Karen Williams, 211 Orange County

Summary

 

• Senior executive with 35 years of experience in general management, business development, marketing, sales and finance.
• Multi-faceted background in both non-profit and for-profit sectors; direct and database marketing; social media marketing; outsourcing and the analysis of alternative cost effective measures.
• Strategic, results-driven leader with proven ability to create new organizations, spearhead change, foster groups to think outside the box.

 

Work Experience

2-1-1 Orange County (211OC): President and Chief Executive Officer (Sept. 2013 – current)

• Oversaw merger of two non-profit organizations, 211OC and OC Partnership, culminating in one 501 (c) (3) organization (211OC) in April 2014.
• Increased public and private funding of combined organization from $2 Million to $3+ Million income; multi-lingual staff of 40+ serving the Orange County community in prevention and diversion space.
• As the California PUC designated 2-1-1 organization for the County of Orange, we connect our diverse community to the 3000+ health and human resources they need via our Information & Referral Specialists (phone, text, email and interactive website). 211OC manages and curates this resource database, operating 24/7/365 in four (4) languages in-house (with access to 300+ languages and dialects via a language line).
• As the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead, oversee a multi-lingual team to manage the HMIS database and processes for the OC Continuum of Care. Includes reporting and analytics for 34 cities, County of Orange and HUD, as well as 40+ agencies that participate in HMIS.
• Oversight of multiple community collaborative programs, including Domestic Violence, Veterans, 211RIDE, CalFresh, and Coordinated Entry System’s Virtual Front Door.
• Direct reports: Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operations Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Director of Community Program, and Director of CoC Data and Operations.
• Recruit, develop and manage a diverse Board of Directors, with backgrounds in public and private organizations.

OC Partnership: Chief Operating Officer (July 2011 – Aug.2013) / Chief Executive Officer (Sept.2013 – April 2014)

• Responsible for providing vision and leadership in key service areas, including the OC Continuum of Care, HMIS data collection and analysis, and technical assistance for agencies providing services to the homeless or those at risk of being homele
• Oversight of day-to-day operations, funding/resource development, budget development and management, project management, marketing and PR, contract administration and negotiations; manage relationships with the County of Orange, HUD, and service agencies and the Point in Time project within the CoC; public speaker on behalf of the CoC.

Mortgage Lending (2001 – 2011) Mortgage broker for companies offering financing to consumers and investors

Salesmation.com, Newport Beach, CA (2000 – 2001) VP Strategic Business Development

MatchLogic (a wholly owned subsidiary of Excite@Home), Westminster, CO   (1998 – 1999) VP of Sales

Customer Development Corporation, Peoria, IL /Huntington Beach, CA (1997 – 1998) VP of Business Development

The Polk Company, Denver, CO   (1995 – 1997)  VP, Strategic Business Development

TeleTech Telecommunications, Inc., Denver, CO   (1991 – 1995) VP, Sales & Marketing

Infobase Services, Conway, AR (1988-1991) Director and then President of joint venture

 

Nonprofit Volunteer Experience

St. Clement’s by the Sea Episcopal Church (1999 – 2018) Senior Warden of Vestry (2011 – 2012) President of bi-lingual congregation and church council with oversight of finance, outreach, fundraising, administration, volunteers, communications, and Christian education committees. Junior Warden of Vestry (2017-2018) / Stewardship (2016-2017) / Outreach Chair (2009-2011) / Finance Chair (2000 – 2002) / Hospitality Chair (1999 - 2000) / Episcopal Church Women / VP and Program Chair (2007 – 2009) / Natural Church Development Facilitator (2004 -2005)

Business Networking International (2008-2011) / Rotary International (2005 – 2009)  / National Alliance for Mental Illness (2008) / B/PAA International (now Business Marketing Association) (1981 – 1993) Int’l. Board of Directors (1989 – 1992)

Education

University of Denver, Daniels College of Business, Emerging Leaders Program

Malcolm Baldrige Award Process 

Columbia University Sales Management (Post Grad Course)

Certified Business Communicator (B/PAA, now BMA)

Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Science of Fine Arts