With more than three decades in the electric utility industry, Karen began her career with Alabama Power Company before joining the cooperative world in 1994, first serving as Director of Marketing and Communications for CoServ Electric in Denton, Texas. In 2004, Karen became Vice President of Energy Services and Public Relations for Baldwin EMC, located on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. In 2015, she was named Baldwin EMC’s CEO. After serving as CEO for nearly 10 years, she retired and joined GreatCo-Ops to consult with cooperatives on executive searches, executive coaching, strategic planning, and disaster preparedness.

Karen has served on many boards, including PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, Alabama Rural Electric Association, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, NRECA’s CEO Advisory Task Force, and the NRECA Council of Rural Electric Communicators.

Karen received her business and marketing degree from The University of Southern Mississippi and is also a graduate of the NRECA Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program at the University of Wisconsin. She and her husband reside in Loxley, Alabama where they are proud cooperative members.