Karen served as Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs for Thrivent Financial, retiring from that role in February 2023 to enjoy a new chapter filled with family, sports, travel and volunteer service. During her professional days, Karen was responsible for leading enterprise corporate and crisis communications, reputation and public policy, government affairs and community relations functions for several organizations.
Immediately prior to Thrivent, Karen was affiliated with the retained search firm, DHR International as Executive Vice President in the Minneapolis, MN office as part of the Board and CEO, Education and Non-Profit practice group. Karen also served on the Board of Directors and Chaired the Compensation Committee of HMN Financial, (nka Alerus) a Rochester, MN based public bank holding company from 2005 to 2015. Karen has held senior executive positions in the property-casualty insurance industry, in health care and in higher education. Early in her career, she worked in the natural gas industry and served as a policy adviser to the Governor of Nebraska.
Karen was an on-air host for Twin Cities Public Television for a weekly news program and various specials, including two Minnesota gubernatorial debates. Karen’s leadership style was profiled in the book Swim with the Dolphins: How Women Can Succeed in Corporate America on their Own Terms.
Raised in Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Nebraska, Karen manages a family farming business dating to 1883. She graduated with a B.S. (cum laude) in Business Administration and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Karen also received an M.A. in Systematic Theology at Luther Seminary, with a concentration in ethics.
Karen is a board member of the Minnesota Orchestral Association, serving on the board for over twenty years. She has served on numerous non-profit boards in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Prior national board service includes Lutheran Services of America (Chair of the Governance Committee) and the Public Affairs Council (Past Chair), both based in Washington, D.C.
Karen and her husband John Himle have two adult daughters and reside in Minnetonka, MN. Their older daughter is a graduate of the Navy Officer Candidate School and served as a Surface Warfare Officer (Lieutenant) in Yokosuka Japan. Their younger daughter is a strategy executive in the health care sector.
