Karen is going on her 14th year as the City Clerk for the City of Wichita.  Before working for the City of Wichita, she was the Court Clerk and City Clerk for the City of Rose Hill, Kansas, where she lived and worked for 10 years.  After leaving Rose Hill, she moved back to Wichita and was employed at Raytheon and worked in the finance department.  A very good friend, who was employed with the City of Wichita, told her that the City Clerk's position would be opening up.  Karen was very interested in the opportunity of getting back into city government.  She met with former City Manager, Chris Cherches, who suggested she apply for the position.  The rest is history.

As City Clerk, Karen is responsible for the preparation of the City Council Agendas and Minutes and attending weekly City Council Meetings, which are held on the first three Tuesdays of each month and the Consent Agenda/workshops that are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  She provides information, as requested to the City Council Members and keeps the City Council apprised of agenda changes and/or considerations.  She works very closely with each department head regarding notification and coordination regarding future agenda items, council actions, City Manager requests, and public inquires. 

In addition, Karen is responsible for scheduling public agenda speakers in conformance with Council policies and procedures and ensuring the content of subject is allowed on the public agendas.  The City Clerk's office is responsible for maintaining the City Code, legal notifications, legal publications and working closely with the Sedgwick County Election Commissioner's staff on City elections, administering the oath of office to Council appointed board and committee members, and keeping and preserving the corporate seal of the City, all records, public papers and documents of the City.

As the City's Records Manager, Karen developed the City Records Retention and Destruction schedule, which is posted on the City's website.  She is responsible for maintenance and supervision of the City's records management system and training for the record coordinators.  She is currently working along with Deputy City Clerk Jamie Buster and staff from the Law Department and Project Management, on streamlining the City's open records request process.

Karen received her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Baker University and has taken several continuing education courses through the Hugo Wall of Urban Studies at Wichita State University.  She is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and has completed the three-year City Clerk's Certification program and attained CMC designation January 31, 2006, and attained her Master Municipal City Clerk designation (MMC) on January 26, 2010.

Karen serves on the City Clerk's and Municipal Finance Officers Association Board of Directors, which is responsible for planning and scheduling the upcoming year's classes and subject matter that is taught for the four year institute's participants and master academy participants.  She also helps with planning and scheduling of speakers and topics for the annual Kansas Clerk's Spring Conference.  One of her future goals is to hold a position as an officer for our Kansas clerk's organization.

Karen has two grown daughters and two grown step-sons. She and her husband, Don, have six grandchildren from 19 to 7 years of age.  They moved from east Wichita to west Wichita five years ago and she is still adjusting to living on the west side of town. They enjoy spending time with their family and have weekly Sunday dinners at their home.   Karen loves going to consignment shops, estate sales, vintage markets, reading and hanging out with friends and family.