Karen Young brings over 20 years of business experience to effect a clear goal: to provide individuals with the skills they need for success.

Applying prior marketing and management experience in the service industry, Karen grew her small communication and marketing business into an accredited career college, preparing many hundreds of people for the workplace.

Not limited to the Boardroom or to the classroom, in 2008 Karen shifted focus, applying her broad experience in non-profit management and fundraising, to the alleviation of poverty in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, in the role of Director of Resource Development. She has built relationships in various sectors and communities around the region, participating in all aspects of fund development, volunteer management, and social enterprise creation. Karen has worked with non-profit organizations of all sizes, from micro start ups to large multi million dollar service agencies.

Karen's proven community building approaches are an asset to participants. Her involvement in the community won her the distinction of Woman of The Year for leadership with the Business and Professional Woman's Association, Fraser Valley.

Her volunteer experience includes former President of the local Symphony Orchestra Society (1999 - 2007), appointee to a government Arts grant-giving agency, BC Arts Council (2007 - 2012), a capital campaign Executive for a hospital, and on the organizing committee for Summer Games (1992 - 1995). In addition, Karen is former President of the local Chamber of Commerce.

She is an author of various books on fundraising and personal development, for example "Fundraising Primer", "101 Fundraising Events", and "Fundraising Handbook for Interns", as well as "Seven Simple Steps to Happy". And she is co-author of "Your Path to Success", a workbook and program.