Our Founder

One doesn’t have to search far to find where passion and poise intersect. At that very crossroads, you’ll find Kara P. Simmons—a Charleston, SC native, visionary leader, and advocate for community empowerment. Throughout her career, Kara has embodied the change she envisioned from a young age, making meaningful contributions in both nonprofit and government sectors.

Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Columbia College, where she also served as a professor. Since 2010, she has held pivotal roles that have deepened her commitment to serving marginalized communities, including as National Advancer on the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign and Senior Project Manager for the Summer Leadership Institute at Columbia College.

In 2015, Kara founded KPC & Co., a project management and event production consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning, brand management, and exceptional event coordination. Her diverse client roster includes prestigious organizations like The Barack Obama Foundation, Dominion Energy, A’ja Wilson Foundation, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Known for her ability to transform ideas into tangible results, Kara helps clients clarify their vision and streamline execution, bringing clarity and eliminating noise from concepts. Her expertise extends to nonprofit leadership, community outreach, and building strong organizational cultures.

Beyond her professional work, Kara remains deeply connected to her community. She has served as Vice Chair of the Columbia Housing Authority, as a member of the Junior League of Columbia, and co-founded the No Boys Allowed College Tour, which exposes high school girls of color to HBCUs. Kara is also the proud owner of South Carolina’s only Black-owned escape room, Great Escape Enterprises, a space for team-building and problem-solving.

Her dedication has earned numerous accolades, including being named one of Columbia Business Monthly’s Best & Brightest 35 and Under (2016), a Top 20 Under 40 by The State Newspaper (2018), and a member of Leadership Columbia Class of 2015.

Faith is at the heart of everything Kara does. She credits her faith as the foundation for every opportunity, experience, and blessing in her life. Kara’s journey is a testament to the power of dreams and action—a true example of turning vision into reality.