Carolyn Kepcher
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Kepcher is an American
businesswoman, perhaps best known for her regular appearances on the NBC
television program
The Apprentice
. She was formerly the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
, and General Manager
for the Trump National Golf Club. Before her career with Trump ended in August 2006, she monitored the progress of the contestants on the program and assisted Donald Trump
in determining who should be fired.
door-to-door. Following high school she took a job as a waitress at a Manhattan restaurant, and ultimately attained the role of manager. She learned teamwork attending Mercy College in nearby Dobbs Ferry on a volleyball scholarship. She graduated with a marketing degree. Despite having little experience, in 1992 Kepcher secured a position as sales and marketing director of a golf club outside New York City
. Her primary responsibility was to prepare the property for bank auction
, where it was eventually sold to Trump. Kepcher's ideas on how best to use the property impressed him, and he hired her as director of sales and marketing in 1994.
After four years in this capacity, she was named interim general manager after then general manager Karl Hofer was ousted from the organization. Her effective management skills convinced Trump of her ability to lead and he later named her the Chief Operating Officer
and General Manager of the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York
, and subsequently the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, overseeing over 250 employees at each location.
In 2004, she wrote the book Carolyn 101: Business Lessons From the Apprentice's Straight Shooter (ISBN 0-7432-7022-3) based on her business experience.
, beginning with Season 6.
Following her departure from the Trump organization, Kepcher became co-founder and CEO of Carolyn & Co., a company created for the purpose of "providing a broad array of services and assistance to career women." The company's website is www.WorkHerWay.com
On November 28th, 2006 Carolyn was hired by Microsoft
to star in a new reality show, Ultimate Challenge, to find the next best small-business venture. She was to be one of the 3 judges. The contest winner would get $100,000 in seed money, a storefront or other business space in Manhattan rent-free for a year, and software to help get their business started. The pilot show was never completed.
In January 2007, Kepcher provided management skills to the nonprofit world through an affiliation with Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc., a national leader in fundraising
and nonprofit management. Since 2007, she has been a career advice columnist with the New York Daily News
.
In 2010, Kepcher was the recipient of the prestigious Toastmasters International Golden Gavel award for Excellence in Communications and Leadership.
Also in 2010, Kepcher was the winner of the Stevie Award for Women in Business in the category of "Women Helping Women." She was also nominated for "Mentor of the Year" and "Website of the Year" and received the Stevie Finalist Award for both categories.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businesswoman, perhaps best known for her regular appearances on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. TV series)
The Apprentice is an American reality television show hosted by real estate magnate, businessman and television personality Donald Trump, created by Mark Burnett and broadcast on NBC...
. She was formerly the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
, and General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the Trump National Golf Club. Before her career with Trump ended in August 2006, she monitored the progress of the contestants on the program and assisted Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
in determining who should be fired.
Career
Kepcher began her foray into business by selling Avon ProductsAvon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
door-to-door. Following high school she took a job as a waitress at a Manhattan restaurant, and ultimately attained the role of manager. She learned teamwork attending Mercy College in nearby Dobbs Ferry on a volleyball scholarship. She graduated with a marketing degree. Despite having little experience, in 1992 Kepcher secured a position as sales and marketing director of a golf club outside New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Her primary responsibility was to prepare the property for bank auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
, where it was eventually sold to Trump. Kepcher's ideas on how best to use the property impressed him, and he hired her as director of sales and marketing in 1994.
After four years in this capacity, she was named interim general manager after then general manager Karl Hofer was ousted from the organization. Her effective management skills convinced Trump of her ability to lead and he later named her the Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
and General Manager of the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York
Briarcliff Manor, New York
Briarcliff Manor is a village in Westchester County in the state of New York. It is shared between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Ossining, and lies entirely within the ZIP code of 10510...
, and subsequently the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, overseeing over 250 employees at each location.
In 2004, she wrote the book Carolyn 101: Business Lessons From the Apprentice's Straight Shooter (ISBN 0-7432-7022-3) based on her business experience.
Post-Trump career
On August 31, 2006, Kepcher's employment at the Trump Organization abruptly ended. According to sources who spoke to The New York Post, Trump felt that Kepcher's newfound celebrity status had kept her too busy with speaking engagements and endorsements to focus on her responsibilities for the Trump organization. Kepcher was replaced on The Apprentice by Ivanka TrumpIvanka Trump
Ivanka Marie Trump is an American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, and fashion model. The daughter of Ivana and Donald Trump, she is Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at The Trump Organization...
, beginning with Season 6.
Following her departure from the Trump organization, Kepcher became co-founder and CEO of Carolyn & Co., a company created for the purpose of "providing a broad array of services and assistance to career women." The company's website is www.WorkHerWay.com
On November 28th, 2006 Carolyn was hired by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
to star in a new reality show, Ultimate Challenge, to find the next best small-business venture. She was to be one of the 3 judges. The contest winner would get $100,000 in seed money, a storefront or other business space in Manhattan rent-free for a year, and software to help get their business started. The pilot show was never completed.
In January 2007, Kepcher provided management skills to the nonprofit world through an affiliation with Graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc., a national leader in fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
and nonprofit management. Since 2007, she has been a career advice columnist with the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
.
In 2010, Kepcher was the recipient of the prestigious Toastmasters International Golden Gavel award for Excellence in Communications and Leadership.
Also in 2010, Kepcher was the winner of the Stevie Award for Women in Business in the category of "Women Helping Women." She was also nominated for "Mentor of the Year" and "Website of the Year" and received the Stevie Finalist Award for both categories.
Personal life
She has two children, son Connor (born in 2000) and daughter Cassidy (born in 2002), and lives in Ridgefield, ConnecticutRidgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
.