Kara Laricks Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Nationwide

Three Day Rule is a modern matchmaking company with experts dedicated to help singles take charge of their dating lives and eliminate swiping. We customize matches to fit our members' lifestyles, only introducing them to the best dates. Learn more about our services at: www.threedayrule.comAs Sr. Matchmaker and Dating Strategist, I am accountable for providing matchmaking services for clients of all ages, backgrounds, and identities – including sales, recruitment, coaching, and matching.I employ a partnership-based approach to understand client needs, provide value-added solutions and matchmaking packages, and recruit potential matches based on each client’s profile.Accomplishments include:➥ Leading the LGBTQIA+ Division to build a reputation as the go-to matchmaking service for the LGBTQIA+ community.➥ Advocating for and representing the company in the media (including written press and podcast appearances).➥ Coordinating compelling presentations, providing a call to action, and promoting TDR’s mission.➥ Meet with clients to connect them with best-fit matchmakers based on an in-depth assessment of their life story. Provide coaching and support in the areas of dating profile setup/optimization, understanding past patterns, and choosing a long-term partner.➥ Employ social media, LinkedIn, personal and professional network, and the TDR database to source high-potential matches.➥ Serve as D&I subject matter expert; ensure diversity best practices are effectively embedded in all aspects of organizational activities. Participate in podcasts and press opportunities to champion diversity goals and causes.➥ Cultivate productive, high-touch client relationships to provide a seamless customer experience.➥ Establish mentor-mentee relationships with other matchmakers; share lessons learned and success stories to inspire team members.➥ Recognized with 2 ‘Most Inspiring TDR Teammate Awards’ (Q3 2020 and Q3 2022) for providing inspirational leadership.

Greater New York City Area

As Senior Editor of Training and Development, I was tasked with leading a team of 10-15 editors and writers to manage all aspects of content creation encompassing a broad variety of subjects (from fashion to real estate).Some of my key contributions include:➥ Assigned projects, workloads, and clients for team members in a time-sensitive, deadline-driven environment.➥ Edited content for grammar and punctuation prior to publishing on social media channels.➥ Held team members accountable against key quality standards.➥ Upheld brand standards (tone, voice, values) in all creative content and social media posts.➥ Strategically positioned customers as authoritative thought leaders within their industries.➥ Established the Real Estate Division; recruited top-tier writers and accelerated content creation cadence to meet the needs of realtors and diversify revenue streams.➥ Fostered a culture of productivity, accountability, and collaboration to consistently meet deadlines and ensure quality deliverables.➥ Recognized and celebrated wins to boost team morale and inspire high performance.

Greater New York City Area

Between 2009 and 2015, I developed and successfully launched a fashion line in NYC. I led a team of FIT student interns to design a line of women’s wear – including conceptualization, mood boards, drawings, draping, sewing, and presentation at NY Fashion Week.Some of my key contributions include:➥ Designed collections for leading fashion brands including H&M, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue.➥ Established productive relationships with stylists, makeup artists, venue staff, PR personnel, pattern makers, sewers, publicists, and photographers to ensure a successful fashion line launch. ➥ Won first place in a reality fashion competition on NBC (Fashion Star).➥ Recognized as an emerging designer with high potential, resulting in design contracts with leading retailers valued at $6MM.➥ Promoted and displayed the personal line at NY Fashion Week.➥ Conducted speaking engagements across the country to tell the personal story and inspire others to be true to themselves. Empowered LGBTQIA+ audiences to embrace their personal identities and celebrate their uniqueness. ➥ Created a website (www.karalaricks.com) to provide motivational speaking services with a signature style and spark conversations around the power of revealing the authentic self. ➥ Employed project management best practices to efficiently and cost-effectively bring innovative concepts to fruition. ➥ Led the team to produce avant garde and androgenous designs that were very well received by mainstream retailers.➥ Fostered a collaborative, inclusive, nurturing, and supportive team culture.➥ Empowered staff to collectively overcome key business challenges despite limited resources.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

➥ Tailored presentations for various undergraduate classes in fashion design including "The Importance of Being ‘Media-genic’ as a Fashion Designer" at Kent State University New York City Campus and "Finding Alternative Ways to Produce as an Emerging Designer" presented to fashion design students at Rhode Island School of Design➥ Shared personal story as a closeted lesbian elementary school teacher turned ‘out’ fashion designer and NBC’s Fashion Star, inspiring others to follow passion and present an authentic self➥ Presented motivational keynote speech Common Threads to 800+ GLBTQ college students and allies at the 2014 Midwestern Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference➥ Served as keynote speaker at Cornell University, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Kansas and at the 2014 Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values West - Out and Greek annual conference

Greater Los Angeles Area

➥ Designed capsule collections for H&M, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue in signature masculine meets feminine aesthetic on competition show televised worldwide➥ Successfully led a team of pattern makers, production assistants and sample sewers to win competition➥ Gained worldwide social media following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram ➥ Made promotional appearances at Macy's events, including a co-sponsored event with Maybelline during NYFW and hosted fashion show for Macy's Fashion Incubator designers in Philadelphia➥ Designs worn by Joan Smalls, Coco Rocha, Natalie Morales and Christina Milian of NBC's The Voice ➥ Designs featured in Women's Wear Daily, The New York Times and Rolling Stone and on NBC's Today Show and HBO's True Blood

Master Of Arts (M.A.) - Fashion Design, Fashion/Apparel Design

• Earned Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Scholarship • Selected as one of nine MFA students to presen senior collection.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Curriculum And Instruction

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Elementary Education And Teaching