Karen Waller

Karen  Waller currently works with area businesses, non-profits, and civic leaders as Executive Director of Belpre (Ohio) Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC). She works with these groups to expand and retain business in the Mid-Ohio Valley of West Virginia and Ohio, oversees all BACC events and activities, and works with the Chamber Board of Directors to develop strategies and programs to best fulfill the Chamber’s mission and vision.

 She represents the Chamber and the community at ribbon-cuttings, grand openings, community events, educational seminars and workshops, and in economic development activities, plus oversees value-increasing planning to make BACC membership worth each member’s investment.

Karen is a retired school counselor from Belpre City Schools, and holds a Master’s Degree in education and school counseling from Marshall University. She was school counselor and taught English, journalism and speech at St. Joseph Central Catholic Schools in Ironton, Ohio.

She is a board member of Discovery World Children’s Museum, Artsbridge, and Beautify Belpre community improvement committee, and attends St. Ambrose Catholic Church.

She was named Belpre’s Citizen of the Year in 2009, Belpre Education Association’s  “Friend of Education” in 2014, and Marietta Zonta Club’s “Woman of the Year: in 2018. She received a “Key to the City” of Belpre from Mayor Mike Lorentz in 2015.

Karen lives with her husband Carl in Belpre and enjoys gardening, photography, biking, and volunteering.