Karen D. Clark-Reddon
Karen Clark-Reddon is an event strategist, founder, and Event Architect with more than 20 years of experience creating curated experiences that strengthen brands, deepen relationships, and bring people together with purpose. Based in Maryland, she is the founder of Devonshire, A Perfect Events Company, LLC, which she formalized in 2018 after years of organizing events both professionally and personally. Karen specializes in building events from the ground up, with a focus on guest experience, strategic flow, risk management, and the thoughtful details that make every attendee feel seen and valued. Her signature approach has become known as the “Devonshire Secret Sauce” because of the extra care and personal touch she brings to every event.
Before launching her company full time, Karen spent more than a decade as a senior international executive in the transportation industry, while continuing to plan events alongside her corporate career. Her passion for event planning began early in life, shaped by growing up in a large extended family where she naturally took on the role of organizer. Today, she works with clients across the United States and internationally, producing everything from intimate celebrations and nonprofit gatherings to major corporate and global events. One of the highlights of her career was organizing Dr. J.B. Hill’s first New York appearance, marking the first time Napoleon Hill’s grandson appeared in the city since the launch of Think and Grow Rich.
In addition to leading Devonshire, Karen is deeply involved in her community and professional organizations. She serves in volunteer leadership roles including Events Committee Chair for both the Lexington Park Business Association and the DMV Christian Chamber of Commerce, using her talents to create meaningful opportunities for connection and collaboration. Karen is also a multi-time international bestselling contributing author and is currently working on books of her own. Guided by faith, continuous learning, and a passion for innovation, she remains committed to creating memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on clients, guests, and communities alike.
• Cvent Supplier Network
• First Aid, AED and CPR Certified
• University of Maryland- B.A.
• Prince George's Community College- A.A.
• St. Mary's College of Maryland
• Three-time International Best-Selling Author on Amazon
• Senior Class Secretary
• Math Team Medal Winner
• 5x American Express Shop Small Business Neighborhood Champion
• Governor's Citation
• United Parcel Service Sales Eagle Award
• Lexington Park Business Association (Events Committee Chair)
• DMV Christian Chamber of Commerce (Events Chair)
• Napoleon Hill Foundation
• French Honor Society
• National Honor Society
• University of Maryland Alumni Association
• Friends of the South Bowie Branch Library
• Prince Georges's County Memorial Library System Foundation
• Destination Imagination
• Lexington Park Business Association, Inc.
• St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce
• DMV Christian Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
• St. Mary's Business Partners
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mom and my dad. My dad has always instilled in me a strong work ethic and taught me how to treat people a certain way. He never quit and always pushed through, encouraging me to do the same. A lot of times, I would talk to him about different business opportunities or things I was encountering, and he was always supportive in that way. He was also forward-looking and would encourage me to stay on top of technology and different things of that nature. When I see his impact and the lives he's changed, it inspires me. Because he was adopted, he sought out other people that kind of felt put aside, and he was seen as a father figure for a lot of my friends and countless youth because he volunteered in youth organizations for that reason. Seeing how he did something he was passionate about showed me what a fulfilling life looks like. He actually got to see my work before he passed and was proud of me because I was doing what I love, and I'm genuinely happy. That meant everything to me. That was my inspiration.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that when you do something you truly love, it never feels like work—and to always remember to pay yourself first.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know your worth and know the value that you bring. Stand strong in receiving that value. Don't diminish yourself or your value because you feel like you're not gonna get the position, you're not gonna get the job, or someone may choose someone else. You bring your own uniqueness to this space, because most of the people that I've encountered that do this type of work, we're all creative, we all bring something different to the table, so there's no competition in my eyes, because we're all bringing a different piece to the framework. I would definitely say, know your worth, and don't diminish yourself just because the person you're speaking to doesn't see your value.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, one of the biggest challenges I face is dealing with the political climate in the U.S. Some people, because of their opinions, are not paying attention to some of the obvious things that affect event safety and logistics. For example, I recently did an event in New York and had to send my client a risk management report because we had people coming in from all over the world, tariff prices were high on tickets, and there was going to be a big protest during the same time as their event. I did the ground research, connected with all the safety people in the area, because it is my job to make sure that everyone who attends the event is safe. Sometimes clients don't fully understand how small things can blow up, and they may think I'm doing too much when I send risk management reports. But I always cover myself and encourage my clients to cover themselves, because if something were to happen and somebody was looking to sue, they're gonna go for who organized it or who planned it. Another challenge is making sure clients are familiar with the area they're choosing for their events. I've had to redirect clients from areas that had been taken over by gangs to safer parts of the city to ensure their attendees would be safe. The challenging pieces are around safety and making sure that all the details I pay attention to are not frivolous, because you have to be prepared for anything.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value humanity above all. I believe in treating people like they matter, no matter what stage of life they're in. Whether my clients are paying me a small dollar amount, 3 figures, 4 figures, or whether they're paying me 6 figures, I still treat people the same in terms of their humanity. I believe a lot of times in different spaces, someone's station in life causes the outer world to treat them a certain way, and in my personal life and in my business life, I always endeavor for me and my team to help everyone that we come across feel seen and heard. So everyone feels special. That's actually some of the comments that we've gotten back, you know, thank you for making me feel like I matter. And that's my ultimate goal in life, because people matter. I didn't always feel seen and heard as I was growing up, so I want to make sure that I don't do that to other people.