H4M’s founder, Tammy Shaklee, first used professional matchmaking more than 10 years ago. An accomplished professional, Tammy enjoyed her life but found that she had very little time for dating. So after moving to Austin, Texas, she decided to enlist the help of a professional. After two years of introductions, she finally met the man who would later become her husband.
Since that time, Tammy has convinced many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to take dating offline and hire an expert. But she soon realized that many of her dearest friends did not have that option, simply because of their sexual orientation. That’s when she decided to take matters into her own hands to design and launch the service herself.
Before founding H4M, Tammy had a successful and diverse 20-year career that spanned three different industries. Originally a Midwestern farm girl, Tammy started her career as a broadcast journalist, before entering politics, where she served as a district director for a Texas state senator who became ambassador to Sweden. After that, she became the CEO of a Texas chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation.
In her free time, Tammy mentors and hosts a monthly salon of media-savvy women.
Born and raised north of Boston, Alexandra joined H4M with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration focused in the areas of event planning, management, and marketing. A happily married straight ally, and mother of two daughters, Alexandra has hands-on experience in the realm of dating, romance, and finding that lifelong partner. Her seasoned qualifications, both academically and through personal experiences, enables her to assist gay singles to meet the ideal match, enjoy the perfect date, and the sustainable love story. When not corresponding with clients, and providing excellent customer service, Ali enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family, which also includes two furry canines. She is an LGBT advocate and an active participant in the greater community in Texas and throughout the United States.
Lauri is a communications professional who joined H4M focused in the areas of public relations, editing, and event planning. As a happily married straight ally and LGBT advocate, she loves to find the perfect location for gay singles to meet on their first and second dates, whether it’s in her hometown of Austin, Texas or in many other cities throughout the U.S. She prides herself on quality venues for the first impression. Previously, she worked as a community journalist in the Austin area, and now consults with communications clients as well. She is a leader within the Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Chapter, Alumnae Panhellenic Association, Women Communicators, and with her alma mater. She enjoys yoga, live music concerts, and eating at new restaurants she suggests through the H4M dates she coordinates.
With 20 years of experience in the communications and event planning industries, Michele Schwartz is an award-winning marketing professional and speaker. As our first ever Referrals Consultant, she comes to H4M with a vast knowledge of the non-profit arena, but even more exciting is her experience in wedding and lifecycle celebrations—a perfect fit for our matchmaking services. As the founder of a niche wedding service, Michele is a highly sought-after expert. A born natural leader with a passion for networking and a proficiency in connecting individuals makes her perfectly poised to professionally manage our referrals process.
