About Karen Spada

Karen tells the story of how she started as a Mary Kay Consultant. "I was working as an interior decorator in a furniture store when my sister started her own business as a Mary Kay Consultant. I really didn't understand why someone with a very successful corporate career-with travel and prestige-would want to sell cosmetics! My sister said she needed the extra money and thought it would be fun, and asked if I would meet with her to hear what the company was all about. As she talked about Mary Kay, I thought it sounded too good to be true. I remember asking her, "What's the catch?" She said there was no catch, but that you had to work at it in order to be successful. I said, "I don't mind hard work" and the next thing I knew, I was a very excited new Mary Kay Consultant. That was in 1988-nearly 20 years ago-and I am more excited today than the first day I started.  

Career Milestones
Milestones in Karen's Mary Kay career include:

• Karen earned her first company car in 1991, and has earned a company car every two years since then
• Karen is proud to be a 2007 Pink Cadillac Unit and a member of the $350,000 Unit Club
• Karen's Unit has just achieved the title of THE MOST IMPROVED UNIT IN THE STATE OF CT. 2007 FOR THE ENTIRE COMPANY
• Karen became a Sales Director in 1992
• In 2001, Karen became a member of the $300,000 Unit Club and was named "Most Improved Unit" in her National Area
• For 9 years, Karen accomplished the "National Queens Court of Sales"
• Karen has been a "Star Consultant" for 77 quarters and has ranked in the Top 10 in her National Area for many years
• As a Sales Director, Karen has mentored consultants to earn company cars-and become Sales Directors themselves!      

What Karen Loves About her Business
Karen finds it rewarding to work with women, and to show them how gorgeous they can look with Mary Kay products. She created a portfolio of photographs of 100 women, before and after a Mary Kay make-up session. When women see their "after" photographs, they are always totally delighted with the results. Karen says,

"I also love showing women how they can contribute to their family's lifestyle, as I have done. Whether it's for their children's college educations, retirement planning, vacations, or helping to keep up with monthly bills, women can make a significant contribution through Mary Kay."

What Contributes to her Success
Karen's love of people and her positive nature have contributed to her success. She also looks for creative ways to promote her business, such as forming strategic alliances with other companies in her area to promote their joint services. For example, Karen:

• Arranged a fashion show at a nearby upscale clothing store for her consultants and her customers
• Sponsored a skin care class at a local physical fitness center
• Organized an "accessorizing" event for her consultants at a local business.
• Helped teachers celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day at a nearby store, with Mary Kay goodie bags and drawings for facials and gift baskets
• Recognized nurses in Connecticut hospitals on National Nurses' Day, with drawings, facials, Satin Hands treatments, and Mary Kay goodie bags
• Sponsored a Day of Beauty for the oncology staff at a Connecticut hospital   

 Karen says, "Alliances like these are beneficial for so many people. They're good for my business, for the companies I collaborate with, and especially for the women who attend the events. Everyone benefits." 

A Commitment to Helping Others in Need
When she's not busy with Mary Kay activities, Karen volunteers for several foundations and charities. One of her strongest personal commitment is to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. As a cancer survivor, Karen does whatever she can to reach out and give others hope for surviving cancer.

Karen has also arranged many local fundraising events for the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. With her consultants, she has arranged contests and events to raise money for the Foundation, whose two-fold mission is to eliminate cancers-specifically those affecting women-and to aid those in the fight against domestic violence. This year, record-level giving enabled the Foundation to award 50 grants totaling $250,000 to shelters for abused women nationwide. The Foundation's cancer grants funding groundbreaking research and mammograms for underserved women.

A Bit about Karen's Life  
Karen has lived in Connecticut for many years, and has been married nearly 20 years to her supportive husband, Bob. They have two wonderful children.

Karen is actively involved with her local Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International, both of which have helped build her business. She also volunteers for community causes and had mentored a young girl in a nearby city, which she did for six years.