As part of the new leadership at Built Oregon, the organization has appointed a new chair to lead the board activities, long time consumer products expert Karmen Olson. Karmen had previously held a board seat at Built. Other existing board members remain in similar roles.
Karmen brings invaluable experience as Head of Strategy at WLCR.io and founder of XOKO Food & Beverage Strategy. Her impressive background includes serving as Director of Strategic Partnerships and New Ventures at Anheuser-Busch, where she drove innovation and growth, including launching the company’s first Black founder-led venture. She also founded The pH Experiment, successfully bringing multiple new products to market and building strong co-creator communities.
Fun fact: Karmen will also be serving as the host of the upcoming “Where are they now…?” fireside chat event on June 10, 2025.
For more on Karmen’s experience and the reasoning behind the promotion, see the blog post from Built executive director Katharine Reinhold.
[Full disclosure: I am the cofounder and former interim director of Built Oregon. I now serve in an advisory capacity for the org.]
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