About

About Karen:

Karen is a Chicago native who has found herself progressively moving to smaller locations and loving it! After attending Taylor University pursuing a degree in Athletic Training, she moved to Muncie, IN to attend grad school at Ball State University. Upon completing her degree in Wellness Management and Business, she moved to Indianapolis, IN to work as a personal trainer specializing in corrective and post-rehabilitative exercise. Eventually she added her own business on the side, Training By Tanner, which incorporated in-home training to her list of activities. After five years of living in Indianapolis, Karen met a wonderful guy (see below) and took a new job in Fort Wayne, IN to be closer to him. Currently she works as the Community Wellness Director for the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne Metropolitan Office. If you know Karen well enough, you will soon find that she loves to try new things and new adventures bring her joy. The experience of a new job in a new city has been an adventure, as well as learning to have a desk job for the first time in her life. Karen enjoys being in the outdoors walking, camping, or sitting around a fire. In her off time, Karen pretends she works on the cable show HGTV and puts on her pink tool belt and “upgrades” the house. Her parents, brother and sister-in-law still live in the great city of Chicago. Karen has to admit, she still gets excited when she drives into the city via the Skyway and can see (when it is clear enough) the skyline of Chicago.

About Brian:

Brian is originally from Benton County which is about 30 miles west of Lafayette, IN. Throughout his childhood, Brian was very involved in the Boy Scouts and earned the title of Eagle Scout in eight grade. Brian then pursued a undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Brian still enjoys staying in touch with many of the friends he made from being an ATO at RHIT. After grad school, Brian moved to Warsaw, IN to work as an engineer for Zimmer, which is one of the several biomedical device companies that give Warsaw the title: “Orthopedic Capital of the World.” Pursing his love of the water, Brian then found his home outside of Warsaw, IN in the small town of North Webster. Karen and Brian joke around often that “North Webster is where it is at!…Two turn tables and a microphone!” If you have ever visited Brian during the summertime, you will soon learn of the love that he has for the water. When the weather is warm, or close to warm, you will find Brian both on and in the water. During the summer of 2008, Brian enjoyed lots of slalom skiing and is already looking at the calender to see when he can do it again. Brian also enjoys doing home improvements around the house/yard, being out in the fresh air and being on the water whenever possible. In his free time, you will find him playing guitar hero and searching the Moomba boards.

How We Met:

Do you want to know when we truly met for the first time or do you want to know when we remember meeting? On June 10, 2006 our good friends, Jamie and Chuck, where getting married in Indianapolis, IN. Chuck went to college with Brian and was also an ATO. Thus, that is why Brian was at the wedding as a groomsman. Karen met Jamie through their church at the time and was her roommate in Indianapolis. Thus, that is why Karen was at the wedding as a bridesmaid. But apparently Brian and Karen were distracted by their own life’s circumstances and the excitement of the day because they don’t remember meeting each other at that point in time. On February 24, 2007, Jamie and Chuck invited a group of friends to go to an Indianapolis Ice game. The weather was NOT ideal as it started to rain and snow. Brian was already in Indianapolis that day because he was helping Chuck getting the land prepped to build their new house. When Karen showed up at Chuck and Jamie’s, Brian was already there. That is the moment we actually remember meeting. The weather was so bad that everyone else canceled except for Matt and Lori, whom were going to meet us at the stadium. So, the four of us went on our merry way. After the game, we went back to Chuck and Jamie’s to play some games. After a couple hours, Chuck decides head to bed and Jamie suggests watching a movie. She then finds Bruce Almighty and puts it in. About 10 minutes later she says “I think I am going to bed too!” (and she said it with a big grin). So, there you have it…we had been set up! But we have to give them credit because it worked. We got engaged on September 7, 2008 and are getting married on July 4, 2009. Thanks Jamie and Chuck!