CAROLYN KEPCHER

Ethical Leadership in Business

March 7, 2005 at 7:30pm · Mountainlair Ballroom

She's known as Donald Trump's henchwoman: a brilliant business executive with a sharp sense of what it takes to succeed. Carolyn Kepcher is a relentless judge of character in the boardroom of NBC's hit reality series, "The Apprentice." Held in high regards by Trump, Kepcher can make or break hopeful contestants vying to get hired on the show.

Kepcher has been with the Trump Organization since 1994. She currently oversees the day-to-day operations of more than 250 employees at two Trump golf properties and is a key player in the development of future Trump golf properties in New York and California. As executive vice president of the Trump Organization and chief operating officer and general manager for the Trump National Golf Clubs in New York and New Jersey, Kepcher has a reputation for being an astute, highly effective business leader.

At the golf clubs in Briarcliff Manor, New York and Bedminster, New Jersey, Kepcher played a crucial, hands-on role in the acquisition, development, marketing and start-up operations. She worked on all stages of construction with famed golf course architects Tom, Jim and Tommy Fazio as the golf courses were built to Trump's specifications. Today, there are more than 450 members at the clubs, including high profile business executives, professional athletes, political leaders, and celebrities. In 2003, Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor was rewarded with the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

In addition to overseeing the development of $80 million in golf course construction and $40 million in clubhouse construction, Kepcher is also responsible for overseeing the $150 million real estate sales offering of the Residences at Trump National—the highest value condominium development in Westchester County, New York.

Kepcher reveals her strategy for success in her bestselling book, Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from The Apprentice's Straight Shooter. In the book, she describes how she skillfully synthesized her learned-on-the-job business insight and professional drive to become a respected leader in the Trump empire by age 35.

Described by Trump as a "professional and a perfectionist," Kepcher is talented, well-respected and diligent in her pursuit of achievement. A firm believer that perseverance leads to accomplishment, Kepcher speaks with authority about her views on a woman’s role in corporate America, leadership, overcoming stereotypes and obstacles, and efficient management.