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Work Background
Northwestern UniversityGraduate Research Assistant - Black Studies Department
Jul. 2022 - Sep. 2024PI: Professor kihana ross, (Northwestern). Archival and interview research centered on Educational Reparations.
Northwestern UniversityFellow - Multidisciplinary Program in Education Sciences
Sep. 2021 - Jul. 2024Evanston, Illinois, United States
Northwestern UniversityGraduate Research Assistant - School of Education and Social Policy
Mar. 2021 - Jan. 2022Evanston, Illinois, United StatesPI: Dr. Simone Ispa Landa, (Northwestern).
Qualitative Research - Sense of belonging in high school
Northwestern UniversityPh.D. Student in Human Development and Social Policy
Sep. 2020Evanston, Illinois, United States
Sprint 2 EquityPrincipal Consultant
Mar. 2017 - Apr. 2021Evanston, ILAt Sprint to Equity, we believe that the path to great racial justice is a process, and we are committed to helping teams that understand the long-term commitment and who are dedicated to continuous improvement along the journey. No organization or community can simply train their way to racial equity; it’s a journey. Big Picture Path: Racial Consciousness and Equity Culture Evaluation
Leadership and Basic Concepts Training
Strategy, Vision, and Goal Setting
Structures & Tools to Sustain More Equitable Operations
Racial Equity Progress Assessment
Continual Coaching and Training for Leadership, Staff, and Organization Members
Newmark Grubb Knight FrankManaging Director
Apr. 2014 - Apr. 2016ChicagoKarla Thomas is a Managing Director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Global Corporate Services consulting practice with Corporate Real Estate Process Improvement, Change Management and Location Strategy. She provides clients with strategic solutions to multifaceted business problems that impact corporate real estate. Ms. Thomas has extensive experience managing complex global projects using a data driven analytic approach she gained through her training as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. She balances this approach with her ability to gather insight from key stake holders, customers and employees to develop comprehensive solutions that are defensible from both a quantitative and qualitative standpoint.
Urb & Burb Realty - The Art and Science of Finding HomePrincipal & Managing Broker
Jan. 2014Evanston, ILKarla Thomas is the co-founder and Managing Broker Urb & Burb Realty. An entrepreneur at her core, Karla started her first business at the age of 12. Buying anything from candy to clothing wholesale, she would re-sell it at her school for a “hefty” profit compared to her then allowance. The entrepreneurial bug took hold, so between high school and college she launch over 15 money making ventures to pay her way through undergrad. “Real Estate to me is not a job; it’s a passion….an obsession. In the last 11 years, I have gone from being an investor, to landlord, to property manager, to broker, to developer and now Managing Broker of my own firm” It was not a straight path to her true calling: Real Estate Brokerage and Renovation. She gained a BS in Engineering with an emphasis in Materials, which plays a foundational role in both the mechanics of any renovation and the design. She then went on to get a MBA at Kellogg School of Business Management, Northwestern University which provides the financial foundation of the market analysis she is so well known for by both her real estate and renovation clients. While working simultaneously in the corporate sector as a Director of Continuous Improvement and a Real Estate Investor coach, Agent and Developer for over 14 years, Karla decided to put some of her executive management skills to opening her own Lifestyle and Neighborhood Real Estate Brokerage. “When you love what you do, it comes naturally and you take great joy in helping others through the process! I have found my bliss in finding families a home to continue their life’s journey in and giving old spaces new life!”
RTCDirector of Continuous Improvement
Jan. 2013 - Jan. 2014Chicago, ILWork with the CFO to create a Continuous Improvement Program that fosters innovation, a measurement driven culture and rewards excellence. Identify key opportunities and championed cross-functional teams to resolve productivity, quality and systemic issues to increase the company EBITDA. Work with each functional lead to develop team KPIs and reports so they could be tracked and monitored regularly.
Avon ProductsGlobal Project Manager
Jan. 2010 - Jan. 2013New York, NYLed team to design and implement a $7.6M dollar global system for Strategic Marketing, Product Development and Sourcing for 13 product categories across the Globe. Developed BI reporting tool for all regional teams to effectively collated data from the new system and other existing data.
- Led global project team to create functional design and collaborated with the IT team to take the design to implementation.
- Led the change management team across EMEA, APAC, LATAM and North America.
- Created the curriculum and managed training deployment to all 4 regions and over 700 suppliers.
- Worked with functional leaders to understand the reporting needs globally and developed a BI reporting tool to bring together data from the new system and existing platforms. Developed reports and trained and implemented to users globally.
- Additional projects included process Improvement of the Sale and Operations Planning Process for the North American Beauty Division.
Avon ProductsNorth American Continuous Process Improvement Training Manager - Master Black Belt
Jan. 2006 - Jan. 2010Greater Chicago AreaN.A. Continuous Process Improvement Training Manager, Master Black Belt
Curriculum Designer, Trainer and Manager of the Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Program. Responsible for Black Belts and Green Belts across North America, Canada and the Caribbean. Managed the financial benefit and on time delivery of projects conducted by the CPI team. Project Manager on larger scale global and national projects.
General ElectricSix Sigma Black Belt
Jan. 2005 - Jul. 2006Led the Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing projects and initiatives of a three facility plant campus. Coached and mentored business team members and 8 Green Belts in the practical application of the Lean tools to drive significant business impact and overall culture change.
General ElectricOperations Manager/ Master Scheduler
Jul. 2003 - Jan. 2005Managed the daily operation of an Industrial Equipment Plant with 18 salaried employees and 120 hourly associates. Responsibility over Production, Maintenance, Shipping and Test Engineering groups.
GENERAL ELECTRIC - Automatic Switch GearGlobal Sourcing Leader
Jan. 2002 - Jul. 2003Responsible for 6 junior buyers as well as managing all strategic sourcing moves to low cost regions; China, India and Mexico. Effectively managed 17 deflation projects.
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