向日葵视频

College Award Recipients

• Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
• Association of 向日葵视频 Women
• College of Business Administration
• J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication
• School of Dentistry
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Health Sciences
• Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
• Law School
• College of Nursing
• College of Professional Studies
• 向日葵视频 Alumni Association Board of Directors

Leadership Excellence Award

KAREN A. VERNAL

Wauwatosa, Wis.

鈥淚gniting the spirit and skills of leaders.鈥� It鈥檚 what Karen Vernal does.

As president of Vernal Management Consultants LLC, Karen and her team work with leaders to build vibrant, results-oriented organizations through executive coaching, leadership and team development, strategic planning, and leadership/organizational retreats. Clients report that working with Karen and her team accelerates leadership competencies, which ultimately impacts business success.

鈥淚 consider our work a sacred privilege,鈥� says Karen, who was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Wheeling, W.V., for 14 years before her marriage to John Waldbauer. 鈥淚t is not work for me. It is my vocation.鈥�

Vernal Management Consultants counts as clients Marquette, ASQ, the Green Bay Packers, Harley-Davidson, Robert W. Baird, Rockwell Automation and Aurora Healthcare, among many others.

Says client Paul Borawski, CEO of the American Society for Quality: 鈥淭here is a lot being said these days about the benefits of executive coaching. It would be a mistake to simply classify Karen as a coach. I 鈥� we 鈥� have all been beneficiaries of her miracles, both large and small.鈥�

In 2003, Karen was named a 鈥淲oman of Influence鈥� by the Milwaukee Business Journal. She was also recognized by the Packers for guiding their organizational planning process for six years. She has served on the faculties of 向日葵视频and West Virginia Wesleyan and volunteers with many community and nonprofit agencies. She is a member of the Advisory Council for the College of Professional Studies and a resource for many university leaders.

Karen鈥檚 formula for success? 鈥淟ive your life to the fullest with integrity and intention,鈥� she says. And in the words of a Buddhist monk: 鈥淒o what you can because you can. Do it with joy!鈥�

Fun fact: Even as young as grade school, Karen knew her passion for serving others: 鈥淚 wanted to be a Sister of St. Joseph. I recognized, even at a young age, that these were women who were making a difference, and I wanted to make a difference. Life has opened many unexpected doors for that dream to become a reality!鈥�