Hi, I’m
Karen Raehpour
McKinney,TX
Summary
Ambitious and accomplished professional with 20+ years of distinguished sales experience, actively pursuing a compelling long-term opportunity in senior sales or sales management. Possesses advanced expertise in sales leadership, customer- focused account management, competitive business development, talent acquisition and training, as well as large-scale event planning and production. Demonstrates a proven track record of consistently surpassing sales goals through the cultivation of robust client relationships. Renowned for outstanding communication skills, adept sales presentations, and an unwavering commitment to success.
Overview
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Shakespeare DallasDallas, TX
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
11.2022 - 11.2023
Job overview
- Responsible for strategic improvements & overall success of this non-profit theatre company
- Managed budgets & emergency budget cuts, forecasting, accounting, annual audit, legal compliance, administration, marketing, development, and human resources
- Oversaw government relations & served as media spokesperson for financial support. Collaborated with the board, staff, stake holders and Dallas area donors to advance the organization's mission and impact
- Achieved remarkable 52% year-over-year improvement in bottom-line performance (2022-2023).
- Managed $1M budget, implementing emergency cutbacks to save $150,000 in 2023
- Secured more affordable office lease and restructured staff positions for salary savings
- Addressed cashflow shortfall by securing and implementing fully secured line of credit
- Efficiently addressed 50% staffing shortage through successfully hiring, onboarding, and training new professionals
- Co-wrote 48 government and foundation grants totaling $460,000, with several awards surpassing previous funding levels
- Boosted collaboration on 3 annual fund appeals effectively stewarding 100+ major donors and raising over $500,000 in contributed income
- Hired publicist who secured over million dollars in advertising value, through television spots, radio, print, online publications, and social media
- Served as spokesperson for media relations: Good Morning Texas, WFAA, and KERA radio, as well as individual speaking engagements.
RK Meetings & EventsMcKinney, TX
MANAGING PARTNER/ OWNER
06.2017 - 02.2021
Job overview
- Launched reputable event planning business that exploded in size over 4 years
- Sold event planning services to Dallas & Fort Worth area engaged couples and fortune 500 corporations throughout the nation
- Rapidly drove business development and market expansion, achieving 59% year-over-year growth in 2019, and 51% year-over-year growth in 2020
- Orchestrated diverse corporate and social events, managing gatherings with up to 5,000 attendees
- Supervised operations, volunteers, and staff for high-profile functions, ensuring seamless execution of upscale weddings and corporate meetings.
RK Meetings & Events, Diner En BlancMcKinney, TX
EVENT PRODUCER/ SPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER
02.2014 - 06.2017
Job overview
- Produced Dallas edition of global phenomenon Diner en Blanc (Dinner in White), known as "largest dinner party in the world" from 2015 through 2017, showcasing strong leadership acumen.
- Together with one business partner, managed several employees, volunteer network of 150 people, 50 vendors and partners, and 1,500- 3,000 attendees annually
- Responsible for $300,000 in sponsorship sales to national brands in hospitality, automobile, travel, food & beverage, and travel industries
- Attained impressive 58% year-over-year growth from 2018 to 2019 and 51% growth from 2019 to 2020 through aggressive business development.
- Spearheaded publicity campaign resulting in several thousand tickets selling out in 22 minutes
- Closed several sponsorship deals annually with major brands like Moet & Chandon, Southwest Airlines, Merrill Lynch, Mercedes-Benz, the Omni Hotel & the Hilton Hotel generating $200,000 in revenue
- Designed and executed large-scale sponsorship activations and sales operations for clients from start to finish of sponsor experience
- Served as brand spokesperson & TV personality for the event, executing successful interviews on The Dallas Morning news (NBC 5), Good Morning Texas (WFAA), and Good Day Fox (Fox 4 KDFW).
Kizzymax IncorporatedWoodland Hills, CA
GLOBAL SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
12.2010 - 02.2014
Job overview
- Lead sales team on global sales & marketing of three world-wide brands at this toy company
- Skillfully oversaw pricing, international channel sales, key account management, and promotional activities
- Managed world-wide trade shows, budgets, and new business development initiatives, ensuring optimal resource allocation
- Conducted sales revenue reporting and forecasting, utilizing acquired data to inform strategic decision-making
- Formulated and recommended sales strategies based on comprehensive analysis, consistently exceeding sales goals.
Trigg LaboratoriesValencia, CA
VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING
01.2004 - 11.2005
Job overview
- Responsible for world-wide sales and marketing for this $75M consumer packaged goods (CPG) skincare company
- Managed 12- person staff and 60 independent brokers/ sales representatives
- Lead sales team on contract deals, sales forecasting, product development, promotional calendars, private label ventures, and trade shows in Europe and US.
- Sold into beauty industry, food, drug & mass.
- Earned two promotions over 5-year term: account manager to account executive, sales manager, then VP of Sales & Marketing
- Transformed sales team compensation plan (implemented commissions), improving motivation and bottom-line profits
- Sales strategies increased sales average of 24% per year for four consecutive years
- Implemented market expansion program into 3 of US's top 5 pharmacy chains resulting in multimillion dollar incremental sales
- Grew program average of 34% per year for three consecutive years
- Redesigned 75% of branding and managed 4 new product line launches from concept through distribution
- Acquired multimillion-dollar private label contract and closed large government not-for-profit contract.
Education
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL
Bachelor of Science from Speech & Communications
University Overview
- Golden Key National Honor Society
- Naomi Marfleet Kramer Scholarship
- Awarded departmental excellence 1991,1993, 1994
Skills
- TECHNOLOGY:
- CRM systems, MS Office, excel, power point, Google Workspace
- KEY SKILLS/ TRAINING:
- Customer service, consultative sales, sales pitch development, prospecting, lead generation, inside sales, outside sales, territory management, social media skills
Timeline
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Shakespeare Dallas
11.2022 - 11.2023
MANAGING PARTNER/ OWNER
RK Meetings & Events
06.2017 - 02.2021
EVENT PRODUCER/ SPONSORSHIP SALES MANAGER
RK Meetings & Events, Diner En Blanc
02.2014 - 06.2017
GLOBAL SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
Kizzymax Incorporated
12.2010 - 02.2014
VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING
Trigg Laboratories
01.2004 - 11.2005
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science from Speech & Communications
Similar Profiles
Caleb HowardCaleb Howard
Assistant Teacher at Shakespeare DallasAssistant Teacher at Shakespeare Dallas
Roxana RamseurRoxana Ramseur
Costume Project Manager at Oregon Shakespeare FestivalCostume Project Manager at Oregon Shakespeare Festival
SALEM DEELSALEM DEEL
Master Electrician, Board Operator, Stagehand at Heart of America Shakespeare FestivalMaster Electrician, Board Operator, Stagehand at Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
Tyesa VickTyesa Vick
LPN Medical Support Specialist at Biolife Plasma ServicesLPN Medical Support Specialist at Biolife Plasma Services
Ezekiel StortzEzekiel Stortz
Podcast Editor at PodgostudioPodcast Editor at Podgostudio