Bradley quality standards in every detail of bag construction-Worked as part of a team to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Huntington, Indiana

worked at Huntington University Theatre Company costume shop in Huntington, IN in the following roles:Costume Construction and Alterations -stitcher/serger (all productions)-first hand ("Music Man" 2008, "Scapin" 2009, "Proof" 2009, "Beauty and the Beast" 2009)Accessories and Costume Properties-craftsperson ("A Midsummer Night's Dream" 2008, "Harvey" 2009, "The Mikado" 2010)-wig design/stylist (certificate of merit from KCACTF 2011 for "The Mikado" 2010)Costume Design-assistant costume designer ("The Mikado" 2010)-costume designer ("Harvey" 2009)Management and Crew-assistant shop manager/shop foreman (season 2009-2010)-wardrobe crew/dresser ("Little Women: the Musical" 2007, "Beauty and the Beast" 2009 [Beast's Transformation])-assistant stage manager 2 ("A Midsummer Night's Dream" 2008)

Master Of Arts - Ma, Art Therapy/Therapist

Certificate, Data Analytics

24-week project-based coding bootcamp focused on tools and skills used in data analytics and visualization. Technical Skills: Python, SQL.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English Language And Literature, General, Cum Laude