Karen Mayeda Schrank grew up on the westside of Olympia, attended local schools and graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a BA in Education and MEd in Counselor Education.

She moved out of the area and lived in Plano, TX and Schaumburg, IL, before returning to Olympia in 2001. While in Texas, Karen continued her education and completed a PhD in Counseling. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, high school guidance counselor, teaching fellow, graduate assistant, and now as a real estate broker. Her career as a real estate broker allows her to combine her knowledge and familiarity of the greater Olympia area with her background in counseling and education to serve her clients in a unique manner.

Karen believes in the importance of building relationships, and understanding and advocating for her clients' needs by utilizing effective communication and negotiation skills. She strives to give back to her community and to that end, she has served as a site council member at Pioneer ES and Washington MS, PTA president, staff appreciation coordinator, and in 2007 was named Advocate of the Year at Washington MS.

Currently, she is an active member of the Olympia-area Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae organization and supports her family's scholarship at South Puget Sound Community College for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education.