Karen Kouwe
Talent Optimization Consultant at Creative Solutions Group- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Bryan Feilen
Karen gave many skills to the students within her class, but most importantly she gave them the opportunity to take control of their future. As a colleague of Karen, we were able to work together and assist young people against unfortunate circumstances learn they could take control of their path. She is a great person inside and out that gives entirely while expecting nothing in return. A great leader, relentless worker, and caring individual!
Nicholas Reed
Karen is an amazing educator, counselor, social worker, fundraiser, and marketer all rolled into one. Karen’s lessons were always concise, entertaining, and had a positive and tangible take home message that students could immediately apply. Outside the classroom, Karen had a relationship with her students. In fact, in my time with Jobs for America’s Graduates, no one compared to Karen’s patience, compassion, and rapport with her students. She had a special connection with each one of them and pushed them in the right direction and to achieve realistic goals they set together. She worked very hard and came up with very creative methods to get her students the support they needed in all their endeavors. Karen was willing to approach business leaders in the community to support her program monetarily and with non-financial support such as hiring her students and supplying goods. She had created a very special network in the business community and had many people completely on board with her goals for the program. Any business or organization would be lucky to have someone like Karen who can turn an idea or goal into a tangible result with such ease.
Bryan Feilen
Karen gave many skills to the students within her class, but most importantly she gave them the opportunity to take control of their future. As a colleague of Karen, we were able to work together and assist young people against unfortunate circumstances learn they could take control of their path. She is a great person inside and out that gives entirely while expecting nothing in return. A great leader, relentless worker, and caring individual!
Nicholas Reed
Karen is an amazing educator, counselor, social worker, fundraiser, and marketer all rolled into one. Karen’s lessons were always concise, entertaining, and had a positive and tangible take home message that students could immediately apply. Outside the classroom, Karen had a relationship with her students. In fact, in my time with Jobs for America’s Graduates, no one compared to Karen’s patience, compassion, and rapport with her students. She had a special connection with each one of them and pushed them in the right direction and to achieve realistic goals they set together. She worked very hard and came up with very creative methods to get her students the support they needed in all their endeavors. Karen was willing to approach business leaders in the community to support her program monetarily and with non-financial support such as hiring her students and supplying goods. She had created a very special network in the business community and had many people completely on board with her goals for the program. Any business or organization would be lucky to have someone like Karen who can turn an idea or goal into a tangible result with such ease.
Bryan Feilen
Karen gave many skills to the students within her class, but most importantly she gave them the opportunity to take control of their future. As a colleague of Karen, we were able to work together and assist young people against unfortunate circumstances learn they could take control of their path. She is a great person inside and out that gives entirely while expecting nothing in return. A great leader, relentless worker, and caring individual!
Nicholas Reed
Karen is an amazing educator, counselor, social worker, fundraiser, and marketer all rolled into one. Karen’s lessons were always concise, entertaining, and had a positive and tangible take home message that students could immediately apply. Outside the classroom, Karen had a relationship with her students. In fact, in my time with Jobs for America’s Graduates, no one compared to Karen’s patience, compassion, and rapport with her students. She had a special connection with each one of them and pushed them in the right direction and to achieve realistic goals they set together. She worked very hard and came up with very creative methods to get her students the support they needed in all their endeavors. Karen was willing to approach business leaders in the community to support her program monetarily and with non-financial support such as hiring her students and supplying goods. She had created a very special network in the business community and had many people completely on board with her goals for the program. Any business or organization would be lucky to have someone like Karen who can turn an idea or goal into a tangible result with such ease.
Bryan Feilen
Karen gave many skills to the students within her class, but most importantly she gave them the opportunity to take control of their future. As a colleague of Karen, we were able to work together and assist young people against unfortunate circumstances learn they could take control of their path. She is a great person inside and out that gives entirely while expecting nothing in return. A great leader, relentless worker, and caring individual!
Nicholas Reed
Karen is an amazing educator, counselor, social worker, fundraiser, and marketer all rolled into one. Karen’s lessons were always concise, entertaining, and had a positive and tangible take home message that students could immediately apply. Outside the classroom, Karen had a relationship with her students. In fact, in my time with Jobs for America’s Graduates, no one compared to Karen’s patience, compassion, and rapport with her students. She had a special connection with each one of them and pushed them in the right direction and to achieve realistic goals they set together. She worked very hard and came up with very creative methods to get her students the support they needed in all their endeavors. Karen was willing to approach business leaders in the community to support her program monetarily and with non-financial support such as hiring her students and supplying goods. She had created a very special network in the business community and had many people completely on board with her goals for the program. Any business or organization would be lucky to have someone like Karen who can turn an idea or goal into a tangible result with such ease.
Credentials
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NCCER Master Trainer
National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER) -
PI Talent Optimization Consultant
The Predictive Index
Experience
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Creative Solutions
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United States
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Talent Optimization Consultant
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Jan 2020 - Present
We’ve all experienced the thrill of being part of an amazing team, if only for a fleeting moment. Trust, collaboration, and that unstoppable feeling - it’s magic. So, how do you design a winning team? Is it more about raw talent or chemistry? How do you scale that design across the organization so productivity soars and your culture thrives? At Creative Solutions Group, we bring talent optimization to life in organizations by aligning people strategy to business strategy. Message me to learn more. Show less
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Recovery Logistics, LLC
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Hurricane's Matthew, Irma, Florence, Michael, Dorian
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Storm Recovery Assistance - Director of Logistics
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Oct 2016 - Present
• Responsible for the acquisition and tracking of over $30 million worth of assets during restoration efforts for Duke Energy •Managed multiple base camps for Duke crews simultaneously in two states •Devloped relationships with vendors to ensure timely response on short notice requests •Tracked vendor services and asset acquisitions to create and expedite client billing & vendor invoicing. • Responsible for the acquisition and tracking of over $30 million worth of assets during restoration efforts for Duke Energy •Managed multiple base camps for Duke crews simultaneously in two states •Devloped relationships with vendors to ensure timely response on short notice requests •Tracked vendor services and asset acquisitions to create and expedite client billing & vendor invoicing.
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Associated Builders & Contractors Indiana/Kentucky
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Indianapolis, Indiana Area
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Director of Construction Prep Academy & Program Accountability
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Sep 2013 - Jul 2016
I developed and directed a high school construction program to create a pipeline of new talent for the construction industry. I worked closely with my instructors to ensure the program met Dept. of Ed standards, imparted NCCER construction knowledge and skills, as well as enabled students to practice workplace competencies. The program had a 98% daily attendance rate. 74% of all students obtained work in the industry. The other 26% received job offers that they did not accept. I know what it takes to engage young people and get them ready for careers. Other duties included marketing both the high school and the adult apprenticeship programs to both schools and contractors across Indiana and Kentucky. I thoroughly enjoyed helping students realize that there are many pathways to success, apprenticeship being one of them. To round out my job at ABC I also oversaw policy compliance to maintain our accreditation with NCCER - the entity governing the curriculum used to train apprentices. Show less
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JAG Specialist at Shelbyville High School
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Nov 2009 - Jul 2013
I worked with Juniors & Seniors in High School that face many barriers: poverty, unemployed parents, uneducated parents, kids that have kids, kids that are on probation, kids that are below grade level....you get the picture. My goal was to teach them how to be successful in the real world. To give them the skills needed to graduate from high school, attend college if they desire, get a job that offers a chance for advancement, keep a job, know what to do with their money, how to balance a checkbook, live on a budget.....Sometimes it was exciting, sometimes it was overwhelming....always it was rewarding! Show less
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Director of Operations/Business Services Manager
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Jun 2004 - Sep 2008
Served as back-up to the Executive Director. Duties included staff supervision, monitoring program compliance, writing grant requests and reports including program analysis. Also responsible for AP/AR/Payroll, HR and Building Maintenance. Served as back-up to the Executive Director. Duties included staff supervision, monitoring program compliance, writing grant requests and reports including program analysis. Also responsible for AP/AR/Payroll, HR and Building Maintenance.
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Business Manager
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Feb 1993 - Jun 2004
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Business Manager/Estimator
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Oct 1985 - Nov 1993
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Education
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1974 - 1978
Taylor University
B.S., Physical Education & Health
Community
