Advisor to the Board of Directors

Before permanently coming to Key West, Karen Hammond had lived in several northern Detroit suburbs finally landing in the very tight-knit lake community of Lake Angelus, Michigan.  This is where the value of knowing and participating in all aspects of your community became a standard for living her life.

Karen graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Retail and a focus in Business.  She then moved to Chicago having been accepted to the Executive Management Training Program at Carson, Pirie, Scott.  She was hired as the manager of 3 departments, Fine Jewelry, Accessories, and Costume Jewelry.  She was later elevated to the assistant buyer of Fine Jewelry.  After leaving Carson, Pirie, Scott she went to be a Manager and buyer at Gilmore’s Department Store in Oak Park, Illinois.

She moved back to Detroit in 1976 to marry her husband John.  There she worked as a buyer of fine jewelry at Charles Warren Inc.

While raising two children she co-founded a Detroit-based free newspaper “All Kids Considered.”  After the initial start-up, she became Manager and Sales Director.  That led her to Metro Sales Director at “Metro Detroit Magazine” and then to Automotive Detroit Sales Director at Catalog Media Company representing 50 different consumer catalogs to National Automotive Companies.

Karen also became very involved in Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook Schools.  Co-chairing auctions and Gala’s, publishing and selling ad space for cookbooks and other school publications.  Karen was also the force behind the initiative to increase spectator participation at girls sporting events at Cranbrook Schools through various activities.

Karen and her husband began visiting Key West with their family 24 years ago then began wintering in Key West in 2005 and quickly found that same enriching community quality that they loved in Lake Angelus existed on this island as well. They started a search for their next home.  They live here full-time and have totally embraced this wonderful community.

Giving back to community has always been important to Karen and working with the Waterfront Playhouse will help to fulfill that desire.