Emily Luhrs

Previous Title: Chief of Staff (January 2022-October 2025)

• Directed operations for a private arts education community, overseeing facilities, safety, compliance, HR administration, transportation, and event management.
• Streamlined organizational processes and cross-functional coordination to improve efficiency across academic, artistic, and administrative departments.
• Managed vendor partnerships, contract negotiations, procurement, and facilities projects while serving as primary liaison to building ownership.
• Ensured compliance with state safety and security requirements through comprehensive training, drills, inspections, and documentation.
• Led logistics for high-profile institutional events, performances, graduations, and fundraising initiatives serving students, families, and stakeholders.
• Oversaw employee lifecycle processes, benefits administration, policy development, and organizational communications to support faculty and staff success.

• Utilized both classical and contemporary plays as teaching tools to expose students to a wide variety of dramatic literature and styles.
• Assisted students in applying for college theatre programs or pursuing careers within the performing arts industry post graduation.
• Supervised students during rehearsals to provide direction to students during practice sessions.
• Managed after-school drama rehearsal activities, fostering a sense of community among participating students.
• Assessed student learning to evaluate student learning and progress through tests, performances and portfolios.
• Attended department meetings and collaborated with other fine arts teachers.
• Facilitated workshops on various theatre topics such as improvisation, stage presence, and character development, inspiring students'' passion for the arts.
• Created supportive and inclusive learning environments to foster positive classrooms that support student growth and learning.
• Created lessons and online testing materials to facilitate remote learning.
• Built relationships and communicated with parents to provide best learning environment for children.
• Co-creator: Academy Middle School Summer Theatre Program

• Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
• Analyzed customer feedback and implemented strategies to improve customer experience.
• Supervised and evaluated staff to help improve skills, achieve daily objectives, and attain advancement.
• Coached sales associates in product specifications, sales incentives, and selling techniques, significantly increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
• Verified inventory counts remained within monthly tolerance levels and compiled financial data in compliance with budget.
• Improved store operations by establishing clear communication channels between team members and implementing efficient scheduling practices.

• Engaged with customers to effectively build rapport and lasting relationships.
• Engaged in friendly conversation with customer to better uncover individual needs and give specialty, technical recommendations.
• Achieved monthly sales targets consistently by implementing effective sales strategies and maintaining a high level of product knowledge.
• Accurately processed POS transactions, returning coin, currency, payment cards, and receipts to customers.
• Answered customer questions about sizing, accessories, and merchandise care.
• Maintained calm demeanor and professionally managed issues in busy, high-stress situations.
• Provided exceptional services and pleasant shopping experiences creating lifelong customers.

*Selected Onstage Credits

• Mamma Mia!; Sunday in the Park With George; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; A Christmas Carol; Miracle on 34th Street; Legally Blonde; Hairspray; Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, CO
• Seussical the Musical, Cinderella After the Ball, Pinocchio, Marriott Theatre, IL
• A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Romeo and Juliet; Adventures of Pinocchio (workshop); Love Changes Everything (workshop); The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Weitzenhoffer Theatre, OK
• The Who's Tommy, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, OK
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Backstage Theatre of Breckenridge, CO
• Baby, the Musical, Cherry Creek Theatre, CO

• Directed the summer musicals Children of Eden; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and Les Miserables for ages 13-18.
• Wrote, directed and produced an original production for ages 7-12.

• Developed summer theatre programming for ages 5-18

• Delivered memorable experiences through the use of various props, costumes, and interactive games.
• Utilized improvisation techniques to engage small children.
• Increased client satisfaction by tailoring performances to suit specific event themes and age groups.
• Communicated with guests clearly and with good humor to encourage laughter and excitement.

• Enhanced brand recognition by executing promotional events and engaging customers with product demonstrations.
• Approached strangers and interacted in natural conversation with goal of developing brand loyalty.
• Set up and broke down promotional booths and tents and talked to potential customers for successful promotional events.