Kari Padilla

Kari Padilla, M.Ed. has a diverse work experience in the field of learning and development. Kari is currently serving as the Director of Learning and Development at Thrive Communities since 2023. Previously, they worked at Weidner Apartment Homes from 2019 to 2023, where they held the position of National Learning & Development Trainer. At Weidner, they designed and facilitated various training classes and provided mentorship and coaching to employees at different levels. Prior to that, Kari worked as an Instructional Designer at Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee from 2017 to 2018, where they created college credit courses and performed needs assessments. Kari also served as an Associate Instructional Systems Designer at ManTech International Corporation in 2017, where they designed e-Learning courses and managed the company's learning management system. Kari started their career in 1999 as a Leasing Consultant at Archstone and subsequently held roles as Assistant Community Manager, Regional Training Manager, Regional Training Ambassador, and Assistant Community Manager again. During their time at Archstone, they oversaw training and development in the Greater DC area and implemented a mentorship program. Overall, Kari has extensive experience in designing and delivering training programs, providing mentorship and coaching, and managing learning management systems.

Kari Padilla, M.Ed, has a Master's Degree in Concentration, Instructional Design from George Mason University. Kari also holds a Graduate Certificate in e-Learning from the same university. Prior to their graduate studies, Kari obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the University of Phoenix. In addition to their academic achievements, Kari has obtained various certifications such as NAAEI Certified Instructor, Consulting Skills Certificate from the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and Articulate Storyline Certification, among others.