Karen Haig

Business Manager
Treasurer

As a founding member of Earth & Space Research, Karen Haig has been involved in every aspect of the creation and management of this small non-profit institution. Karen loves the creative process of creating small businesses. In her work prior to Earth & Space Research, she owned Avalon Management Services, a consulting firm committed to the development and advancement of small business in the greater Seattle area. As principal of Avalon Management Services, Karen was retained to spearhead the development of Earth & Space Research.

Karen left her consulting business behind to become the full time manager of Earth & Space Research. Since then, she has overseen the development of the organization from the sparkle of an idea over a great Italian dinner, to a 6 year-old institution with over 5 million dollars in funding. She successfully managed the processes of 501 C-3 non-profit application and acceptance, Washington State Incorporation, board development, Master Business Application and development of relationships with various granting entities. Having established ESR as a legal business, she began the co-creation of the company that would become home to seven research scientists and herself. She now manages all aspects of the organization from audits to agencies, insurance to independent contractors, from grants to great birthday lunches, and money to mere office supplies. "ESR is the best place in the world to work" she'll tell you. And then she'll convince you that it really is possible to create a company that puts people first and provides all the tools necessary for those people to accomplish great work...

Karen lives with her son Simon, her black Labs Sophie and Stella, and cats Morgan and Teo. She is the Co-President and Treasurer of the Board of Bainbridge Youth Services, a non-profit agency providing no cost crisis counseling to teens, and Vice-President and head of strategic planning for the Charles Moriarty Foundation for Cancer Education. In her proudest and favorite moments, she is Simon's mom.