Kären Ledebur
Consultant, Trainer

For more than 20 years, Kären Ledebur has cultivated a passion for organizing people and communities around a shared vision. While working for Steyning International on supply procurement for the USA for Africa project, she discovered her love for the non-profit sector and for all the ways businesses and individuals spark change at every level.

She developed her organizational skills at the Blood Services division of the American Red Cross’ Los Angeles chapter, where she promoted programs to business, industry and community organizations. This was at the height of the AIDS epidemic, when it was critical to communicate that a volunteer blood supply was a safe blood supply. She subsequently served as Director of Marketing for Charter Hospital of Torrance, where she ensured potential patients knew about the hospital’s extensive mental services for youth at a time when adolescent substance abuse was at an all-time high.

But it was her work as Executive Director of the South Bay Coalition, a non-profit community partnership promoting alcohol and drug-free lifestyles for youth and families, that gained national recognition. Kären’s experience and skills took her around the country as a coach and mentor to other organizations struggling with strategy development, long- and short-range planning, volunteer recruitment, board development and fundraising.

Her colleagues in California chose Kären to represent all the state’s community-based substance abuse prevention programs, and to share the organization’s work with Lee Brown, who at the time was serving as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy—he was also known as the “Drug Czar”—under President George H. W. Bush.  President Bush recognized the organization’s "outstanding record of community service and achievements." He went on to say that he admired their "respect for every individual that expressed itself in direct action on behalf of others."  He commended the Coalition for "making a difference in the life of our community and setting a fine example to our friends and neighbors."  President Bill Clinton subsequently recognized the Coalition’s work under Kären’s direction, as well.

Kären also served as Associate Director for Corporate Planning and Development for the Beach Cities Health District in Redondo Beach. Her work there transformed the Health District from a behind-the-scenes grant making organization to the dynamic public health entity it is today—it currently operates fitness centers and wellness programs throughout the community.

In 1999, Kären and her family relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado, to pursue a business opportunity. She continued her consulting work, focusing on faith-based organizations.

In June 2005, her years of lay ministry and organization development experience intersected when the Canyon View Vineyard Church in Grand Junction recruited her to serve as Executive Pastor. As part of her work there, she led the 6,000-member church through a complete restructuring around its vision and role in the community. She has since left that position, but continues to serve as a consultant and mentor to pastors and faith-based organizations around the country.

Kären is the mother of two very special young men, who are 11 and 13 years old. She and her sons spend as much time as possible enjoying the natural beauty of Colorado, where they currently live. However, she is a Southern Californian at heart, and hopes to return to life near the beach someday.

Kären holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California Lutheran University.