Leadership
Karen Fox Elwell, President and CEO
Karen joined Growing Home in January 2018. Karen is a licensed social worker with a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Tufts University and a Masters in Social Work and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Denver. Karen has more than sixteen years of experience working with diverse populations to equip them with vital skills for future success. Karen began her career facilitating youth development programs in Massachusetts and then in Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunteer. During her Peace Corps service, she established the first public library in her community and became fluent in Spanish.
Karen honed her management and leadership skills while serving in senior leadership roles at Mi Casa Resource Center. As Mi Casa’s Director of Youth & Family Development, she significantly increased the organization’s impact on young people and their families by doubling the resources and staff of the department. As Mi Casa’s Vice President of Programs & Integration, Karen led the organization’s efforts to implement a holistic, integrated service delivery model that helps low-income entrepreneurs and job seekers advance their economic success and ultimately break the cycle of poverty.
Veronica Perez, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer
Veronica holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Minor in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from University of Texas Pan American. Prior to becoming the Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at Growing Home, she was an educator for 17 years, 8 years as a Secondary English Teacher and 9 years as a School Leader, with a focus on equitable outcomes for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. In her time as a school leader, Veronica did school turn-around work in Austin, TX with a focus on outreach and inclusion for the Latino/a/x community. In her down time, Veronica can be found hiking, reading, or spending time with her daughter and pup Twilight Sparkle.
Carli Seeba, Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Carli holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and a law degree from Florida State University. She has previously held the role of Cief Operating Officer at the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art and was responsible for overseeing the human resources, accounting, visitor services and day-to-day operation of the museum. Carli has also worked for Symmetry Consulting counseling small businesses on human resources, nonprofit organization Summit Prevention Alliance as a program and policy coordinator, and has owned her own business providing accounting and bookkeeping services to businesses and individuals. Carli joined Growing Home in 2020.
Olga Lopez, Senior Manager of Programs
Olga holds both a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in business and leadership from Western Governor’s University. Olga has worked at Growing Home since 2008. Prior to becoming the Senior Manager of Programs in 2022, Olga oversaw Growing Home’s Parents as Teachers home visitation program. Olga started Growing Home’s Parents as Teachers program in 2008 with just a team of two Parent Educators. Under her leadership, the program grew to a team of 15 Parent Educators, serving 150-325 families each year. Olga owns her own photography business for businesses and individuals.
