Karen has worked in the heavily regulated Colorado marijuana industry for the past seven years and is considered an expert in licensing. She began her career in the Marijuana industry with Medicine Man working as Andy Williams’ right hand person and taking on all Medicine Man’s licensing as well as project manager overseeing the buildouts of two dispensaries. Karen submitted the first approved Publicly Traded Company’s application for Suitability and Change of Ownership after Colorado HB 19-1090 was passed as well as the first Denver approved Marijuana Research and Development application.

Prior to joining the marijuana industry, Karen assisted in writing and receiving a ~$1M cooperative agreement from the National Energy Technology Laboratory for a startup company that took brackish water from oil and gas drilling and turned it into distilled water. She was instrumental in obtaining permits and licensing two multi-million-dollar facilities in Pennsylvania for that start up. While working in the banking industry, Karen applied for and received FHA Approved Lender status for the local bank. She is a seasoned public speaker and has served on various Boards and Committees over the years, most recently as Chairperson of the Board of Directors for a Federal Credit Union.