The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) is delighted to welcome Karen M. Jantzen, MPA, CFRE, as the next Executive Director. Karen will officially join CCEH on November 7, 2022.

Karen has worked in non-profit administration for the past 25 years. She is passionate about making the Greater Concord area an equitable and healthier place to live. She comes to CCEH from Riverbend Community Mental Health where she oversaw Community Wellness Education programming, marketing, public relations, and fundraising as the Vice President of Community Affairs. Karen holds a B.A. from Denison University, an M.P.A. from University of New Hampshire, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive.

“I am thrilled to be passing the torch to Karen,” stated Ellen Groh, CCEH’s first and only Executive Director to date. “I worked with Karen on a joint-agency grant in my early years at CCEH, and I know Karen to be a visionary leader with great skill at listening, problem-solving, and collaborating with others to make amazing things happen. Under her leadership, Concord can reach Functional Zero homelessness!” Ellen announced her plans to retire from CCEH in April of 2022, and she will stay on at CCEH until December 2nd to assist with the leadership transition.

On behalf of the CCEH Board of Directors, Chair Ben Folsom said that he “believes that Karen will be a great leader of CCEH, building on CCEH’s amazing work under Ellen Groh’s leadership while continuing to move CCEH toward fulfilling our mission of ending homelessness in Concord.”

Karen will bring to CCEH her collaborative leadership style, deep experience in communications and community relationship building, as well as her proven skill in implementing and overseeing organizational growth. She is the ideal person to lead CCEH during this pivotal time as our organization continues to grow, and as it strives to achieve the goal of a Concord community where everyone has an affordable, decent, safe, and stable place to live.

An active member of the community, Karen has served on the Boards of Woodside School, St. Andrew’s Church in Hopkinton, and the Northern New England Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals; she currently sits on the board of the American Furniture Masters Institute and Concord Community Music School.

Karen has four adult children and resides in Contoocook. She enjoys spending time hiking with her Bernese Mountain Dogs, kayaking on remote waterways, skiing in the backcountry, trying new eateries, and gardening.

Please join us in wishing Ellen well in her retirement, and welcoming Karen to the CCEH team!