Karen Lee has served as CEO of SEEC (Seeking Employment Equality and Community) since 1990. Under Karen’s leadership, SEEC has grown from a $100,000 budget to over $20 million dollars. Karen has worked with her team to build an infrastructure that supports competitive integrated employment, supported living, and other services that ensure people with disabilities can thrive in a life of their choosing.
From 2015-2017, Karen was asked by Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary Bernard Simons to assist Maryland in creating a pathway to grow Maryland’s capacity to increase competitive integrated employment. During her Fellowship with the Maryland DDA, Karen worked with stakeholders including self-advocates, families, state personnel, providers, and legislators to create an Employment First strategic plan and supporting policies and practices.
Since that time, Karen has become a national subject matter expert working with the US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Administration on Community Living to shape Federal, State and local public policy related to building capacity to increase competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities.
Karen holds a Master of Education degree in Special Education, Transition, and Secondary Education from the University of Maryland. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland where she and her husband raised their three boys.