Karen Westing

About

Karen is a professional storyteller with more than fifteen years of experience developing and leading marketing, communications and public relations campaigns. She is passionate about nurturing a storytelling culture in the organization and sharing our network’s impact through digital media.

Karen came to Philanthropy Northwest from the City of Seattle where she worked as a communications advisor at the Department of Transportation. Originally from Baltimore, she’s lived in Seattle for 19 years and also worked previously at the YMCA of Greater Seattle as the director of strategic communications and public relations. Her work with Philanthropy Northwest includes communications and content strategy, brand management, social media marketing and media relations.

She developed a passion for the outdoors during an Outward Bound semester course while in her senior year at Washington College, and became a full-time Outward Bound instructor following graduation. The natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is one of the things that motivated her to stay in the Seattle-area and she often spends her weekends hiking, camping or snowshoeing. She's also an enthusiastic Orioles baseball fan and is happy to spot more and more O's hats popping up in Seattle.