Karen Schmidt

Karen Schmidt is a Managing Partner with Kaye/Bassman International and Next Level Exchange. Karen oversees all hiring and training initiatives, and is a frequent consultant to search firm owners in the areas of career paths, compensation models, and leadership development all designed for organizational growth. Karen also serves as the Director of the Kaye/Bassman Foundation, responsible for all fundraising efforts supporting MDA and Baylor Cancer Center. Since inception, the Foundation has donated nearly $2,000,000 to these deserving charities.

When joining Kaye/Bassman in 2001, Karen specialized in the search and recruitment of professionals for clients in the Commercial Construction, Specialty Contractors and Real Estate Development markets. She finished in the top five project staff in 2004 and 2005 and achieved the distinction of becoming a Pacesetter within the company. In 2006, Karen pioneered the redevelopment of KBIC’s corporate training program and pioneered the creation of the Next Level Exchange training platform. This core training program applies to all associates at each stage of career progression, from the basic recruiting fundamentals, to effective marketing techniques, to more sophisticated curriculum for long-term development. Since the training program was developed, recruiters from over 3,000 search firms in over 30 countries have been trained by this comprehensive program.

Karen graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a degree in General Business. In 2010, Karen was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty,” a list of rising young leaders in the Dallas area.