Global Minnesota serves as the state’s premier coordinator of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and is one of the top member-based organizations to host participants.

The Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN) is the state's largest forum (over 2,000 affiliated) for international practitioners and supporters to learn, network and exchange professional expertise regarding doing global good, better. It is MINN’s vision to be the leader in providing a collaborative environment for Minnesota international NGOs and international practitioners to learn and exchange ideas. Our efforts result in innovative and effective solutions that enrich the lives of the global community.Whether you are new to the world of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or a seasoned veteran, MINN is your forum to connect with colleagues and stay aware of what other NGOs based in Minnesota are doing around the world.

In the years following the Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN)'s first all-day conference in 2013, MINN entered a stage of intense growth, requiring the organization to make upgrades in communications, revenue and organizational development in order to keep up with demands. The purpose of this consultancy was to accelerate the organizational development of the nonprofit by providing back-end leadership in accomplishing tasks in the areas below:*Communications: standardized external communications efforts for MINN's 1,700 e-newletter subscribers and 2,000 LinkedIn members, created a position description, recruited, hired and trained an annual Communications Manager.*Website: Participated in the Nerdery Overnight Challenge and worked with a team of website developers to update Drupal website to be mobile-friendly and more automated through Paypal, GiveMN, Form Assembly and Google Form integrations.*Membership: Launched membership levels; leveraged resources to customize the Salesforce database to enable standardized capture of new and renewing membership records for some 250; identified and executed membership benefits such as discounted attendance, member-only events and publications, and trained in replacement.*Report Publishing: Created an industry-wide survey on international NGOs; successfully distributed the survey in year one and two; in second year moved the survey from SurveyMonkey to Form Assembly to enable a direct population into Salesforce; helped design and edit the survey into an annual report; successfully released the report at an event for over 100 with remarks made by US Senator Amy Klobuchar, and US Representatives Keith Ellison and Tom Emmer. *Curriculum Development: Created and taught an original 4-part course at the University of St Catherine for adults interested in serving abroad entitled MINNspire.*Innovative Events: Enabled a discussion on the Nonprofit Overhead Myth with Theater of Public Policy.

• The MINN Summit was a landmark event. It was the largest gathering of international NGOs and practitioners in Minnesota at the time.• Reached target audience resulting in over 250 in attendance for inaugural conference• The Summit Marketplace boasted 20 international NGOs and/or service providers and remained open past original hours due to strong traffic• Twelve interactive small group breakout sessions offered• Secured volunteer team leads for 12 different sub-teams of event planning committee• Secured support of over 50 volunteers for sub-teams and overall coordination of event• Developed partnership with the University of St. Thomas’ (UST) International Leadership Graduate Program and School of Education• Engaged and exposed UST students, regional business professionals, and NGO practitioners to MINN and opportunities for connecting to international NGO practitioners• Secured high profile keynote, USAID Assistant Administrator Nancy Lindborg • 98% of evaluation respondents (half of total attendees) were satisfied with their experience• 93% of respondents said the value of the Summit was equal to or greater than the cost• 90% expect to attend 2014 Summit• MINN achieved substantial growth in exposure and successfully launched a membership drive

One Heart Health is an international NGO committed to ensuring every child with heart disease gets a chance to live a healthy life. The 501(c)3 supports this mission through its creation of cost effective technologies that encourage early heart screenings of children in low-resourced settings, specifically through the use of a smart-phone app.Karen provides both fundraising support to One Heart Health as well as project management. Over the course of two years, she has worked with her board of directors to raise over $85,000 in individual donations for the organization. Additionally, she was the lead coordinator on a successful $50,000 grant application to a family foundation. She is particularly proud of her efforts to pursue US government funding for One Heart Health's work, a challenging effort for even the largest organizations. In addition to fundraising, Karen is responsible for the marketing and promotion of One Heart Health. In 2021, Karen created the “Hear My Heart” series for CHD Awareness week featuring stories on three families touched by CHDs and their commitment to the One Heart Health telemedicine solution. Karen set up One Heart Health’s CRM database for donors utilizing Little Green Light and assists with bookkeeping, board meetings and volunteer onboarding. She is proficient at MSExcel, MSWord, WordPress content management, MailChimp, Canva, Quick Books and posting on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media platforms on behalf of the organization.

Instructor for the online graduate courses of "Social Marketing for International Development" and "International Development Environments" in the Master's in International Development program at St Mary's University of Minnesota.

Professional project manager specializing in assisting associations, small businesses and nonprofits in identifying solutions for challenges which outstrip their current personnel capacity as they grow. We get things done, together, on time, in budget, and with humor and grace. Examples of client work include: program management and reporting; fundraising and development including managing a year-end online campaign; event management including registration support; communications assistance including email blasts and website content development; volunteer management including recruitment, orientation and retention; membership services including market research, price setting, dues and data collection; community outreach. When you need a partner to bounce ideas off of, hand off some work and share your deadlines, I'm happy to roll up my sleeves and offer a helping hand.

Provided HQ support to Chiefs of Party in the field when executing USAID and USDA funded international agricultural projects for the purpose of improving the livelihoods of the poor abroad and increasing their food security. Support provided to projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Liberia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. Activities include managing subawards, enabling procurements, government proposal writing and reporting, and recruiting and managing consultants and volunteers.

The National Collegiate Conference Association (NCCA) offers experiential learning opportunities that provide participants the insights needed to become better global citizens and the next generation of international leaders. Each year almost 5,000 university students from five continents attend NCCA's National Model United Nations conferences in New York, NY; Washington, DC; Xian, China; and other international locations.

* Organized a 100+ person all-day conference with keynote, breakout workshops, panel discussion and VIP reception in less than six weeks.* Prepared budgets, expense records, deposits, website presence, email blasts and online registration.* Completed market research on programming in field and assisted in the preparation of a comprehensive three-year strategic plan.

* Recruited and oriented hundreds of medical professional volunteers to provide advanced cardiac surgical and catheter trainings at partner hospitals in Ukraine, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa and China. * Handled all trip logistics including freight forwarding of medical supplies.* Conducted focus group discussions of participants to identify mission goals. Analyzed findings and selected indicators for measuring and evaluating growth and impact. * Helped prepare annual budgets and grant proposals and staffed an advisory committee of medical company executives and cardiac professionals.* Received a Medtronic Foundation grant to lead an advanced nurse training and retention program in South Africa. Presented to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, on this innovative program for curbing medical brain drain out of Africa.

Was a fellow for the US Department of Energy's NNSA and assigned to work in the Nuclear Cities Initiative. *Possessed Top Secret clearance and was one of the first five US citizens to tour the formerly closed nuclear city of Sarov, Russia.*Analyzed project proposals and business plans and prepared quarterly reports on activities to promote civilian economic development among former Soviet nuclear weapon workers.*Prepared government contracts, responded to queries from Congress and produced talking points and white papers for United States government leadership on program developments.*Gathered program statics for annual reports.*Responsible for some top-secret research.

Eurasia Foundation is a grant making foundation that operates in the former Soviet Union. It was founded in 1992 under Congressional order, as a private-public partnership. Worked as an assistant to the Government Relations Manager. Attended and reported on congressional hearings.

Provided research for policy report on globalization, governance and civil society.

Minnesota Waste Wise is an environmental program supported by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as well as member dues to encourage Minnesotan businesses to voluntarily reduce their solid waste from entering landfills.

Head organizer for all international exhibits for the Wisconsin Folklife Festival. This included exhibits by 120 folk artists (many of whom had never owned a passport previously) from Japan, Germany, Nicaragua, China and Mexico. Also supported the restaging of the Wisconsin folklife festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with the Smithsonian Institute. http://archive.org/details/1998smithsonianf00smit/mode/2up?view=theater

Provided administrative support to the division and logistical support in coordinating gubernatorial trade missions abroad.

First dedicated director of the Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Provided leadership to campus volunteer committee to identify, book and manage presentations by the following notable speakers: Oliver Sacks, Tony Kusher, Rigoberta Menchu, Dennis Banks, Cornel West, Norm Chomsky and Hanan Ashrawi.