Meet Karren

A woman in yellow dress sitting on chair.

Karren demonstrates daily that all things are possible if you believe. As a Canologist™, she has encouraged thousands of people (individually and corporately) to live beyond satisfaction and achieve the impossible by eliminating self-imposed limitations. Karren is a phenomenal and amazing speaker and keynoter energizing and compelling her audiences to leave the past behind and become like transformers “more than meets the eye”.

Karren is a phenomenal conference and keynote speaker, as well as, an author, songwriter, and mentor. She has conducted energetic workshops and seminars for groups and corporations with a focus of transformation coupled with motivation. She also serves as a mentor for individuals helping them to identify their purpose in life. She gives people lifelong tips and tools to plot a plan for continuous success. That is why she wrote her first book, Invisible Hand: Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges.” Invisible Hand compels the reader to focus on the present, chose to live a life motivated, and determined to accomplish your goals and dreams. She also wrote and co-produced a song titled, The Strength Within. The song tells people that “now” is the time to reassess their past, leave the past behind, and trust God.

Karren has successfully encouraged people because she is a walking testimony of a transformer. She is “more than meets the eye”. Karren was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. When she was three years old, her hands got stuck in a wringer-type washing machine. The doctors were unable to get the blood to flow through her lower arm and hands; thus, her arms were amputated below the elbow. This tragic event devastated her parents. Many people including the doctors told her parents that she would have a difficult time. In addition, many people thought that her physical disability would somehow lead to a mental disability but Karren learned early in life that “giving up was not an option”. Karren believed that giving up meant that she gave up on God and her parents.

Karren learned early that the ability to succeed is based on the strength of your will. Thus, she uses her successes as a testimony to people on how they can succeed which is why she wrote the song “The Strength Within”. Click here to listen.

Karren has a dual undergraduate degree in Accounting and Management from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. Karren also has a Master of Science Degree in Accounting and is a Certified Government Financial Manager and Project Management Professional. Karren worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for over 35 years, retiring recently as a senior manager.

Karren’s goal is to restore hope and encourage people; however, she believes that the heart can only be transformed when the verbal speech pattern changes. She minimizes using disempowering words, such as, “can’t”. The word can’t is commonly used by people. Karren says, “People don’t understand that using the word can’t effects their ability to press beyond their problem, challenge, circumstance or situation.” It is a matter of getting past the past.

One of Karren’s favorite scriptures is the 23rd Psalms. “When I was a child, my siblings and I had to recite the 23rd Psalms and sing songs about God’s grace everyday”, said Karren. Her parents didn’t know that making her recite Psalms 23 about how the Lord is my shepherd and that he protects me by anointing my head would be the guiding scriptural light in her life. Also, her parents didn’t realize that making her sing “all of my help comes from the Lord” would anchor her spiritually to believe and have an enormous faith in God.

When asked what is her most successful or amazing personal accomplishment, she says driving. “I always wanted to be able to drive wherever I wanted to go without depending on others”, says Karren. She can drive without special attachments or devices from an automatic to a five speed.

Karren is the founder and CEO of PAMD International, LLC and OneWAY Enterprises. PAMD is an acronym describing her foundational principles and life sustaining belief which is to be positive with an attitude of motivation and determination. Karren enjoys teaching people how to be victorious, win, succeed, and achieve what people think is impossible. OneWAY Enterprises is her personal financial management consulting business. Karren assist individuals and families from establishing budgets to ensuring they are properly advised on investment and insurance options suitable for them and/or their families.

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What people are saying

Telisa Macdonald
In the past two years, I have worked closely with Karren. She has taught me a great deal both professional and personal. She has inspired me to speak, when no one else will; ask questions, and don’t be afraid to say ‘I do not know, however, I am here to learn’. I have the utmost respect for Karren. She is a fearless leader and role model. She has encouraged me to have confidence in myself and focus on the positive. When I think of Karren, the word ‘handicap’ does not even enter my mind. When I think of Karren, I think of, my teacher, my role model, and most of all my friend.

Telisa Macdonald

Mary Jane Close

We were anxious and looking forward to our new employee. We were getting an Accountant Trainee to assist in all those nasty financial details. Then, we were shocked to learn the trainee had a severe handicap … having no arms below the elbow.

We asked ourselves, how could this person possibly perform the tedious tasks required of this position … remember, this was long before computers were available to us; hence, we posted every transaction to the old-timey columnar paper with those “tiny columns”. How, indeed, could someone with no hands possibly enter data into those tiny spaces?

Soon Karren reported for work. A tall young black woman, confident and assured walked into our lives to prove how wrong we can sometimes be.

Much to our surprise, Karren demonstrated her capabilities in spite of what we perceived to be a handicap. She disproved our fears that she would be unable to perform and showed all of us just what she COULD do with those magical “elbows”. Not only did she have a beautiful “handwriting”, fitting perfectly in those “tiny columns” we were so worried about but she also operated the telephone, calculator and typewriter with aplomb. She had adapted so well to what we saw as a handicap and she overcame whatever difficulty that came her way. Was it easy? I’m sure it was not; but she did it with vigor and such a beautiful smile on her face.

In fact, I don’t think there was anything this lady couldn’t do …. Well, except maybe button that very top button on the back of her dress. So we gave her a little help with that. (Smile)

Karren has henceforth been a very important inspiration to me and many others as we’ve watched her climb the ladder of success within the Financial Management arena of the Forest Service. Being her very first supervisor and watching this success, has made me very proud of Karren and her accomplishments. It’s nice to know that I was there at the very beginning of her marvelous career. Keep moving forward, Karren. You have definitely achieved the unbelieved. You are an inspiration for all !

Mary Jane Close

Shirley Kuder
I have known Karren Alexander for about 2.5 years and have been indescribably impressed with Karren both as a professional and as a woman. I had spoken with Karren by phone many times before I had the pleasure of meeting her. We had several professional acquaintances in common; three of whom worked for me, and it was not until I actually met her that I learned that Karren had any physical difficulties. The point being that no one who knows Karren sees her as limited in any capacity. Karren has such a strong “can do” attitude, and such a loyal and healthy approach to dealing with her fellow humans that what one sees is a woman destined for success; and a star to which any fellow professional would be happy to “hitch their wagon”, rendering her a true motivator. Karren Alexander has the drive necessary to accomplish her goals without succumbing to the modern trend for using politics to get ahead. Her goals are accomplished the old fashioned way; honesty, hard work, courage and determination. Karren is an inspiration to everyone who comes into contact with her.

Shirley Kuder

Rico Clarke
I first met or noticed Karren shortly after my arrival to the Forest Service. What caught me at first was the "preacher"-like voice coming from this young lady delivering some training or information related to the then new implementation of the agency financial system (FFIS). I thought she may have been a deaconess or a Baptist minister. Now having worked directly for her the last few years, I could relate to the spiritual presence portrayed in her voice as only someone blessed by God could have accomplished what she has in spite of her perceived physical difficulties. I marvel at how she must have been so believing in herself and God that she never gave up and never accepted what limitations others may have placed on her. She types, writes, picks up, carries, etc., not with artificial limbs or other man-made attachments, but with the nerves, muscles, and cartilage, etc. that God left intact in her arms. As a black, woman, director, in these times, being able to function just like any person with normal hands and fingers, Karren has proven that when you believe, you can accomplish. Visually, you are impressed, vocally, you are uplifted as that spiritual tone in her voice and sense of humor in her words, provides encouragement and purpose not only to struggling folks, but to "successful" ones as well.

Rico Clarke

Deborah Bush-Butler
“Mrs. Invisible Hands” is a woman of character, wisdom, and integrity and although she has endured many challenges from what some would consider a handicap; Mrs. Alexander always rises to the occasion and shows others that she can do anything regardless of her circumstances. She has a fearless, undaunted spirit and her mindset that failure is not an option is infectious. She has a smile that lights up a room and confidence that enables her to speak with boldness and empowers those who are around her to strive for excellence at all times. She is truly a genuinely beautiful person inside and out and this phenomenal woman will always breed success and prosperity. There is no doubt that God’s favor and blessing will always be upon her throughout the rest of her life.

Deborah Bush-Butler

Darrell Kennedy
Karren is an amazing teacher/trainer. She is thorough, precise, and very knowledgeable about government accounting activities, policies, and procedures. She has taught, trained and guided so many of us in government on a number of topics. She was tough and passionate about her mentoring and getting individuals to understand the importance of what they were doing in applying government accounting/policies and procedures.

Darrell Kennedy