Karen grew up in St. Louis, MO, in a family whose concern for the environment led to recycling paper and “tin” cans as far back as the 1950s.  Although she never lost her interest in the environment, her passion has been leadership education for women.  Thus she has made a career of volunteer service in the not-for-profit sector with organizations supporting young people.  Because of this passion, she was asked to lead a $1,000,000 campaign to fund a leadership education endowment.  She then took a 5-year “hiatus” from volunteer service to become Director of Development for Amigos de las Americas in Houston, TX.  Since moving to Healdsburg in 2011, while still involved in developing future leaders, her life-long desire to help preserve the environment has returned as a major interest.