2024 Dance With Your Heart Celebrity
Karen Olberding
Community Volunteer
Charity: Alzheimer's Association
Pro Partner: Jeremy Mainous
Karen Olberding was born and raised in Cincinnati, and except for a 3 year stint in Atlanta after she graduated from Miami University in Retail Management, she is still here living in Kenwood with her dog, Frankie. She retired after 34 years in the Retail Industry. She started in traditional department store retail where she was in Store Management and Buying with Macy’s and Lazarus.
After Lazarus closed up the offices in Cincinnati, her career took a different turn. She was the Director of Retail at the Cincinnati Zoo. And, opened up the Newprt Aquarium and The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center both as the Director of Retail. She retired from Luxottica as the Merchandising Manager of Sunglass Hut.
Karen has a passion for the city and has given back through her volunteer efforts with different organizations. She served on the board of the Friends of the Public Library, as well as Starfire Council. While on the Starfire Board, she was the Vice President of Development and chaired their biggest fundraiser for 3 years.
While an UpDowntowner, she chaired Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. She also served on the committees for Zoofari and the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball. Until Covid shut it down, she was a volunteer at the Cincinnati Visitor Center for 4 years. This year is Karen’s 19th year as a volunteer at the Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament. The last 9 years she has served as the Chairperson for the Volunteer Office.
Karen has been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati Spring Gala the last 3 years. She served as Chairperson for the most successful gala yet this past May. For Karen, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are personal. Her Great-Grandmother, Grandmother and her 3 Great Aunts all suffered with the disease. She is passionate about raising funds to help find treatments and hopefully a cure for this disease that currently effects over 6 million people in the United States. She appreciates all the donations that will go to the Alzheimer’s Association for her participation in the Dance With Your Heart event.