Maryland native Karen Mills co-founded Hawthorne Lane in 2014, setting out to create the kind of firm she had always envisioned, one centered on strong relationships, thoughtful guidance, excellent service, and meaningful results for employers and job seekers. Today, she helps lead the firm while remaining closely involved in client relationships and recruiting strategy. She also plays an active role in training new hires and finds great enjoyment in sharing her expertise and mentoring others.
Prior to founding Hawthorne Lane, Karen worked with Career Group in San Francisco, placing high-level executive support and operations professionals with Fortune 500 companies, venture capital and private equity firms, management consulting firms, technology start-ups, and other professional services organizations. She also recruited executive-level accounting and finance talent at Parker & Lynch.
After graduating from Indiana University, Karen began her career at TRAK Companies, a recruiting firm founded by her parents, where she specialized in placements for law firms and corporate legal departments. There, she met future Hawthorne Lane Co-Founder Andrea Solomon and several colleagues she continues to work alongside today.