Varris Holmes

Varris Holmes is a results-driven marketing leader and theater artist who builds audience-centered brands through disciplined operations and authentic storytelling. With 15+ years spanning food and coffee manufacturing, e‑commerce, and arts/nonprofits, he’s led cross-functional packaging operations for 100+ SKUs, scaled digital marketplaces to deliver $125K in incremental revenue, and produced national trade shows and public-facing events that deepen engagement and drive growth.

Grounded in data and collaboration, Varris develops integrated campaigns across email, web, and on-site channels, aligning message, timing, and creative to business objectives. Previously at Intelligentsia Coffee, he created educational tours that blended operations, hospitality, and narrative to connect audiences with craft and process.

In Chicago’s theater community, Varris serves on the Board of City Lit Theater (Co‑Chair, Fundraising) and has been a performer, playwright, and teaching artist. He also managed grants at Bailiwick Chicago, cultivating funder relationships and producing compelling, award-ready proposals. Across sectors, Varris unites marketing discipline with a passion for the arts—advancing inclusion, community impact, and measurable results.
Varris is also an accomplished singer, actor, voiceover artist, teaching artist, and writer with many years of experience in the Chicago theater scene.