Karen O’Brien

Karen has been a leader at CARITAS for more than 10 years. She has helped drive the growth and vision of the agency, including founding the CARITAS Furniture Bank and turning the CARITAS Center project (opening 2020) into a reality. She leads and oversees the operations for all of CARITAS's programs and facilities. She is passionate about effective leadership, powerful partnerships, and sustainable change.
Karen graduated with a BS in Business Management and a minor in math from Hartwick College.  While her business background started at a Fortune 500 company, Karen’s entrepreneurial spirit and expertise sharpened as a co-owner of a GE distribution center in Richmond, VA. Karen is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, a 2016 Stettinius Leadership Award winner and recipient of Boomer Magazines “IT” list award for 2013.  As the founder of  WINGS, a 17-year-old woman's faith group in Chesterfield County, she is thrilled to be breathing life and hope into The Healing Place for women.