Liz Lark-Riley

Experience

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  Southwest University of China

  Feb 2006 - Mar 2007

  Foreign Expert

  Taught “English Listening, Speaking, and Writing” to Chinese graduate students and freshman teaching majors. Initiated theater program with 30 graduate students to develop a new multi-lingual play blending Chinese and Western theatrical forms.

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  Brain Surgeon Theater

  Feb 2008 - Apr 2011

  Director of Marketing and Development

  Facilitated growth and visibility of innovative, non-profit Chicago storefront theater company. Responsibilities included grant-writing, overseeing individual giving, generating web content, creating and publishing e-newsletter, etc. Planned and executed annual cabaret fundraising event raising up to $10,000 and planned and executed opening-night galas for world premiere productions.

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  American Academy of Art

  Sept 2009 - May 2011

  Figure Model
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  Senior DECATS

  Jun 2010 - Jun 2019

  Drama Teacher

  Lead instructor for the Drama Major at DeBusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Students (DECATS) summer program. Worked with a team of three teaching artists to teach acting, movement, staging, scenic design, and collaborative story-telling to 30+ middle school students. The camp culminates in the presentation of a one-act play created by the students during the three-week program.

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  La MaMa Experimental Theatre Company

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2012

  Development Intern

  Researched and prepared grants; assisted with social media strategy and outreach.

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  HERE Arts Center

  Sept 2012 - May 2013

  Development Intern

  Coordinated major aspects of 20th Anniversary Gala, which raised more than $200,000. Responsible for generating and sending acknowledgements for all individual, institutional, and government gifts. Researched and prepared grants. Developed "20/20" digital individual giving campaign targeting recent attendees.

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  MiR theater

  May 2013 - Oct 2015

  Executive Director

  Formed 501(c)3 dedicated to original performance work. Arranged artist residencies devoted to the creation, production, and presentation of new plays. Developed and produced two full-length world-premiere plays and several community-driven participatory performance events.

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  Rockledge Gardens

  Jul 2013 - Jan 2023

  Manages all operations and growth for family-owned garden center, farmers' market, wedding venue, and boutique. Works to engage, empower, and develop a 44-member team while consistently improving systems and key performance indicators. • Transformed 60-year-old family-owned business through organizational restructuring and company-wide initiatives that led to improved ratios for Cost of Goods Sold, Sales to Labor, and Overhead and increased Profitability year over year. •Instituted formal employee development program including in-person classes, original online educational resources, incentive programs, and formal goal-oriented performance reviews. Today more than half the team are FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professionals and/or Certified Landscape Maintenance Technicians. •Transitioned business from SimPOS to VMX, which yielded more valuable data, increased efficiency, and improved customer and team support.• Navigated business and team through COVID-19 pandemic. Adapted to meet ever-changing challenges in ways that led to lasting positive impact. Modernized website to bring all products online, adjusted events business model, and oversaw all internal and external communication. Remained sensitive to staff concerns and commitment to serving customers. Show less Planned and executed more than 75 seminars, private events, and large-scale festivals annually and created and executed multi-media marketing plans for Brevard County’s largest garden center and hydroponic vegetable farm, including designing or overseeing all marketing materials.• Initiated the planning and oversaw the conversion of 8000 square feet of Rockledge Gardens property into a dedicated event space, The Harry and Witte Center, which opened for classes, seminars, and weddings and private events in March 2017. Managed all sales and coordinate all events in this new venue. During the first year the space generated more than $75,000 in new revenue through 20 private events and in-house workshops. 50+ private events hosted annually.• Initiated strategic planning process to improve company goals and update branding strategy, increasing sales year over year.• Initiated organizational overhaul upon beginning the position to initiate a shared calendar and drive for shared documents.• Initiated and oversaw completion of complete redesign of company website as well as initialized company Instagram profiles ( @rockledgegardens @rockledgegardensweddings )• Revolutionized company's Annual Fall Festival increasing attendance from an average of roughly 300 attendees participating over the festival's 16-year history to more than 2000 during first year managing the festival. Subsequent festivals attracted more than 5000 attendees.• Work with local media to develop frequent coverage of Rockledge Gardens' events and special stories related to gardening, philanthropic efforts, and human interest. Show less

  • Managing Director

    Jul 2019 - Jan 2023

  • Director of Marketing and Events

    Jul 2013 - Jul 2019
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  Florida Today

  Jan 2015 - Dec 2015

  Theater Critic

  Reviewed every play produced at each of Brevard County's five major theater companies.

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  Brevard Cultural Alliance

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2015

  • Grant Panelist

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2015

  • Grant Panelist

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2015
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  Brain Arts Productions

  Sept 2018 - Oct 2019

  Marketing Director
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  Mahoney's Garden Centers

  Feb 2023 - now

  • Director Customer Experience

    Apr 2024 - now

  • Senior Customer Relationship Manager

    Feb 2023 - Apr 2024