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Karen Byers
Treasurer, Lakeville Journal Foundation Board of Directors, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Former Managing Director and CFO at Markle Foundation
Karen Byers is a leader in finance and strategic management who served as the Managing Director and CFO of The John & Mary R. Markle Foundation in New York City from May 1992 until December 2018.34 In this role, she was responsible for the finances and operations of the foundation, which focused on projects in information technology related to health, national security, and the workforce.12
Byers has a diverse background spanning nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. Her career includes:
- Managing Director at Theatre Communications Group, overseeing finance, fundraising, administration, and computing3
- Consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick for academic institutions and nonprofit organizations3
- Assistant Director of Higher Education Resource Services at the University of Pennsylvania3
- Coordinator of international philosophy conferences at Bryn Mawr College3
- Roles at the Office of Management and Budget, IBM, and Chatham College3
Currently, Byers serves on the Board of Directors for Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and as Treasurer of the Lakeville Journal Foundation.45 She is deeply involved in community service, volunteering for organizations in northwest Connecticut.1
Byers' educational background includes:
- M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Washington University in St. Louis
- M.A. in Philosophy from Bryn Mawr College
- B.A. in Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, from Wheaton College (MA)13
She resides in Canaan Valley, Connecticut, with her spouse Lillie Mikesell.1


