West Virginia
Company Member since 2015

Karen’s childhood centered around music. She learned to play the piano and organ, sang in her church choir, played the clarinet, and sometimes twirled a baton in her high school band. She studied medical technology at West Virginia University and completed her education at the University of Texas at Arlington and St. Joseph Hospital School of Medical Technology in Fort Worth, Texas.

Karen has had many roles, including running hospital laboratories, working as a medical laboratory sales representative, a Merrill Lynch stockbroker, a Certified Financial Planner with her own firm, a Charitable Gift Planner for several nonprofits, and, currently, an affiliate marketer and licensed travel agent.

She and her husband, Dave, moved to St. James in March 1999. She has three children and shares five bonus children and their spouses with her husband. Together, they have 15 grandchildren and several step-grandchildren. Their favorite travel destinations include Italy, Sicily, Greece, and sailing in the Caribbean.

Since retiring, she has enjoyed a variety of activities beyond traveling, such as clogging, TRX, yoga, Gyro-tonics, tap dancing, golf, and volunteering. She has served as President of the St. James Service Club, a nonprofit organization that has donated over $2.4 million in cash and in- kind gifts since 1997 to support nonprofits in Brunswick County. Karen also served as President of The Brunswick County Community Foundation for 15 years, during which she awarded more than $50,000 in local grants to area nonprofits. She is Director Emeritus of The First Tee of Brunswick County, a youth development program that uses golf to teach life skills, character, and values like integrity, respect, and perseverance.

Karen only took up tap dancing after retiring and moving to the Southport area. She first heard about the Hi-Steppers while competing with another tap group at the Brunswick County Senior Games. After meeting Annette Crumpton at a master tap class in Wilmington, she was invited to join the Hi-Steppers in 2015. She describes it as feeling like a sisterhood, where they care for each other, even when someone is no longer part of the group. Her favorite memories are captured in photos filled with smiles! The competitions at the Senior Games, both locally and at the state level, are very meaningful to her, as is performing for area seniors at various venues over the years. She has won four gold medals and one silver medal at the Senior Games Silver Arts Follies. She says, “Tina Leak is super special to all of us! We love her teaching, her supportiveness, and her caring!