About Karen:
My mission is to meet you where you are and bring my skills and experience to help empower your success.
I find satisfaction in a job well-done, and I try to live by the Girl Scout credo that you leave something better than you found it.
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
– Arthur Ashe
Roles
In my journey, I’ve played a variety of roles. Perhaps one of these is just what you are looking for. If you’re looking for professional titles, here are some I’ve held:
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Account Supervisor – Develop integrated brand campaigns for major corporations; manage client relationships and account plans
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Account Executive – Execute communications plans and manage projects; take care of all the details
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Race Director – Direct and oversee all aspects of 5K charity walk/run/picnic
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Project Manager – Do whatever it takes to get the job done, from start to finish; strategize, organize, and mobilize
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Community Leader – Build connections and inclusive teams
Some of my more unconventional roles include:
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Weaver – Collect all the loose ends of a project or program, and weave them into a coherent, unified whole. (I’ve actually done some weaving too!)
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Light Bulb – Generate ideas and help people see what’s possible
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Magician – Create something out of nothing; invent programs out of thin air
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Gardener – Nurture ideas and plans to help them grow
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Conductor – Lead and coordinate a team in a way that all contributions are valued
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Chef – Find the ingredients to create something great!
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Bottle Washer – Do the dirty work; do whatever it takes
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Glue – Hold things together
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Cat Herder – Even when they really want to go wandering off
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Spark Plug – Bring energy to get things started
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Bridge – Create connections to facilitate momentum
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Mom – Help people achieve their potential, no matter how long it takes
My Story
Want to know a little more about me? Where I started. What I did next. Where I am now.
I came to Minnesota in 1988, armed with a BA in Economics and a passion for communications.
My primary training ground in marketing communications came in my eight years at Campbell Mithun, first as an account assistant, then as an AE and finally as an account supervisor. I learned how to create, carry out and evaluate plans, how to manage a marketing budget, and the importance of building trust-based relationships.
In 1996, I stepped off the corporate train, and invested myself in nurturing my growing family. Not being one to let the grass grow under my feet, I soon found my way into volunteer work, where I could use my skills and knowledge to benefit church groups, schools, non-profits and sports organizations. In this world, I learned the fine art of hacking, how to get things done on a shoestring and the importance of community.
Fast forward to the present: with my two daughters well on their way in life, I’m on to my next chapter. I’m investing my skills once again, and to help build success stories in new places.
I’m an avid hockey fan, patient yoga practitioner, dedicated foodie, lifelong dog lover, and I enjoy exploring all kinds of creativity, most recently mosaics.