Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Education
Affiliations
Timeline
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Karen Nelson

Milwaukee,WI

Summary

A results-driven Director with a forward-thinking approach, I am grounded in inclusion, respect, and empowerment across race, gender, other dimensions of identity, and the rural/suburban/urban divide having lived in both Milwaukee and Appleton. As the leader of GARE (Governmental Alliance of Racial Equity) statewide, a national Best Practice, I am experienced in collaborating with partners to build a movement that delivers meaningful change for all Wisconsinites and build a future where everyone can thrive. I have a demonstrated record of success in building winning operations.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Diversity Officer

NELSTAR LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY CONSULTING
01.2009 - Current
  • Professional client services support, including: group orientations, delivery of diversity and other human resource programs across all business units and various work groups
  • One-on-one executive coaching and other initiatives provided at the discretion of the client
  • Worked with contract clients including Murray County Family Connection, IVC-US, and Mohawk Industries to develop, coordinate, influence and implement solutions to support their business strategy
  • Directed and provided consultation to leadership in all areas of HR, from performance management, succession planning, staffing/recruiting, organizational development, inclusion and all employee relations issues.

Vice President – Inclusion & Community Impact

HERZING UNIVERSITY
01.2022 - 03.2024
  • Executive Leader who develops and execute DEI strategy with a 55-member DEI Team
  • Responsible for the implementation of DEI principles and KPI processes reporting to the President, by partnering with leadership, faculty, students to ensure DEI is integrated into all aspects of the University: HR: talent recruitment, hiring, onboarding, performance management, promotion, high-potential identification, succession planning, recognition, and pay and benefit programs/practices
  • Academics: development of culturally responsive pedagogy in curriculum and faculty hiring
  • Board of Trustees: serves as a liaison to the Subcommittee on Inclusion and Community Impact
  • Student Services: offers support and resources that positively impact minority completion rates.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Director

ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
01.2020 - 01.2022
  • Inaugural change agent, advisor to the executive team, and strategic partners
  • This role is responsible for the development and implementation of EDI strategy by researching, developing, recommending, and executing EDI principles, short and long-term goals, processes, creative strategies, metrics and key performance indicators (KPI) with the VP Healthy Culture and EDI Coordinator (direct report), with HR Leadership, Clinical Leadership to embed EDI principles into patient care, Senior Leadership, Purchasing, Facilities, Food Service and Community Groups
  • Corporate Communications, Marketing, and Outreach to build and manage the communication strategy for promoting and highlighting EDI programs, supporting brand promotion and evolution.

Diversity & Inclusion Leader

THE CITY OF APPLETON
01.2017 - 01.2021
  • Delivery of diversity and inclusion initiatives as well as all activities relating to the strategies, policies, procedures and practices of employment, staffing, management training, development, employee relations and work performance for the City of Appleton
  • Met one-on-one to develop and maintain effective and positive working relationships with internal and external customers, including citizens and visitors, elected officials, and City employees
  • Implemented training materials on the business case for diversity initiatives to every City employee and ‘Courageous Community Conversations’ for City residents
  • Launched the Dignity & Respect Campaign January 2018 – the first in the State of Wisconsin.

Corporate Diversity Manager

SHAW INDUSTRIES – A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
01.2006 - 01.2009
  • A champion for change related to diversity across all organizational units and functional groups for 30,000 Associates in a $6.5 billion worldwide flooring company
  • Communicated directly with all levels of management in Human Resources, EEO, Training & Development, and Business Unit Leaders in talent management, recruitment, retention, and employee development for ‘best in class’ diversity strategy, college relations and internal client support
  • Created a Corporate Diversity Council consisting of 15 key Business Leaders to provide oversight to the diversity initiatives being implemented throughout the entire organization.

Lead Consultant & Diversity Trainer

NELSTAR LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY CONSULTING
01.1994 - 01.2006
  • Contracted with PROGroup consultants during a 5-year training contract for American Family Insurance
  • The project for AFI involved their initial implementation requiring sweeping change regarding diversity for their property and casualty underwriting professionals
  • Other clients included Miller Brewing Company, The Leaders Forum, The Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Public Schools, Right Management Consulting and the University of Wisconsin
  • Responsibilities included diversity strategy and college relations.

WI Women's Vote Director

Democratic Party of Wisconsin
11.2003 - 11.2004
  • Monitored workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
  • Evaluated scripts to identify creative strategies and resource needs.
  • Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
  • Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
  • Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential partners to drive vote development.

Executive Director

THE LEADERS FORUM
01.1995 - 01.2000
  • Promoted the Milwaukee area and the opportunities it provides for African-American professionals as a place where minority managers can advance their careers and make an impact in the community
  • The role also encouraged mentoring relationships among African-American professionals in Milwaukee as a way of improving retention and attracting more minority talent to the city.

Manager - Cultural Diversity

GENERAL ELECTRIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS (GEMS)
01.1991 - 01.1994
  • Responsible for all diversity initiatives, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs and the Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) for 10,000 employees in the United States, Canada and Latin America
  • Conducted over 250 Two-Day cultural diversity training classes, including Train-the-Trainer and administered over 100 Sexual harassment prevention training courses in 10 departments
  • Created the GEMS Corporate Diversity Council consisting of 12 key Business Leaders
  • Responsible for diversity strategy, OFCCP negotiations and HBCU college relationship building
  • The primary point of contact to investigate, and resolve complex personnel issues, such as employee grievances, sexual harassment, discrimination issues, and other work-related employee complaints and concerns.

Education

Bachelor of Science -

Bennett College
Greensboro, NC

MBA -

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Milwaukee

Skills

  • Experienced campaign worker
  • Multiple campaigns:
  • John Kerry, Marvin Pratt & Gwen Moore
  • Media Relations
  • Cultural Competency
  • Market Research
  • Event Planning
  • Client Relationship Building
  • Data Analysis

Education

Bennett College, Greensboro, NC, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI

Affiliations

  • Governor Evers' State Council in the Bureau of Equity
  • League of Women Voters since 2018
  • D9 - Social Action Chair (NEW) 2019-present and Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • 2024-2026 elected 1st VP 2024-2026 of the NCNW Milwaukee Section of Colored People), Life Member of the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women)
  • Awarded for Community Leadership as Champion of GARE and the Dignity & Respect Campaign by ESTHER in 2018 and AASD in 2019
  • 2020 Dr. MLK, Jr. “I Have a Dream” award winner
  • 2017 Named One of Wisconsin’s Top 35 Black Leaders by Madison 365
  • Life Member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Timeline

Vice President – Inclusion & Community Impact

HERZING UNIVERSITY
01.2022 - 03.2024

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Director

ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
01.2020 - 01.2022

Diversity & Inclusion Leader

THE CITY OF APPLETON
01.2017 - 01.2021

Chief Diversity Officer

NELSTAR LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY CONSULTING
01.2009 - Current

Corporate Diversity Manager

SHAW INDUSTRIES – A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
01.2006 - 01.2009

WI Women's Vote Director

Democratic Party of Wisconsin
11.2003 - 11.2004

Executive Director

THE LEADERS FORUM
01.1995 - 01.2000

Lead Consultant & Diversity Trainer

NELSTAR LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY CONSULTING
01.1994 - 01.2006

Manager - Cultural Diversity

GENERAL ELECTRIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS (GEMS)
01.1991 - 01.1994

Bachelor of Science -

Bennett College

MBA -

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Karen Nelson