Karen Collins

Karen J. Collins has been a driving force in the corporate culture and overall success of The First American Corporation since she joined First American in 1988.  Collins responsibilities include leadership of the First American Homeownership Foundation, a focused philanthropic effort by The First American Corporation to increase homeownership within America's under-served communities.  As President and Chairman of the Board, Collins over sees the Foundation with a focus toward Financial Literacy, Foreclosure Prevention, Homebuyer Education, and Neighborhood Revitalization. 
 
Under her management and with the full support of The First American Corporation, First American is actively forging an enterprise-wide cultural diversity and inclusion strategy. The cultural diversity strategy is designed specifically to foster an environment where all people are valued, challenged to think as leaders and are engaged for their diverse viewpoints, experiences, talents and ideas. This initiative, championed by Collins, will promote First American’s global employee workforce and its suppliers to transform the way its customers, investors, and communities served view and value First American. 
 
Prior to her current positions, Collins managed senior-level strategic sales professionals and served as a senior strategist leading the direction of First American’s Client Relations division. She served as senior vice president and director of sales for strategic accounts, providing focus to First American’s sales organization, which serves mortgage lending and servicing organizations, and spans many of the company’s key business segments.

Collins frequently speaks on leadership panels around the country and serves on various Boards and Advisory Councils to include the Board of Trustees at North Carolina A&T State University and the American Stroke Association Advisory Committee. She is also a recipient of the National Eagle Leadership Institute’s CareerFOCUS Eagle Award which is presented annually to a select group of African American and Latino executives who embody excellence in both corporate and community leadership. 
 
Her bachelor's degree in Business Administration was completed at North Carolina A & T State University and completed executive education curriculum at the University of Chicago.  She and her family reside in the Chicagoland area.

The First American Corporation, a FORTUNE 500® company with revenues of approximately $6.2 billion in 2008, combines advanced analytics with its vast data resources to supply businesses and consumers with valuable information products to support the major economic events of people’s lives, such as getting a job, renting an apartment, buying a car or house, securing a mortgage and opening or buying a business.

Summit Video: Karen Collins
Financial Literacy Empowerment