Karla Linder joined HelmsBriscoe in 2007 after more than 13 years in the meeting planning arena, including six years executive level association management and seven years producing international continuing education meetings and seminars for professionals in the healthcare field. She has extensive experience in fundraising and volunteer management and she has literally “written the book” on meeting planning – designing a comprehensive interactive meeting planning training program at her last company. Karla also has a Masters Degree in Public Administration, which gives her an additional unique perspective on the needs and challenges of association and government clients. After Karla and her partners sold their Medical Education Firm to a Fortune 25 Company, she decided to look for opportunities that would allow her to focus more on the needs of her clients and bring her business strengths to them in a more personal manner. When she learned more about HelmsBriscoe, her response was “how could I not do this?”

      “I enjoy finding the perfect placement for my clients and using my hotel knowledge and experience of negotiating hundreds of hotel contracts to get them into the best possible scenario for their meeting – whether they have 50 or 5000 attendees. The tools, infrastructure, and relationships that HelmsBriscoe offer are light years ahead of competitors. HelmsBriscoe truly represents the interest of the client – which is exactly where I want to be.” Karla will be more than willing to use all of her experience, expertise and plethora of contacts to assist her clients. Karla was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, Africa, and speaks French. She enjoys travel, gardening, reading and community/church involvement. She has recently left big city life to return home to the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina with her family.