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KAI WICK

BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW

As a creative and a leader, my aim is to propel teams forward by fostering alignment and collaboration across different groups. I am dedicated to building a community network grounded in innovation, strategic thinking, and teamwork, enabling us to join forces and achieve transformative, visionary outcomes.

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They/Them

Akron, Ohio

EXPERIENCE

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LTA Research and Exploration - Akron,  Ohio ​​​
Senior Manufacturing Coordinator

October 2024 - Present

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  • Facilitate and execute the Project Planning, Packaging, and roll out of Operational Portfolios as assigned by the Director of Operations Project

  1. Planning: Includes meeting with team lead assigned to the project. Creating a BOM, schedule, task lists, task delegation, role assignments, responsibilities, expectations, structure for budget and shipping tracking, and weekly meeting notes. 

  2. Packaging: Build of the project, SOP, Safety Docs, filing SDS, TDS, Quotes and PO’s, and all technical documentation. Finalizing the final steps of the project for approval and prepping for archive or next phase, Portfolio.

  3. Portfolios: Organize all information from each assigned project and format to insert into the Portfolio Template and move to the appropriate folder for archives.

  • Planning and coordinating production schedules with the Manufacturing Management Team to optimize manufacturing efficiency.

  • Upholds company’s policy and procedure, emphasizing workplace safety at all times.

  • Exhibit adaptability, switching between projects as required to meet production objectives.

  • Execute duties as assigned by the Director of Operations and maintain a clear,  consistent, and concise progress reporting structure for all assignments

  • Foster a positive work environment, collaborating effectively with team members and maintaining a commendable attitude

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Senior Woodshop and Assembly Specialist

November 2018 - October 2024

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  • Skills: 3D Printing, CNC, Prototyping, Vinyl Cutting, Design and Planning, Safety training, Supply Ordering, Organizational Development, Project Management 

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  • Woodshop Specialist:

    • Maintain relationships with raw material suppliers to ensure product availability and low turnaround time for material needs.

    • Create and maintain relationships with third-party vendors when LTA cannot produce needed designs or repairs.

    • Monitor and order stock of common materials to minimize lead times on time-sensitive projects.

    • Operate ShopBot and other woodshop tools to create highly accurate models or products according to diagrams/models/specifications.

    • Program ShopBot and other woodshop tools with new designs as provided.

    • Utilize Vcarve and/or HSMWorks to operate CNC equipment safely and efficiently.

    • Work with engineering and operations teams to standardize common design needs, minimize production time/cost, and ensure designs fall within the capabilities of the woodshop equipment.

    • Maintain a list of individuals who are cleared to safely operate specific woodshop equipment and report any safety violations to the Operations Manager.

    • Follow all documented standards for machine set-up, maintenance, and operation to ensure accuracy and consistency across all projects.

    • Meet all deadlines and adhere to production schedules as assigned by the Operations Manager.

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  • Assembly Technician:

    • Follow diagrams and specifications to assemble materials for airship components by hand or with the appropriate tools.

    • Ask questions and follow up with the engineering and/or operations team as needed to ensure accurate, quality production.

    • Document all tests, material usage, and relevant data for quality checks and tracking.

    • Meet deadlines as assigned by the Operations Manager.

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Project Three Gallery, Wick Studio - Akron, Ohio

October 2018 - October 2019

  • Founder of the first fine arts gallery in Kenmore, Akron that is neighborhood-focused.

  • Operations management of scheduling, hiring, grant writing, and finance. 

  • Lead creative force in the direction of the gallery in relation of vision, design, layout, and mission.

  • Oversees the application process of local and national artists in curating gallery shows.

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Wick Studio  - Akron, Ohio 

February 2018 - November 2018

  • Founder of the collective workspace that focuses on community revitalization, urban development, and building neighborhood density.

  • Typical projects include designing and building; park benches, picnic tables, beer garden furniture, family interactive play equipment, outdoor seating, and stages.

  • Lead groups of volunteers, students, and community members in building projects.

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Better Block & Exchange House - Akron, Ohio

Assistant Project Manager -Americorps Vista

January 2017 - January 2018 

  • Created instruction manuals for Wikiblock projects using Adobe Illustrator, Indesign, and Google Sketchup

  • Organized and led volunteers in building  community projects

  • Used the CNC Router and Laser Cuter to create models and life-size architecture. 

  • Hosted events and tours for local community meetings and workshops

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Safer Futures - Ravenna, Ohio

Marketing Intern -Americorps Vista

Summer 2016  

  • Re-branded the organization and fundraisers

  • Launched three websites for their charities

  • Designed all marketing and advertising materials

  • Taught classes to the clients and their families

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EDUCATION

 

Kent State University

Bachelor of Fine Arts

2011-2015

Concentration: Sculpture // Site Specific Installation

 

Continuing Education:​

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Harvard 2023

  • Creative Thinking: Innovative Solutions To Complex Challenges​

  • Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives: Mastery Session at Professional Development - Purple Zebra Award Winner​​​​

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Cornell 2025
  • Project Management 360
    120 hours

    • Lead with Emotional Intelligence
      Developed strong self-awareness, self-management, and interpersonal skills to build trust, motivate teams, and communicate effectively under pressure.

    • Communicate Across the Lifecycle
      Gained tools to clearly share updates, lead kickoffs, and keep stakeholders aligned and engaged from start to finish.

    • Build and Lead High-Performing Teams
      Learned to foster collaboration, manage team dynamics, guide teams through growth stages, and adapt leadership styles to different situations.

    • Manage Conflict and Risk Effectively
      Identified causes of conflict, encouraged healthy disagreement, and applied strategies for risk assessment, mitigation, and decision-making.

    • Master Project Planning Tools
      Built project timelines using Gantt charts, work breakdown structures, critical path analysis, float calculations, and PERT.

    • Drive Performance and Agility
      Applied Agile, Lean, and earned value management methods to monitor progress, level resources, and keep projects on track—especially under changing conditions.
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cornell 2023-2024​

  • Decision Analysis Certificate:

    • Framing Decisions

    • Using Decision Trees

    • Accounting for Subjectivity and Valuing Information

    • Risk Attitudes and Key Assumptions in Utility Theory

    • Implementing Simulation-Based Optimization

    • Modeling Design Decisions and Performance

    • Designing for Resilience and Robustness

  • Product Development Certificate:

    • Product Road Mapping

    • Product Prototyping

    • Product Analytics and Iteration

    • Product Engineering and Execution

    • Developing a Product Hypothesis and User Personas​

    • Product Vision and Goals

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Training ​Courses​

TOOLING U SME 2020-2023

    • Design for Manufacturing​

    • Lean Manufacturing Overview 101

    • Continuous Process Improvement: Managing Flow

    • Introduction to Multi-Axis CNC Machines

    • Multi-Axis CNC Operations

    • Workholding for Multi-Axis CNC Machines

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  • FAB TECH - 2022

    • Significant Product Case Studies in Additive Manufacturing​

    • Leadership's Role in Leading Lean Teams

    • Fabricators Laser Application Workshop

    • Digital Transformation on the Shop Floor: Do More With Less

    • Create Cultures of Innovation and Accountability

​Hawk Ridge Systems​ - 2021

    • Solidworks Essentials​

    • Solidworks CAM Intro

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  • Cuyahoga Community College - 2021​

    • Solidworks 101​

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WORK AT LTA

Awards

AWARDS

30 For the Future The Greater Akron Chamber ·2023
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880 Cities Champion Knight Foundation · Jan 2018
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Scholarship Recipient in Metal Casting
Mike Dragomier Foundation · Jan 2015

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Projects

PROJECTS  & COMMUNITY WORK

Better Kenmore - Cardinal Crosswalk

Spring 2024

Designed and built 8ft Kenmore Cardinals for the Better Kenmore group. These birds were designed to slow down traffic near pedestrian crosswalks during public events. 

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Project Three Gallery, Wick Studio

Owner - Akron, Ohio 

October 2018 - Present

Project Three Gallery is a new type of creative space for artists, local and national. The gallery will host fine art, a pop up shop of local artisan works, an education exchange program and a co-op/internship program for students. 


Innerbelt National Forest
Project Manager Co-Lead Akron, Ohio
June - September 2018
Innerbelt National Forest is a temporary green public space on an adjacent section of the decommissioned Innerbelt Freeway in Akron, Ohio. The forest will feature 90 trees, trails, and events and programming to provide a shared space for residents to come together.

High Top Bar Tables for Lock Next at Lock 3 — Wick Studio
July 2018
Designed and produced three bar height tables for Downtown Akron Partnership for their Lock Next project at Lock 3 in Akron, Ohio.   

Park Benches for  Kenmore’s Live Music Now— Wick Studio
July 2018
Designed and produced picnic benches the the beer garden outside Live Music Now and Busk till Dusk events.

Market Table Sets for the Exchange House— Wick Studio
June 2018
Designed and produced custom tables and benches for the Exchange House in Akron, Ohio. These sets are used for their weekly farmers' markets and performances.  

Northside Green Downtown Akron Partnership— Wick Studio
July 2018
In partnership with DAP, Wick Studio created two benches, 4 planter benches, and 2 cocktail tables for their revitalization “space-lift” by the Northside Market.    

Modular Performance Stage Gum-Dip Theatre— Wick Studio
May 2017
Mobile stage built for all types of performances. This stage has been used by the Exchange House, Gum-Dip Theatre, and Innerbelt National Forest.

Live Music Now - Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance — Team Member/Designer
December - May 2018
Working with the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance and local community members, we rehabbed a historic building and created a live music venue under the direction of Tina Boyes as a pop up bar on the Blvd.

Better Block / Community Builder — Assistant Project ManagerJune 2017 - December 2017
Traveled with the Better Block team throughout the year to assist in producing their Better Blocks in Barberton, Ohio, Kenmore, Ohio, Charlotte, South Carolina, and Ottumwa, Iowa. I lead volunteers of all ages and abilities in assembling and painting Wikiblock furniture.

League of Creative Interventionists  — Team Member
September-October 2017
Assisted Megan Shane and the Akron LOCI project in fabricating the  “Front Porch Trailer” project.

Better Block Wikiblock Classroom — After School Program Facilitator
August 2017
During the Kenmore Better Block prep, I taught an after-school program at the Bio Med Academy teaching high school students how to use their CNC Router by creating Wikiblock furniture.

Better Block — Team Member
March 201
7I flew down to Dallas, TX to assist in leading volunteers at the Better Block headquarters in building their outdoor space. I lead 20+ high school and college students in building their community garden.

Contact
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