Karen’s unique approach to business is instrumental in her ability to work fast and get results.  Karen is a well rounded business professional with over 12 years of business experience in the fields of Health and Wellness and over 25 years experience in financial services, publishing, technology, and consumer products markets and has served roles in founder, strategy, finance, M&A, product development and executive management. 

She is known for the 2-hour “brain dump” meeting where she listens intently, asks relevant questions, maps your business with you providing a summary of the business essence, issues and opportunities. These 2-hour meetings include sticky notes, pens, large white sheets and in-depth non-judgmental questioning of the business and the managers mindset.

Karen’s Business accomplishments include:

• Managed overall strategy, vision and growth trajectory including M&A, partnerships, business development and new product development for $250 to $500 million dollar organizations resulting in 20% to 30% increase in revenue and/or profits.
• Hired as Group Controller and was integral in bringing AdvanStar Communications out of bankruptcy.  The team grew the business to the 3rd largest publishing firm in the US.
• Achieved 90% market coverage in a start-up, PlanSoft, by leveraging partnerships with GES, CAIS, MPA, ASAE, publishers and technology players resulting in 2.5X revenue growth in 18 months.
• Managed negotiations with Sabre, GES, GE and venture capitalists for clients in Seattle resulting in funding, sales deals and strategic partnerships.
• Expanded product lines by leading the build of a payment engine that collected over $1 million within 3 months and negotiated and closed deals for a fuller product line resulting in rapid revenue growth.
• Built an award winning healthy living platform, ZisBoomBah, securing top of line partnerships including WebMD, Girl Scouts of Colorado, NuVal and University of Colorado.
• Launched Pick Chow! Across America Event in 4 cities across the US working with famous chefs and communities to teach families about healthy living. Raised over $100K from healthy food sponsors.

More on Karen…

• Founder of the award-winning ZisBoomBah creating the first interactive nutritional plate, writing the first corporate wellness programs for families and creating the first healthy living group program for community programs.
• VP Corporate Development at Square Two Financial, where she ran strategic planning for the entire company, worked on M&A deals, and built the company’s first online payment engine;
• VP Strategic Partnerships at PlanSoft (team raised over $46 million) where she spearheaded key strategic partners achieving 90% market coverage;
• Controller/Director of Marketing at AdvanStar Communications where she was integral in bringing the company out of bankruptcy and growing it into the 3rd largest publishing firm in the US;
• Karen started her career at Progressive Insurance in underwriting, statistical reporting and operational / financial analysis.

Karen holds an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve and holds a finance undergraduate degree (Magna Cum Laude). Karen is currently earning a certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Stanford.