Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Core Expertise
Interests
Work Availability
Software
Work Preference
Timeline
Generic
Jamee Thrush

Jamee Thrush

Vancouver,Washington

Summary

Pragmatic professional with solid experience in leadership roles. Adept at developing and implementing strategic business plans, driving growth, and improving operations. Skilled in financial management and stakeholder relations. Collaborative and dedicated to building and leading talented and motivated teams. Passionate outcome-focused leader who values the art and science of strategic hands-on leadership.

Work History

Chief Operations Officer

GEMS World Academy
Chicago, IL
01.2022 - Current
  • Led the US team through an $80M debt restructuring, stabilizing financials, and developed an exit strategy for the Varkey family while enhancing academic rigor and community engagement..
  • Retained teacher talent and rebuilt community trust with transparent communication, program development, and stabilized the financial crisis.
  • Reduced 9M in operating cost and developed a tuition rate strategy that reduced discounts by 50% and improved the net average rate by 30%,
  • Increased student NWEA scores across Math, Reading, and Science, improving academic outcomes.
  • Led various projects for the Varkey family concerning business development, ECE in the Middle East, and talent acquisition of American Superintendents and principals.

Founder & CEO Business Advisory and Consultant

Thrush Humanity & Co.
Vancouver, WA
01.2019 - Current
  • Offer strategic advisory services to education-focused businesses, investors, and private equity.
  • Utilize expertise gained from leading the largest early childhood education (ECE) provider in the U.S. (1,350 locations, 130,000 students, 2700 employees). One of a few people in the country to lead childcare in almost every state with a deep understanding of regulatory, grants, and education requirements, and the only brand with 97% of preschools NAEYC-accredited. Assist clients with multi-site expansion, acquisitions, and regulatory and operational efficiencies.
  • Create scalable business models for entering new markets while ensuring profitability.

Senior Vice President/ MVP/ RVP- Field Operations

KinderCare Education
Portland, OR
11.2011 - 12.2018
  • Led the field organization with 1,350 centers, 27K employees, 150K students,9 Regional Vice Presidents, Food, Subsidy, and Led the field organization comprising 1,350 centers, 27,000 employees, 150,000 students, 9 Regional Vice Presidents, and teams for Food, Subsidy, and Federal grants, Quality and Accreditation, Operations and Communications, and New Center and Acquisition.Federal grants team, Quality and Accreditation team, Operations and Communications team, and New Center Openings and Acquisition team.
  • Improved occupancy from 47% to 78% in the Southeast region and in the organization, company revenue from $750K to $1.5 billion.
  • Developed a discipline approach to developing state and regional playbooks to improve leadership teams' impact in market visits to improve financial performance, quality standards, and employee and family engagement.
  • Led Bootcamps conferences to develop multi-unit leaders to build skills in developing high-performing teams, resulting in the first time in company history, all markets in all quality metrics.
  • Led transformational culture change, engaging families and
  • Developed a 5-year growth plan for Greenfield, acquisitions, and created an acquisition team and strategy.
  • Standardized operational models achieved 98% NAEYC accreditation, the most accredited centers in childcare in the U.S.
  • Launched a Customer Management System and Labor Scheduling Tool, streamlining operations.

Regional Director / District Manager

Gap Inc.
U.S. Southeast
07.1997 - 09.2011
  • Managed $250M in annual sales across 75-100 store locations.
  • Recognized for excellence in community engagement by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
  • Launched the 'Hot Store Strategy', driving revenue growth in warm climate markets. Received the national Exceed award for the success of Hot Store.
  • Led company-wide training & onboarding programs, improving retention and leadership development.
  • Received national award for improving business acumen at all levels at Gap Brand. Developed and influenced change in Gap Brand by influencing peers to lead weekly margin walkthroughs and provide feedback to the home office on product, promotions, and regional placement of goods to improve results.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education Administration

Purdue Global University
Indianapolis, IN

Social Services extensive course work

Parkland College And University of Illinois
Champaign, IL

Skills

  • Strategic Planning
  • Financial performance and EBITDA growth
  • Strategic business expansion
  • Multi-site operations and brand management
  • Early childhood education and accreditation
  • Regulatory compliance and risk management
  • Culture and Leadership Development
  • Leadership development and team building
  • Policy formulation and implementation
  • New Business Development

Core Expertise

  • Strategic Business Expansion & M&A
  • Financial Performance & EBITDA Growth
  • Investor & Stakeholder Relations
  • Multi-Site & Multi-brand Operations
  • Early Childhood Education & Accreditation
  • Business Process Optimization
  • Regulatory Compliance & Risk Mitigation
  • Cultural transformations

Interests

Furniture Rehab / Transformations / DIY / Interior Design

Thrush Farm / Horses, Alpacas, Chickens, Miniature Donkeys & Goats

Artificial Intelligence / Innovation

Early Education / Brain Development

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Software

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Asana and Otter ai

CRM

Canva, Beautful AI, Adobe, chat GPT, and 365 Co-pilot

ADP, POS, and Blackbaud

Work Preference

Work Type

Full TimeContract Work

Work Location

HybridOn-SiteRemote

Important To Me

Career advancementStock Options / Equity / Profit SharingCompany Culture

Timeline

Chief Operations Officer

GEMS World Academy
01.2022 - Current

Founder & CEO Business Advisory and Consultant

Thrush Humanity & Co.
01.2019 - Current

Senior Vice President/ MVP/ RVP- Field Operations

KinderCare Education
11.2011 - 12.2018

Regional Director / District Manager

Gap Inc.
07.1997 - 09.2011

Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood Education Administration

Purdue Global University

Social Services extensive course work

Parkland College And University of Illinois

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