Richard Kappel

Advises founders, builders, and operators on strategy, offers, workflows, systems, and execution bottlenecks. Builds AI-enabled workflow modules and manages delivery from intake through follow-up.

Led the Lisbon hotspot for makesense, coordinating a volunteer team across partnerships, events, communications, and community. Hosted ecosystem events, supported social entrepreneurs, managed newsletters and social channels, and kept partners engaged.

Built and scaled an international ecosystem model from 0 to 15 cities in 11 countries with 40+ volunteer contributors. Owned city launch playbooks and coordinated contributors, partners, and operating model design.

Advised social entrepreneurs in 1:1 sessions on strategy, direction, collaboration, and execution problems. Designed community events and improved space operations, member experience, recurring events, and internal processes.

Founded a nonprofit connecting locals and travelers through language, culture, events, and mutual learning. Recruited, trained, scheduled, and led seasonal volunteer teams while managing daily delivery, budgeting, and fundraising.

Sold $10,000 to $250,000 advertising contracts to senior marketing executives over the phone. Researched prospect needs, qualified accounts, managed client merchandising allowances, and coordinated tickets for promotions and relationship building.

Co-owned and operated a Camino de Santiago hostel with daily responsibility for guests, resources, volunteers, community relationships, and financial stability. Improved operating systems while supporting regenerative farming, local collaboration, and volunteer participation.

Co-founded a health insurance brokerage serving small and medium-sized businesses. Owned marketing and telemarketing team development, HR administration, customer service administration, and business development support.

Led special pricing work to re-engage qualified business owners who previously declined service. Built a research-led outreach approach to understand owner needs, present more relevant pricing, and win back accounts.

Developed the agency’s telemarketing strategy, including prospect targeting, objection-handling, lead tracking, and reporting. Built the sales presentation, leads database, and department process to support additional team hiring.

Led 20+ volunteers to manage outreach and fundraising activity for the campaign. Helped the campaign reach 49.4% of the vote.

Activities and societies: Campaign Manager for Citizens for Ann C Brady (20+ volunteers, outreach and fundraising), and helped the campaign reach 49.4% of the vote.

Studied Criminal Justice and Police Science at College of DuPage from 2000 to 2001.

Completed General Studies at Lake Park High School from 1998 to 2001.