In 1997 when Karen moved to Rochester, New York (after many moves), she started Girl*friends as a way to get some of her friends together and to continue using her Meeting Planning skills, which she missed from her "prior" life. She had always hoped to get together with different groups of women, but due to several moves, constrained budgets, busy family life, etc., planned trips kept getting put off. Gals from growing up, college, jobs, and different homes were spread out all over the country. She figured if she planned a weekend each year that she was sure to be at (and plan!), then maybe some friends could make it. In addition, she would ask those ladies to bring along a special friend or two that they don't get to see often enough. This is Girl*friends 13th year and our 10th year at the Equinox Resort & Spa in Manchester Village, Vermont. A couple of years we tried new locations, the Mirror Lake Inn & Spa in Lake Placid, New York, the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vermont and the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, New York.

In the spring of '03 Ladies 'n Lasses started so Karen could enjoy a "girls" trip with her daughter, Grace. Ladies 'n Lasses enjoyed 4 years, one in Chicago and three in New York City. In Chicago the group visited the American Girl Store and saw their live show, Circle of Friends. In New York City they've seen "Wicked" & "Little Women" and "Legally Blonde".

Spinning Divas was "born" while Karen spent many hours spinning at the local gym. Imagining the beautiful Finger Lakes and the wonderful quaint villages that surround the area, she took a highlighter and mapped out her bike road through the Finger Lakes. In addition to a great ride, it was important to her to include wonderful Inns and fabulous food...what better way to end a 30+-mile bike ride?!? The Spinning Divas have now enjoyed all the Finger Lakes (Cayuga, Skaneateles, Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua).

All of Karen's past experience has been in the hospitality industry. A graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, Karen has worked as a waitress, front desk clerk, reservations clerk, sales manager and special events and golf tournament coordinator. But after many years of working operations, Karen finally realized that what she really loved about the industry was staying in hotels and eating in restaurants! She was lucky enough to get a job at Deloitte & Touche (then Deloitte Haskins & Sells) as a Meeting Planner. The opportunity to travel the country and visit luxury resorts was definitely great!!! It was at that time she learned the importance of organization, good communications and attention to details, which she knows you will receive on a GO 'N GROOVE trip!

Karen grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, but since then has lived in many places (Exeter & Durham, NH, Rochester, NY, State College, PA, Ann Arbor, MI, Sun Valley, ID, New York, NY, Pittsburgh, PA). She now calls Miami home. Grace (18) and George (16) and her labradoodle, Halle, keep her and hubby, Andy out of trouble...