Karen Benner Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

As the Director of Building Performance Programs, Karen promotes workforce development & training, contractor growth & apprenticeships, and community outreach & awareness. She believes everyone deserves to live in a better built home & community, and she loves to collaborate with and support others who feel the same way.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Naming her business in tribute to her childhood home, Karen successfully built and rebuilt her local network and client base in a new city twice within three years. She has helped to improve profit margins for over a dozen clients through organizational assessments, operational efficiency, better project management tools, and improved collaboration.With 20-years’ experience in Production Homebuilding Operations, Karen brings a large builder’s perspective and discipline to her clients and their business partners, including: design/build remodelers, general contractors, modular home providers, local production builders.Specializing in Pre-Construction planning, more efficient Processes, better Bid Packages & improving Trade Collaboration, Karen's expertise & support leads to fewer change orders & delays, contributing to higher Profit Margins, and ultimately more Affordable Housing.Client List Includes:~ Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA~ Elysian Energy, Laurel, MD~ Women for a Healthy Environment, Pittsburgh, PA~ Master Remodelers Inc, Pittsburgh, PA~ Module, Pittsburgh, PA~ Oak & Arrow Homes, Minneapolis, MN~ EcoCraft Homes, Pittsburgh, PA~ Simple Homes, Denver, CO~ Center Creek Homes, Richmond, VA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Karen is spear-heading the efforts of this non-profit neighborhood group to envision, plan, and execute community-centric real estate development. She makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for projects and civic improvements that align with the neighborhood's strategic plan, and works with private, philanthropic and municipal stakeholders to plan and fund projects in a transparent and equitable manner.

Karen believes there is a great opportunity - and responsibility - for real estate professionals to help educate clients beyond short-term economics: such as health, comfort, community and operating expenses.In 2021 she became a Realtor to help bridge the gap between the construction industry and the people who are making significant decisions about a home purchase or renovation. As a compliment to her Green Building credentials, in 2023 she earned her NAR GREEN designation, and also became a Regenerative Real Estate Practitioner with Latitude.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

EcoCraft builds high-performance modular custom homes, and Karen provided project management support through the entire preconstruction phase, including: design, specifications, estimating, bidding, and contracting.By communicating honestly and regularly with customers, design partners, and the modular factory, Karen elevated the customer experience by building trust and confidence.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Karen contributed to the success of the Construction Management Certificate Program, in partnership with the Community College of Aurora (CCA), since its inception. She developed curriculum for three courses, and taught four, in both the Estimating & the Superintendent career tracks: Blueprint Reading, Principles of Supervision, Business Communications & Report Writing, Estimating 1.

Denver, Colorado, United States

Denver, Co

Karen was responsible for implementing & documenting Process Improvements such as: establishing an Integrated Design Process, improving RFI tracking & resolution, producing project-specific Scopes-of-Work. Her prior experience managing LEED for Homes certification played a key role in streamlining the process for production homebuilders. She was also selected to join the Lean Blitz Team and helped establish a Vendor Council to improve feedback & collaboration.

Bethesda, Md

Over 13-years, Karen contributed to the Design, Specifications & Change Management process of more than a dozen urban infill communities, representing over 2,500 homes. In addition to managing professional design consultants from DD through CA, she published & maintained Unit Finishes & Options Programs for all projects. As the leader of EYA’s Product Innovation efforts, Karen ensured successful execution of trends such as Private Roof Terrace Amenities & Multi-Generational Living, and High Performance features such as mini-splits and whole-house ventilation, by overseeing risk-mitigation, cost-analysis, contract document updates, and accurate marketing materials. She championed Green Building certification of over 800 market-rate & affordable housing units within 8-years, including a move to the Construction Dept. for 2-years to ensure success, helping her to win NAHB’s Best-In-Green Young Professional of the Year in 2015.Karen’s collaborative approach helped her lead several internal teams focused on company-wide initiatives such as Innovation, Process Improvement, Budgeting & Quality Control. As a member of the Senior Management Team, she contributed to both long-term Strategic Planning and weekly monitoring of company performance against KPIs.

Bethesda, Md

LEED-H Builder Representative/Team Leader at Capitol Quarter, the nation’s largest for-sale LEED-certified community; Karen oversaw the execution of all required design techniques, materials and products needed to achieve certification.

Bethesda, Md

Vienna, Va

Charlotte, Nc

Design & sale of cabinets, countertops and appliances to Builders & Homeowners.

Charlotte, Nc

Managed daily construction activities for single-family custom homes

Charlotte, Nc

Managed daily construction activities for single-family production homes

Master Of Science (Ms), Architectural Engineering

Activities and Societies: Housing Research Center

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Civil Engineering

Activities and Societies: Alpha Phi Omega