The Scoop: Successful professionals are often so focused on their careers that their romantic lives can start to suffer. That’s when many of those singles turn to Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking, a firm that specializes in connecting and coaching affluent clients. Kelli Fisher and Tana Gilmore have been in business together for more than six years, and each has seen her share of corporate success and romantic challenges. Now, they leverage their talents and experiences to help others look and feel their best so they can find the love they desire.
Many successful corporate professionals use head-hunters — someone who finds ideal candidates for job openings — to fill voids they find within their companies. But many of those same professionals also find voids in their own lives when they head home. They could use a “heart hunter,” or someone to connect them with ideal romantic partners.
That’s precisely the service that Tana Gilmore and Kelli Fisher, THE DUO behind Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking, provide for their elite clients. After years of focusing on their careers, many of the firm’s clients say they’re ready to make love a priority.
“It’s so rewarding to reignite our clients’ hope in love again, even if they’ve been unsuccessful in the past,” Kelli said. “There is still hope, and they can put in as much time into their personal life and be as successful as they are in their careers. They can have both.”
Tana Gilmore, left, and Kelli Fisher were successful professionals themselves before starting their matchmaking firm.
Kelli and Tana met when they were vice presidents of business development for partnering firms, and found themselves traveling together regularly. Eventually, after so many presentations to executives, they became friends and confided in each other. As it turned out, both of them were in strained marriages.
As Tana and Kelli worked through their personal issues, they helped each other along the way and learned from their experiences. The two eventually switched careers to work in marketing and advertising, which taught them the skills they needed to help singles present the best version of themselves to potential love matches.
“We went back to school to become certified life and relationship coaches, and we eventually became matchmakers,” Tana said. “Our clients were people who hadn’t dated in a very long time. They felt better about themselves after going through our program, so that’s when we incorporated the matchmaking component.”
Six years later, the two are now responsible for many romantic connections, engagements, marriages, new homes, and fun couples vacations between successful professionals around the country.
Kelli Fisher and Tana Gilmore Offer No-Nonsense, Compassionate Services
Fisher and Gilmore Matchmaking clients are primarily successful, affluent, and progressive women between the ages of 28 and 45. They’ve been working hard on their careers through the years, but then they come to realize that they want to have a relationship — and possibly even children.
“When we started our business, we thought we would be catering more to divorcees or single moms. We had both been there, so we could relate in that regard,” Tana said.
“Then one day, they’re 35 or 40, and they roll over in bed, and there’s no one there,” Tana said. “They wonder where all the time has gone.”
Sometimes, Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking clients are high-profile celebrities or CEOs who haven’t worked with anyone who felt comfortable enough to tell them what areas of their romantic lives need improvement. Those clients appreciate THE DUO’s compassionate style, but that’s not all.
“They also really appreciate that we’re no-nonsense, and a lot of the time people wouldn’t tell them the truth because of their position,” Tana said. “They’re happy that we share authentic feedback that they can use to move forward. Maybe these are things they’ve never heard before. Or maybe they had, but it didn’t come from a trusted source, so it didn’t land the way it’s landing now.”
Clients Discuss “The Love Blueprint” Before Dating
Every Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking client is unique, and Tana and Kelli treat them as so by getting to know them through the application process and an introductory session. Most choose to meet online via Skype or Zoom.
“We try to have a fresh perspective with every client, so we start with an initial consultation and find out what their particular challenges have been,” Tana said. “Then we map out a plan to help. Some people may be socially awkward and aren’t comfortable having a conversation, while others can’t get past the first date. It depends.”
Some clients need extra help in overcoming concerns and fears about online dating, while others may require help with their self-image. That’s why Tana and Kelli offer image consultations in which they analyze a client’s wardrobe to ensure they’re wearing the right clothes to be noticed the right way.
“The clients who have done extremely well come with an open mind, and they just need our help. With us, it’s a team approach.”— Kelli Fisher, Co-Founder of Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking
They may even suggest clients change their hairstyle or hair color and also travel to boutiques with them to help pick the right look.
“They really have to be all in. The clients who have done extremely well come with an open mind, and they just need our help,” Kelli said. “We turn a lot of people away because they say ‘Here, just take my check and find me someone.’ It doesn’t work that way. With us, it’s a team approach.”
While THE DUO doesn’t guarantee a certain number of dates, they do offer a premium service that often has a wait list. The service expands the search beyond the agency’s extensive database to work with recruiters throughout the country and includes other creative ways to find matches — even where clients may least expect them.
A Game, Marriage Guidebook, and One-On-One Sessions Promise to Get You Results
As highly successful professionals, Tana and Kelli’s clients are accustomed to getting individualized attention. However, THE DUO also offers plenty of tips to help everyone build confidence and have healthy, happy relationships in their book, entitled “Relationship DUOvers: A Guide to Real Life, Real Issues, Real Love, and Real Happiness.” In the book, they combined their personal relationship experiences and AHA moments with client scenarios as well as advice from two certified relationship coaches.
“It’s the book you should have before you say ‘I do.’ There are so many things that we should have known before we had gotten married, and we put in all our personal relationships and experiences in the book,” Kelli said.
The team has also created a fun, informative dating game for women called “Race 2 the Bling.” It’s currently in the final testing stages before its nationwide launch, and they plan to have a game tour in the upcoming year.
Additionally, Tana and Kelli are gearing up for what is traditionally known as the cuffing season — from September to March — by planning new workshops and events.
“People are looking to focus on love and relationships, but in the summer, they’re not so focused because they’re traveling. Especially our clients because they have a lot of disposable income,” Kelli said. “In the summer, we plan to do a game tour and other fun events to bring singles out to make new connections and also give them tips along the way.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hayley Matthews
Hayley is the Editor-in-Chief of DatingNews, and she handles editorial schedules, interviews, social media, and partnerships, among other things. She’s been in the dating industry for more than six years, and her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Bustle, Cosmo, the Huffington Post, AskMen, and Entrepreneur.
Fisher Gilmore Matchmaking caters to people like CEOs and celebrities.
