Karla Bakersmith

Karla Bakersmith is the retired CEO, President and Founder of Scrubs & Beyond, LLC. She started the company in 2000 and in July 2013, the company acquired Life Uniform and Uniform City and merged as one company. Karla previously worked for Life Uniform as the Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for 13 years before starting Scrubs & Beyond. Today the company has 120 stores and is the largest retailer of medical apparel, shoes, and medical accessories in the country. The company is the leader in helping hospitals and other medical entities facilitate dress code changes and also the leader in fashion medical apparel for the medical professional.
Karla was named the recipient of The St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women award in 2004, She was named the 2014 Alumni Merit Award recipient from the Harrison College of Business from Southeast Missouri State University; she is also a member of The Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, a member of The Women’s Forum, a member of the Foundation Board for Mercy Hospital, a member of the Nursing Advisory Board for UMSL, and a member of the Barco Nightingale Foundation Board.
She is a past member of Vistage International, an organization forCEO’s, a past member of the Board of Advisors for the St. Louis University School of Entrepreneurs, a past member of the Foundation Board for St. Anthony’s Hospital and a past member of the Prosper Board of Directors. Karla is passionate about mentoring and helping other business women grow their businesses. She has spent numerous hours as a coach, a mentor, and a strong advocate of young entrepreneurs helping to grow their careers. “My career was fostered and set in the right direction because my parents and a few key business people took the time to help me grow both professionally and personally. As a business leader, giving back to others has become a hobby. I find that I am not only teaching others, but what I have learned from them has also helped me to grow.”