Karel Murray 114 connections

Simple facts about Karel Murray

1. I and my family are not photogenic. What a terrible thing to admit, but it’s been documented by master photographers. It appears that my essential being does not want to be captured by technology. My promotional photo shoots were painful. I also do not film well so I avoid video whenever possible.

I once had to deliver a talk to over 500 women. Because the auditorium did not accommodate over 300, the overflow was put into the venue cafeteria and the talk was “beamed” in over a large television monitor. After the talk, as I stood in line for my lunch, a woman approached me and squealed “You’re the speaker from today!” I smiled and said “Yes, I was”. Her face then clouded over and she quietly uttered, “You know, you look much better alive!” And here, I hadn’t even known I had died on stage.

2. My husband is Rick, a District Sales Manager for Dupont Agricultural Chemical and manages a huge territory in Iowa. He is of Scottish heritage, over six feet tall, strong, wears long red hair, is bearded and looks fantastic in a kilt. I’ve been married to this man for almost 33 years and have loved every moment. He makes me laugh daily and is the most sensible, kind person I’ve ever met. He knows how to talk me out of a bad idea without saying “no”. Quite simply, he is the foundation from which I grow and stand tall. He taught me to love myself first, then move from there to love others fully for what they are. When people meet him, they are immediately impacted by his quiet charisma and competence. I know him for the raucous funny man he really is behind closed doors.

3. My son, Ben - he is going on 30 and getting married in June to Ashley, a wonderful young lady who has stood by him for the last 8 or 9 years. Ben is independent and intelligent - he is such a blend of Rick’s stubborn pride and my fierce independence… it almost takes my breath away. Our son returns love in the same soft, fierce way my husband does. His weekly phone calls to talk about nothing are simply a way to send love over a phone line. When I do see him, his hug almost crushes my lungs and his soft chuckles and bright eyes fill up my heart. Ben Murray, electrician apprentice has grown into a guardian of the underdog, lives in the “no bull_ _ _ _” zone, and loves and treat’s his future bride an intensity that will be for life.

4. The Murray household is zoo central. We have 2 cats – Jette (black and very feminine), Stryder (a blue point Siamese who fluffs up as if reacting to an electric shock every time he wants our loving attention); two Airedale dogs – Quinn (100 pounds and loves to hug people who sit on our couch) and Jordan (lives for the quiet whisper into her ear and her chews). A recent addition includes a salt water fish tank with 8 fish who Rick has taught to come up for a pet when they are fed. I refuse to have any animal in my house that won’t let me pet them.

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Karel brings meaning to mayhem with her “nothing but the truth” approach to business and life. An accomplished author and humorist, Karel has made radio and tv appearances and she enjoys local, regional, and national publication of her articles. In addition to her first book Straight Talk: Getting Off the Curb, Karel is a featured author in Extreme Excellence: Dynamic Interviews with America’s Top 10 Performance Experts, and publishes a monthly newsletter—Think Forward!— to nearly 5,000 subscribers. She is author of both The Profitability Blueprint Series® and the CPR for Managers Series.

Karel holds a BA in Human Resources and has earned numerous designations and certifications, including the prestigious DREI (Distinguished Real Estate Instructor). Her resume includes experience as a human resources regional executive of a large commercial insurance firm, as an award winning sales person, as a manager of a top producing real estate office, and now as owner of Our Branch, Inc. and national and international speaking and training company. She has received several awards for her community service, including the Blue Springs Missouri Chamber of Commerce Award, and once taught a pig named Nelson to dance . . . but that’s another story.

She is a member of the National Speakers Association, Meeting Professionals International, and has served as a Director and Officer for the National Real Estate Educators Association. As a professional speaker, Karel has had the pleasure of connecting with audiences for 250+ clients throughout the US and abroad.

When not on the road, Karel can be found in Waterloo, Iowa, with her ever wonderfully patient husband Rick and their attentive brood of (4—at last head count) cats and dogs.

“Being an ‘ex’ executive with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Co., I was exposed to awesome speakers from Horst Sheltz, President and CEO of Ritz Carlton to Stephen Covey . . . She is right up there!” Julie Naberhues

Specialties:
Keynotes - Motivation and Humor
Management skill building
Communication / Negotiation that includes
branding and identity marketing