Her Story
About Karen
Karen Pecora-Barbour is a nationally recognized surety bonding executive, entrepreneur, and small business advocate with more than four decades of experience in the construction and surety industries. As President of The Barbour Group, a nationally licensed surety bonding agency she founded in 2002 with just $20, she has built one of the country's leading firms serving contractors across the United States, Puerto Rico, and international U.S. State Department projects. After spending 17 years as a surety underwriter and becoming one of the industry's first female bond producers, she launched her own agency to create greater opportunities for small businesses while influencing public policy and advancing legislative reform.
Throughout her career, Karen has combined technical expertise with strategic advocacy to help contractors expand their bonding capacity, secure government contracts, and achieve sustainable growth. She has played a key role in advancing improvements to SBA surety bond programs and Maryland regulations that have strengthened access to bonding for small businesses, veterans, women-owned, and minority-owned firms. Beyond her work in surety, she has co-founded construction-related ventures, contributed to landmark projects including the renovation of the Washington Monument, and served in numerous leadership positions, including the U.S. Small Business Administration's SBDC National Advisory Council and Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE). Her accomplishments have earned her numerous honors, including recognition as a U.S. Small Business Person of the Year, an EY Winning Women Entrepreneur Award recipient, and multiple leadership awards for business excellence.
Equally committed to community service, Karen founded Party for a Cure, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Maryland families affected by neuromuscular diseases. Since its inception, the organization has raised approximately $1.5 million to fund family assistance, services, and research. Guided by authenticity, perseverance, and a passion for opening doors for others, Karen continues to champion entrepreneurs, strengthen the construction industry, and advocate for policies that help small businesses thrive nationwide.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karen
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying focused on my own path, committing to continuous learning, and persevering through challenges. I believe that investing the first three to five years of any role in apprenticeship-style learning—developing skills, gaining experience, and putting in the time—builds the strong foundation needed for long-term success.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to persevere, embrace challenges, and stay committed to your goals. Learn how to navigate conflict with professionalism, put in the time to develop your skills, and remain in the profession long enough to build experience, credibility, and lasting momentum.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me in both my work and personal life are authenticity and integrity. I believe it's impossible to be liked by everyone, so I focus on being true to myself, consistently delivering value, and building a reputation for excellence. When you become known for your expertise and character, people will respect your contributions and choose to work with you despite any differences.
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