Karen took a break from a 14-year teaching career in 1997 and began making beaded jewelry as a hobby. She quickly learned that people loved what she made and 3 years later her little business had outgrown her dining room table. Karen and her husband, Rob, opened K.Hollis Jewelers in 2005 in 1,800 square feet of retail space in Batavia. The business grew year after year and became an award-winning shopping destination for thousands of people each year. Karen is a member of INSTORE Magazine’s Brain Squad, co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Fox Valley, and a frequent speaker at business and marketing events. In 2012 K.Hollis Jewelers expanded to 4,200 square feet and added a wine bar. In 2022, Rob and Karen purchased a 10,000 square foot, free standing building just across the street from their original location, added a woman’s clothing boutique, expanded their wine bar, and added event space.