Running Great. That’s our goal for EVERY CLIENT. We know what a great business looks like and how to navigate the road to building one.
Parker Karnan, founder of Karnan Associates, has worked with hundreds of business owners and learned the inherent challenges entrepreneurs face as they work to create a thriving business.
Parker's career includes roles as VP of Sales at Brooks Sports, a sales rep for Performance Sales West, and most recently as Executive Director of the Independent Running Retailer Association. While credentials may build a resume, Parker believes a great consultant earns their keep by figuring out what to do next. Parker's pretty smart, but sometimes not as smart as he might always think. That's why he has a great team around him who is encouraged to challenge him and conventional wisdom.
A California native, Parker resides in Woodinville, WA, with his wife of 20 years and 3 children. When he's not working with clients to improve their business, Parker loves to ski and play and coach soccer. Be warned that most winter weekends Parker is out of cell range because he is searching for fresh tracks at Crystal Mountain near Mt. Rainier.
Kris is the Jack of All Trades for Karnan Associates. With years of experience in the specialty running industry, including a decade with Moving Comfort, Kris brings a valuable perspective for clients of KA.
Kris is also the resident expert on Ultimate Frisbee, and enjoys coaching and playing in Washington, DC, where she lives with her husband, kids, and dog.
We've been asking Kris to give us a picture of herself for years for this page, but she is just too darn humble. Instead, you get to see the face of arguably the greatest American runner in history.
Midge comes to us from Naperville Running Company where she served as the General Manager for fifteen years. She helped create and build a healthy team work culture during her tenure. Midge is passionate about serving people and creating the best customer experience possible. Two of her biggest accomplishments were when NRC received the honor of “Store of Year” in 2009 and 2013 by the IRRA.
Her life is full of many additional activities. She coaches for Naperville North High School XC program, Girls on the Run and also leads marathon training groups. When not running, you will find her riding her bike along the Fox River just a few blocks from her home. Midge attended Auburn University, so in the fall months you will find her cheering for any and all SEC teams with the exception of Alabama. War Eagle!
Midge has lived in Batavia, Illinois for the past 21 years with her husband and two children. This past year she and John officially became empty nesters. Her daughter, Amanda, is serving in Africa and her son Grant is attending University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Eight years working operations in the specialty run industry and one MBA later, Jay decided to go find out if the grass really is greener on the other side. Unfortunately no one told him he had to wear a tie.
Jay stands at the intersection of where theory meets execution.
If he's not running or playing with his two dogs, Jay will most likely be found geeking out over a new excel query or taking a nap. He really loves naps.
The newest member of the Karnan Associates team, Erin brings a unique perspective to our business. She works double duty as a consultant and a professor at Bentley University, one of the nation’s top business schools, where she teaches undergraduate and MBA marketing classes.
By combining her own expertise with the cutting-edge research of the Bentley community and a critical dose of insight into the Millennial and Gen Z consumer base, Erin delivers innovative marketing strategies to Karnan clients.
In her previous life, Erin built a career in sales management with a number of sports brands. She has managed national account sales for brands such as adidas and Fila and most recently was the Director of Sales (East) at Saucony.
Erin lives with her husband and their 5-year-old son in Newton, MA – steps from the famed Heartbreak Hill. In her spare time, she and her husband can be found trying to keep up with their son, who they figure has less than a handful of years before he can outrun both of them.