For the first twenty years of my life, I resided in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Following this, I spent two decades in the Maryland/DC area. Currently, I've been living in the Dallas metropolitan area for the past two years and counting.

After my high school graduation, I pursued higher education. Upon completing my studies, I was accepted into an innovative pilot program known as “The Maryland Police Corps.” This program entailed attending a 26-week paramilitary academy, and I was proud to graduate at the top of my class. It was here that I met my husband, and we have been united since 2003.

Throughout my life, I've been driven by a passion to serve others. It was evident to me early on that my true calling was to become a police officer. In my career, I served my community by patrolling, responding to calls, enforcing the law proactively, and undertaking the role of a detective in the special victims section where I specialized in investigating international parental abductions. In this capacity, I collaborated with esteemed entities such as the State Department, Diplomatic Security, Interpol, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and various foreign legat offices worldwide. Despite confronting numerous challenges, I was deeply satisfied with the positive changes I managed to bring about. Regrettably, due to an injury sustained in the line of duty, I was forced to retire.

Retirement provided me with the opportunity to homeschool my four sons. I cherish the freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers. Nevertheless, we still ensure they receive an accredited education that aligns with our family's standards.

I'm a proud mother to Ryder (13), Rydge (11), Ryver (9), and Raynger (6). Ryder, who has been on the autism spectrum, has attended specialized therapy programs from the age of three. I often find myself particularly protective of him. Unfortunately, due to his high-functioning nature, many are initially unaware of his condition. This sometimes leads to situations where I must intervene, hence the "Momma Bear" moniker.

Drawing from my years in law enforcement, I am deeply involved in my son's activities. This includes being their teacher, coach, and den leader. My three younger sons are avid sports enthusiasts. Given their different ages, they each belong to separate teams, which means I find myself coaching three teams every season. This involvement gives me a unique insight into the youth in my community and my sons' peers. My heart fills with joy when I hear kids excitedly exclaim, "Coach Karen!" in public places.

In the summer of 2021, my family relocated to Texas due to my husband's, fondly referred to as "Papa Bear," second career. He retired from law enforcement after 25 years of service, is a Gulf War combat veteran, and now works as an investigator for the Department of Justice. Although the move was initially daunting, our family has since ingrained itself deeply within the community through involvement in sports clubs, Bible study programs, and scout groups.

The intense Texas heat introduced us to a unique problem: the overpowering stench from trash bins stored in our garage, mandated by our HOA's policies. Though I later constructed a concealed area for the bins, this only masked the issue. The real problem lay in the bacteria festering within.

Research led us to professional trash bin cleaning systems, which highlighted that these high temperatures cause bacteria to double every 20 minutes. Diseases like COVID, flu, E. coli, and salmonella can thrive in such environments, posing a threat to my family.

Our solution? Smelly Bin Solutions. Our equipment heats water above 200 degrees and applies a force exceeding 4000 PSI. This pressure washing mechanism effectively steams, cleans, sanitizes, and disinfects bins, hence our recommendation for monthly cleanings.

Within a month, we conceived and launched "Momma Bear’s Smelly Bin Solutions," secured funding, assembled a team, and even served our first customers.

We invite you to follow our journey on social media and become a cherished member of the Smelly Bin Solutions family. The unique dynamic of a female-led enterprise in a typically male-dominated sector, paired with the active involvement of my homeschooled sons (and not to forget our lab, Bucee), promises to be engaging and inspiring.