KAREN NELSEN 607 Vassar Boulevard NE (505) 934-6767 Albuquerque, NM 87106 kn125fe1e@westpost.

net

HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL Excellence in Effective Human Relations and Leadership PROFILE Confident, highly energized, and effective Human Resources Professional. Compass ionate and persuasive communicator with strong interpersonal skills. Detail-orie nted professional with experience and proven success in planning, implementing, and supporting Human Resources plans and strategies consistent with company valu es and policies in a wide variety of industries and organizations. Skilled at developing exceptional internal client relationships through careful attention to detail based on practical experience and successful strategies crea ted to improve organizational relationships, cultural alignment, and change, sta keholder management and leadership sponsorship. Recognized as the "go-to" person for recruitment needs. * Expert at efficiently and successfully responding to changing environments and situations. Known for strong client focus, high level of enthusiasm for effecti ng business success, systemic thinking and strong relationship building, consist ently demonstrating integrity while simultaneously projecting a positive persona l and professional image. * Consistently recognized and recruited by executive management to improve organ izational effectiveness and efficiency through leadership that aligns the busine ss processes and human resource infrastructure to realize cost savings, accelera te performance, and sustain strategic flexibility. CORE COMPETENCIES Management and Administration * Effective Communicator * Benefits Planning * New Policy Rollout Process Review and Improvement * Team Development Problem Resolution * Employee Mentoring Compensation Policies and Procedures * Recruitment Program Development * Process Analysis Employee Relations, and Retention * Employee Communication * Education and Couns eling PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Nelsen Enterprises Albuquerque, NM 2007 - Present Principal and Senior Consultant Successfully guide business owners in management issues associated with defined benefit and contribution pension plans to resolve retirement issues while servin g as contract Trust Officer for Santa Fe Trust, Inc. Design and prepare pension plan documents for small businesses meeting the needs and intentions of the Plan Sponsor and the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Analyze, identify, and eliminate Section 415 funding violations, top heavy violations, and key empl oyee violations in existing plans. * Process Qualified Domestic Relations Orders in a timely and accurate manner to avoid hostile legal actions and court penalties, and process loan and hardship applications to assist employees as intended by the Plan Document and in complia nce with the internal revenue code (IRC). * Identify and utilize plan forfeitures to eliminate overfunding violations and reduce employer contributions. Employee Benefits Citizens Trust and Investment Corporation Farmington, NM

2004 - 2007 (Subsidiary of Citizens Bank Shares) Trust Officer Efficiently authored, analyzed, and evaluated responses to Requests for Proposal for Record keeper and Administrator for self-directed 401(k) plans in keeping w ith the Internal Revenue Code. Counseled and directed Plan Sponsors in choices of core mutual funds for self-directed plans. * Managed and maintained funds in pooled retirement accounts in excess of $130,0 00,000 and advised the Bank on health and welfare issues. * Successfully and effectively trained self-directed plan participants in risk t olerance assessment and fund selection. Karen Nelsen Page 2 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Various Adjunct Professor Taught graduate level public finance courses for summer semesters. Successfully illustrated best practices of public pension funds with regard to federal rules and regulations. Effectively and creatively demonstrated various strategies usi ng employee benefit plans to improve recruiting compensation packages while mini mizing expense to the employer. * Demonstrated public finance functions by explaining local government expenditu res and revenues along with the governing state, federal, and local regulations. * Illustrated three basic concepts of budgeting and most advantageous applicatio ns. County of Los Alamos Los Alamos, NM 1995 - 2000 Benefit Plans Manager Responsible for design, implementation, administration, and legal compliance of all employee benefit plans for more than 1400 employees and retirees. Health and Welfare Administration Successfully restructured Employee and Retiree Health Care Plans (medical, pharm aceutical, dental, and vision) and all other insurance plans to reduce costs by 8% while improving coverage for all employees and retirees. Pension Plan Administration Successfully brought Employee Pension Plan 403(b) (in lieu of Social Security an d in excess of $23,000,000) out of rehabilitation and restructured it to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal retirement laws, regulations, and test ing requirements. Administered 457 Deferred Compensation Plan through intensive employee training and monitored vendors resulting in a fund growth from $50,000 to $3,200,000 in three years. Dean Witter, PaineWebber, Prudential Securities, Boettcher & Co., Albuquerque, N M 1983 - 1994 The Principal, Eppler, Guerin, and Turner Vice President for Investments: Managed assets for both the public and private sector in excess of $63 million. EDUCATION Master of Arts, Public Administration University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM Bachelor of Arts University of California Berkeley, CA Georg August Universitat, Gottingen, Germany / Junior Year Abroad

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Candidate (CEBS) nia, Wharton School of Finance

University of Pennsylva

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURES New York Stock Exchange Series 7 and National Association Securities Dealers Ser ies 63 licensed (1983 - 1994) State of New Mexico Life and Health Insurance licensed (1983 - 1994) HONORS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ranked top broker in national training class at Dean Witter Reynolds Ranked top annual fixed income broker for Kemper, Inc Selected as one of forty-four students from across the University of California system statewide to open the German campus of the Education Abroad Program Increased assets in the Los Alamos County 457 plan from $50,000 to $3,200,000 in five years