Karen Davis

Karen most recently served as Vice-Chairman and Audit Committee Chair for the Illinois Housing Development Authority Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Greater Peoria Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), where she led a team dedicated to transforming distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity.

Before accepting the position with Greater Peoria LISC, Karen was Director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development for the city of Springfield, where she oversaw the city planning initiatives for housing and business development. She had been passionately involved in community and economic development activities over the last 20 years, holding executive level positions within corporate America and with socially responsible not-for-profits focusing on strategic solutions to propel community and economic development initiatives.

Prior to her position with the city of Springfield, Karen was Senior Vice President and Regional Community Affairs Manager of Regions Bank, where she directed the community and economic development initiatives across the Midwest. Karen, with the help of designated staff, identified and promoted programs that fostered and spurred community and economic development in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, and Arkansas.

Karen received both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and a Master of Arts Degree in Community Development from the University of Illinois. Karen is also the Past President of the National Association of State Housing Boards (NCSHB).