Karen Willis: CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County
"I am thrilled to be part of a movement that puts children first. While we live in a great state, our ongoing prosperity demands a long, hard look at what we are doing now. Will our investments position us with a workforce able to tackle the ever changing demands of a global economy? Or will we look back and wonder how the world passed us by? Research is clear: Investing early in the health and well-being of children is the best innoculation against remediation, crime, and poverty. That's why I am a card-carrying member of Florida's Milk Party."
Karen Willis, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County
1940 Traylor Blvd.
Orlando 32804
407-841-6607-ext. 106
E mail: karen@ELCOC.org
Karen Willis is the chief executive officer for the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County. As CEO, Karen leads a staff of more than 35, five contractors, and more than 600 early care and education providers to invest more than $62 million in state and federal funding to benefit Orange County’s youngest citizens.
Prior to joining the Orange County Early Learning Coalition in 2007, Karen served as executive director for the Early Learning Coalition of Seminole County for three years.
She has more than 35 years of experience in designing, managing and administering publicly funded programs at both the local and state level (primarily those focused on services to youth, the physically challenged, and the unemployed and underemployed). Past employment include: owner/president of Adroit Solutions; CEO of Workforce Investments; executive vice president of the Indianapolis Private Industry Council, and lead policy analyst for Indiana's Job Training Advisory Council.
In 1983, Karen was selected by Indiana Gov. Robert D. Orr as one of 10 interns for the inaugural class of “Governor Fellows” – a program designed to recruit “up and coming leaders” to professionalize management of Indiana's government.
In 1994, Karen was the first recipient of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals System Development Award for her contributions to building One-Stop integrated service delivery. This work was later codified in federal legislation as local workforce boards.
Since May 2001, Karen has been a Certified Workforce Development Professional. She also hold a Florida Workforce Professional credential.
Karen is vice chair of the Orange County Children’s Cabinet and a board member of the Central Florida Women’s Resource Center. She also is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children, the Florida Family Child Care Association (FFCCA) and the Association of Early Learning Coalitions (AELC).
A resident of Orange County since 1999, Karen holds a bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University, a masters in Public Affairs from Indiana University, and TQM and Servant Leadership certificates from Indiana University.