Introduction: Karel gives meaning to mayhem with her nothing-but-the-truth approach to life and business.
An accomplished humorist and author, Karel has made television and radio appearances, and she enjoys local, regional, and national publication of her articles.
In addition to Straight Talk: Getting Off the Curb, she is also the author of Hitting Our Stride: Women, Work and What Matters.
Karel is a featured author in Extreme Excellence: Dynamic Interviews with Americas Top 10 Performance Experts, and she publishes a monthly newsletter Think Forward! read by thousands of subscribers.
She is the author of the CPR for Managers Series, and she has created a weekly podcast series where she interviews industry professionals on various topics in addition to her blog on her websites.
Karel holds a BA in Human Resources, and she has earned numerous certifications and designations including the prestigious Real Estate Educators Assoc. DREI (Distinguished Real Estate Instructor) and the National Speakers Association CSP (Certified Speaking Professional).
Her resume includes experience as an award-winning sales person, as a manager of a top-producing real estate office, as a human resources regional executive of a huge commercial insurance firm, and now, as an owner of Our Branch, Inc., an international and national training and speaking company.
She has received several awards for her community service including the Blue Springs Missouri Chamber of Commerce Award.
She once taught a pig named Nelson to jump on a rope, but that is another story.
She is a member of the Meeting Professionals International, National Speakers Association, and she has served as a board of director officer and member for the National Real Estate Educators Association.
Karel, as a professional keynote speaker, has had the pleasure of connecting with hundreds of audiences all over the US and abroad.
When not on the road, Karel can be seen in Waterloo, Iowa with her ever patient and wonderful husband, Rick, and their attentive cats.
