EVP/CLO Karen Stack Looks Back on Her 47-Year Career—and Forward to Retirement
Karen Stack’s Exchange journey has lasted over 47 years, but her love and support of the military community reaches well beyond her career. Her first memories of the Exchange started back in grade school when her father, a decorated war hero, was serving in Germany, and instilled a sense of service and patriotism that is still a major part of Karen’s life to this day.
“My mother worked at the AAFES snack bar,” said Stack, Exchange Executive Vice President and Chief Logistics Officer. “We used to go in there and she’d dip us an ice cream or make us a banana split or a sundae. That’s my first my first memory of AAFES.”
Exchange Executive Vice President/Chief Logistics Officer Karen Stack’s parents, Kiyoko Arai Martinez and Manuel Martinez. Her mother began working for the Exchange when her father was enlisted in Germany. Many other family members served in the military and/or worked for the Exchange.
She also remembers, back in the States, standing in the layaway line with her mother at the Fort Bliss PX, holding her mom’s hand while they patiently waited for hours for an annual holiday discount.
“We always shopped at the PX,” she said. “My friends were there, my family, and my family’s family. My brother worked at the Four Seasons when he was out of school for the holidays. My mom started working there when my dad was enlisted in Germany and had three kids.”
In 1976, Stack followed in her mother’s footsteps, becoming an Exchange associate. That began a journey that has taken her to three continents, including working as a general manager in Saudia Arabia during Operation Desert Storm/Shield and being Senior Vice President for Europe/Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
That journey will end in early January, when Stack retires from the organization that’s been part of her life since she was a child. She leaves behind a legacy of associates whom she has developed and mentored over the years who progressed into leadership roles within the organization. Coaching and mentoring were two of the things that brought her great joy throughout her tenure. Stack viewed providing opportunities for deserving individuals a critical part of her duties as a senior executive.
The early years
Stack’s Exchange career began with a temporary full-time job as a clerk-typist in the Exchange’s Motion Picture Department in Bad-Neuheim, Germany, about 20 kilometers south of Kirch-Göns, where her father was assigned to Ayers Kaserne, an installation known as “The Rock.” During a summer hire program, she was hired to work at Giessen Depot, also in a clerical position.
Shortly afterward, her father retired, moving the family to El Paso, where she was hired as a permanent associate at Fort Bliss. She worked with shoppers who came in to pay off bad checks. “I heard some sad stories,” she said. “People just couldn’t make ends meet.”
Her first transfer was to Sheppard Air Force Base, where she worked as services manager. After stops in Fort Sill, Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Carswell (now Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base) and Laughlin Air Force Base, she became general manager in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
“It was a small Air Force community,” she said. “The local people were very nice and hard-working. The Exchange associates were either active Air Force or Air Force retired. We were remote, so we got a few extra privileges for the community. I still keep in touch with associates from Grand Forks.”
We Go Where You Go
In 1990, during Operation Desert Shield, Stack volunteered to deploy to Saudi Arabia. She and Nancy Poore, another GM, became the first women from the Exchange to deploy to a war zone. They had to overcome some resistance at home.
“Our senior leadership at the time was very against women going there,” she said. “They didn’t want them in a combat zone, said they couldn’t perform as well as their male counterparts. You can’t drive in Saudi Arabia if you’re female, so when we got there, we had no way around. We had to bum rides every day to work, and we worked way out in an airfield in three trailers that were hooked together like a U.”
Stack was general manager of a PX in Dhahran, and Poore was store manager. The rest of the team at the store consisted of contract employees. Although more than 50 associates deployed, Stack and Poore were in a unique position.
“In Saudi Arabia, we had to keep our heads and arms covered when we were off the installation,” Stack said. “I’d go to the front gate with my driver, and the guard would say, ‘Go to the back gate. You can’t come in the front gate.’ We’d go to the back gate, and they’d say, ‘Go to the front gate.’ I was learning to deal with the culture and trying to do my job at the same time.”
Despite all the challenges, Stack said her deployment was very rewarding. In the March/April 1991 issue of the Exchange Post, Stack—under her name at the time, Karen Patrick—wrote “A letter home,” a collection of memories from her time in Saudi Arabia. The stories range from the serious (attending a memorial service for victims of SCUD missile attacks) to the gratifying (during one return trip from a supermarket, several Exchange associates found themselves inadvertently part of a parade celebrating the liberation of Kuwait, and were thanked by numerous Kuwaitis and Saudis). There were stories of managers working in metal trailers where the heat exceeded 100 degrees; using calculators to continue selling to troops after generators failed; training Soldiers to run cash registers only to have their units pull out just as they were trained.
“I can go on and on about the great managers in Saudi,” Stack wrote. “You can’t pick one hero out of the crowd. … everyone in AAFES should be proud that our company was represented by such devoted people and the sacrifices they made.”
Stack was in Saudi Arabia for almost a year—but a year there at the time seemed a lot longer than 365 days.
“Every day was a dog year,” she said.
Back to the States
Stack returned to Grand Forks, then moved on to the Presidio of San Francisco, where she was general manager for three years.
“It was very beautiful,” she said. “The store sat right on the bay. The Golden Gate Bridge was right there. But it was a very difficult area to run. It was hard to keep people. The general there and his wife were very pro-AAFES, so that made our job easier as we bonded as a community.”
In 1994, she moved to HQ, where she was a senior business program manager in the Main Store Strategic Business Group. She found the transition to be challenging.
“I was put on a team with Jim Skibo and one other person,” she said. “Jim was in another land because he was so intelligent and strategic. He was putting together the PowerZone and the colors and the carpets and the fixtures. To this day, the foundation of the PowerZone is still the same. But he was big picture, and I was from stores and GMs. We were like oil and water, but somehow we worked together and we managed to be productive.” (Skibo, who had been at the Exchange since 1969, passed away in early 2023.)
The executive years—and a return to Southwest Asia
In 1998, Stack became a regional vice president. Over the next three years, she would be a vice president in Southeastern, Eastern and Western regions, responsible for Exchanges in diverse areas of the United States.
“In those days, the regions were like night and day,” she said. “They all had the same mission and the same goals, but they were different territories, run differently. Mike Beverly, the COO at the time, was trying to get us back to headquarters program standards, trying to standardize our stores. We spent a lot of time on the road just visiting, sitting in advisory council meetings with command and the customers, wives’ clubs and others.”
By 2001, she was a senior vice president, overseeing the Europe/Southwest Asia region.
“It was a big transition going overseas,” she said. “It was right after 9/11 when they selected me to go over there. Just abruptly, for me to cover and for [Europe/SWA SVP] Marilyn Iverson to come back to CONUS. During the couple of years I was there, we opened 100 tactical field Exchanges and 62 imprest sites in over 35 countries.” (Iverson, who returned to the U.S. to become senior vice president of Eastern Region, was named the Exchange’s first female COO—the highest civilian rank at the time—at the end of 2002.)
Stack spent a lot of her time as SVP in Southwest Asia. She and key teammates rode with a mail convoy to Fallujah. “They stopped and prayed halfway through, before we got into real bad territory,” she said. “We watched a gunner just lose it until they got him back together and the convoy took off. That’s how we got around. Of course we had military escorts, but that’s how we got around to meet colonels and whoever the site commander was at these locations.
“They said the morale changed miraculously overnight when we opened a BX or PX, whether it was in a tent or an underground parking lot,” she added. “We brought in name-brand fast food. The first Burger King opened up. Name-brand fast food really meant a lot to the troops out there—just to sit there and have a hamburger. We did a lot of bartering with a hamburger or a pizza from Pizza Hut. That’s how I got motor oil for my generators when I was out in the desert in Saudi Arabia. Those pizzas came in handy.”
In 2004, Stack returned to Dallas HQ, where she was senior vice president over the Sales Directorate. Once again, the transition from Europe and especially Southwest Asia was a challenge.
“Your mind is still going 100 miles an hour,” Stack said. “We made people happy. They were appreciative out there. It was a different feeling out there.”
Stack credits Maj. Gen. Kathryn Frost, who led the Exchange from August 2002 to April 2005, with helping her with the transition. Frost also was very supportive overseas, Stack said.
“She was a down-to-earth person,” Stack said. “She spent a lot of time in Southwest Asia with me and the troops. She made a big difference in this company. She was a very caring person. She wanted to thank every Soldier and shake their hand in a line that was like a mile long out in the desert.”
The Logistics era
Stack moved from Sales to senior vice president of Western Region, where she was SVP for seven years. Then she moved to LG, where she has been Executive Vice President and chief Logistics Officer since 2012. Asked whether she adapted to Logistics easily, Stack said that it was more like Logistics adapted to her.
“It’s a very closed career cone,” she said. “LG associates can’t transfer to retail or food, so there’s not a lot of places they can go. So they’re very close-knit for many years. Many generations of families have worked in Logistics and carried on the tradition. I was an outsider coming in. We managed to jell as a team. I have some of the finest people here.”
One of LG’s—and the entire organization’s—biggest challenges during that time was the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Directorates had to rethink the ways they did business and adapt to changes almost daily.
“We had to be on the clock 24 hours,” Stack said of Logistics. “We had to be physically and mentally alert to help whoever, whatever country, whatever Exchange and whatever time. Our drivers never stopped driving, and they did it on a volunteer basis. They would just drive as far as they could drive. We’d track them on our computer satellites. They’d go as far as they could go, get some rest and then keep on going, taking masks, sanitation supplies, etc., around the world. It takes a great team to do that.”
The importance of diversity
Stack has been active supporter of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Inclusion at the Exchange. She is the executive champion of ABLE, the Special Emphasis Program for associates with disabilities. She marched in the Dallas Pride parade in 2023 along with Exchange PRIDE, the special emphasis program for LGBTQ+ associates.
Her own diverse background has a lot to do with that.
“I was filling out a doctor’s office form last week, and where it says ‘race,’ it gives you Caucasian, Hispanic surname or non-Hispanic surname,” she said. “My mother’s Japanese. My father’s American Indian and Mexican. So I feel I’m both races. I was raised by a Japanese mother whose school was bombed when she was 10 years old. She wasn’t at school that day, but the next day she had to go through the rubble and dig her schoolmate out, who was dead. She tells the story of growing up after the war and marrying a U.S. Soldier. That was difficult for them. I feel like it takes all kinds of different people to run the world, not just one status quo race.”
Life after the Exchange
Stack is emphatic about one retirement plan: “To not be held to a clock.”
She does plan to devote time to her family history. Her father’s father was in Indian school at Fort Apache in Arizona. Her father and his siblings began writing to the Indian reservation and found out that they belong to a tribe.
“I’d like to continue seeking that information,” she said. “We understand that two of his grandfathers—one of them made it across the Mexican border to Arizona, and he took on the name of the family that brought him across the border. The name was Martinez, which is my maiden name. We really don’t know what our real name is. That’s the name he was given by the family.”
Another part of the family history, of course, is its deep history with the military and the Exchange.
“Our family was served by AAFES,” she said. “My uncle was an Air Force pilot and my father was a long-term military officer. The military is an institution, whether it’s Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines. Like they say, ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine.’ The same with a Soldier.
“My father-in-law, two brothers-in law and my spouse are all veterans. My father-in-law, one brother-in-law and my spouse went on to have additional careers with AAFES and retired as executives.
“My mother was the kind who worked at the thrift store as a volunteer, worked at the Army hospital as a candy-striper,” she continued. “She was the Officers’ Wives president, president of the Bridge Club, did all the spouse’s duties. My dad served in Vietnam and went to Korea a couple of times. I remember him being gone a lot.
“But you always had your AAFES family to fall back on,” Stack said. “And your military family as well.
“There were those good people who saw something special in me and opened doors and gave me opportunities to advance, ultimately leading several different directorates in AAFES. Special thanks to Steve Fair, Mike Rohrer, Harry Marshall, Lou Merced, Mike Beverly, Roy Hines, Thomas Annello, Bob Gaskill, Jim Sauers, Jim McKinney, Denise Barnhart and Tom Shull.
“I had a wonderful journey and I want to thank each and every person I had the privilege to work for, and with, in this great organization. They were the ones that helped me learn, achieve and hopefully contribute. Thank you and God bless.”
WORDS TO LIVE BY
“Be curious. Create spontaneously. Champion inclusion. Speak candidly. Own it – do it. Learn fast, think big. Be extraordinary. Be daring, be wild. Do the right thing. Live fearlessly this holiday, this New Year.” (words borrowed from a friend’s Christmas card)
If you’d like to wish Ms. Stack well on her retirement journey, please comment on this story.
All the best Karen on your new chapter in life.
Karen, welcome to the retirement phase of your life. You are going to love it. When I am asked about my time with Desert Storm/Shield, I always mention that we had females as part of the of the crew. The experience there was something else. It was a pleasure working with you and I wish only the best in your retirement future. If you ever find yourself the Ft Campbell area look me up.
As a young manager coming up in AAFES in the early 90’s Ms. Karen was a great role model. She let women see there was room for us at higher levels within the Exchange. Thank you for helping to pave the way for so many women in this company. I am sure you have touched thousands of lives you will never know about. You are a true leader. I hope you enjoy your retirement to the fullest.
Best wishes Karen on your retirement! If you are ever in gulfshores let me know so we Visit! Happy new year! Julie
Congratulations on your retirement! You have always been a mentor to me and have helped me in so many ways. I am a better manager having worked for you and am thankful for your mentorship and advise! Getting a call from you and Maria that I need to pack a bag and meet you both at the Airport and drive you to Ft. Irwin was always an adventure! Thanks for everything!!
Enjoy your retirement Karen!
Congratulations Karen! Impressive resume of wonderful experiences!
Best wishes we Love you ❤️
Hi Karen,
Congratulations on your career with AAFES. I read your story with interest. I retired in January of 1993. One of my career stops was Ft. Bliss where you worked as a vending supervisor with Kieth Windham (now deceased). I remember your enthusiastic efforts in that job. Enjoy your retirement. If
you are ever in Colorado Springs, look Cathy and me up.
Gene Foitek
Gene,
Thank you for taking the time to write and reminisce about old times at Ft Bliss. I remember you well. So sorry to hear about Keith Windham. Thanks for the invite to look you up if ever in the Springs. All the best, Karen
Best Wishes on your Retirement. I remember you back when you were Western Division VP many years ago. Enjoy your new endeavors as you move forward.
Thank you Lynn for your well wishes.
Karen
Congratulations on an incredible career, Karen!
I have a lasting memory of the first impression you made on me in early 2004 during your visit to the Kuwait Distribution Center. You took a moment to reassure me that you would do everything possible to ensure Marcia upcoming deployed would be in Kuwait. Your reassurance that I could reach out if there were any concerns about finding a place for Marcia in Kuwait – truly showed the caring and supportive person you are.
I will always remember my final assignment in Korea during the global pandemic. Through it all, your support remained constant. I knew that daily at 2am Dallas time you would wake and call to check on the well-being of Marcia, me, and the team! While those calls may have been a little overwhelming at times – I recognized your genuine concern for the health and safety of us and the Exchange team and your commitment to taking care of our customers.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for your mentorship, support, and the trust you placed in me over the last decade in the LG Directorate. Despite the ups and downs, I always knew you stood firmly behind me, ready to support whatever was needed.
Wishing you continued health and happiness and God’s blessings in the well-deserved next chapter of your life—retirement! Rest assured knowing you have an amazing team of leaders in LG that will continue to take us to the next level.
If you ever find yourself in the Nature Coast of Florida, Marcia and I would love to see you!
Nick and Marcia
Thank you for your kind words. Wishing you the very best with both your retirements.
Karen
Congratulations Ms. Stack on (continuous) 47 years of making a difference around the world. Reading about your parents and your journey is truly remarkable, filled with strength, talent, resilience and determination. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work in LG, and the chance to explore various areas (including filling in at the “front”). At first, I was scared and nervous. However, after a few times, being in your company became a source of inspiration and positivity for me.
Ms. Stack, your support and conversations made a significant difference during my time in LG. I wish you greatness in all your future endeavors.
Appreciative of your positive impact.
Thank you Renee for your inspiring comments.
I wish you continued success.
Karen
Congratulations, ma’am. You are an inspiration for women everywhere. Wishing you all the best in retirement.
Thank you Julie for your kind remarks. Wishing you continued success.
Karen
Congratulations, Karen! I wish you a long, healthy and happy retirement. You have left an amazing legacy and all of AAFES has benefited from your service. Bon voyage, happy trails and Godspeed. You are going to love the next phase of your life.
Thanks for the kind comments Bob. Good hearing from you. See you on Facebook. Karen
Congratulations Karen! You have been an amazing leader for the Exchange. All the best in your next chapter.
Thanks Danny for all your support through the years. God Bless. Karen
Hi Karen,
Congratulations on your retirement! You will love it! I’ve been retired for 12 years and it has been the best thanks to our wonderful AAFES retirement benefits! When you were on the investment committee for our pension plan and I was the investment manager you really mentor me and was instrumental in my promotion to Assistant Treasurer. Thank you for all you have done for AAFES and our service members over the amazing 47 years you have served! Enjoy your well deserved retirement! Brian Lawrence
Brian Thank you for your kind words. See you on the other side. 🙂 Karen
Congratulations on your r=Retirement Karen, May you be blessed with good health to enjoy all your plans. Thank you so much for all you did for me and for Grand Forks.
Pat
It should be me thanking you! Your hard work, talent and impeccable work ethics made Grand Forks Exchange successful but also made me successful. I’ve talked about you at every assignment I had. Love you,
Karen
Congratulations Karen on a wonderful and impactful career! You have impacted more people than you will ever know. Your dedication to the AAFES mission and passion for our Service Members is unmatched. Thank you for supporting me and teaching me for the last 12 years. I know I would not be where I am today without you. I wish you and Bob the best in whatever comes next!
Thanks Alan for all you taught me. We had many good years together fighting the good fight. I wish you continued success and wish you and Dianna happy trails in your RV! Karen
Congratulations Karen! You are an amazing leader and human being. Many leaders may say the right things, but you truly mean them when it comes to caring for the people you lead. Best wishes to you on your retirement!
Carlos
It’s hard to believe we have been pen pals so long. I watched you leadership style mature and grow professionally. I also watched your kids grow up on Facebook. Thank you for your kind words. Respectfully,
Karen
Karen, Congratulations on your retirement!
You have been an incredible roll model and leader that I learned so much from while working in your regions over the years. All the best to you on your retirement!
Cynthia
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you the very best in your endeavors. God Bless, Karen
Karen,
What a journey and now, like many who helped you long the AAFES journey, your heading into the retirement reward where you can really begin to reap the rewards of your experiences and watch those you opened doors for follow in your foot steps. So many memories with many more to make. Wishing you all the best as you transition and I know you will leave LG, and the Exchange, ready to continue serving exceptionally.
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the heartfelt comments from you.I WISH YOU WELL.
Karen
Karen,
Congratulations on an outstanding career and a lifetime connected to those that serve. Am forever grateful for your leadership, direction & compassion-particularly in SWA. May the tee times in retirement always have empty fairways in front of you, hit ‘em straight!
Thanks for the kind words Phil.. Wishing you the very best. Karen
Many congratulations Karen on an awesome dedicated career through many leadership styles and direction! You are leaving a great family! The Exchange is a great career…but retirement is pretty fantastic. Wishing you Godspeed and thanks for your service to the best customers in the world!
Denise…Thank you for the kind words.Congratulations and I will see you on the other side!
,
Karen
Karen, Congratulations on 47 years of service!! Thank you for all your support and for teaching me to be a servant leader and to always look at the business through the customers’ eyes. It was great working with you throughout the years. Your compassion and selfless devotion to serving our customers and associates is unmatched.
Ms. Stack, Congratulations on your retirement! Thank you for the care you have shown to us in the field in my 3 years with LG. I really appreciate you always checking in on us to make sure we were doing ok and making sure we have everything we needed to successfully complete our mission. Your care for everyone under you will be greatly missed. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do for your next chapter.
Russell
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you continued success,
All the best,
Karen
Thank you for your 47+ dedicated years of faithful service. You are a true legend in AAFES. Your 47 years has covered over 1/3 of the entire life of the Exchange since its inception! I first met you in 2007 when you were the SVP of the Western Region when I was the Distribution Center Manager of the Waco DC and you visited our shoppette that services the Waco area retirees as well as the WADC employees. Your sense of urgency and unquestionable commitment to servicing your customers was obvious to me during this meeting. I was deployed as the Regional Logistics Manager over in the LG operations in SouthWest Asia ( SWA) in 2012 when you joined the LG family. You used to call me during our day (which was the middle of the night for you in Texas) to see what was going on in SWA. You wanted me to make sure I did not feel isolated and you ensured that I knew you were only a phone call away whenever I needed anything. You were always concerned for the health, safety, and well-being of the deployed LG associates and how the HQ LG team could best support the LG field efforts and the retail customers. It was an honor to work for you when I re-deployed to SWA in 2018 and 2019. I want to personally thank you for your years of support and guidance to me personally. And I know you have had a positive influence on many managers and associates. Congratulations to you on your truly epic and illustrious career! I wish you all the best in your retirement, Karen!
So good to hear from you Bryan. Thanks for the kind words. Those were the good old days…KAREN
Karen, Congratulations on your retirement. You had more adventures than Indiana Jones.
While I was assigned as the Exchange/District Accounting Manager for Desert Storm & Desert Sheild you were a great mentor, you showed me what Leadership and true work ethic was. Our career paths crossed many times, and you were always there to provide input, guidance, and your humble opinion. I thank you for that.
Your someday is here. Enjoy and God Bless you and your family.
Mike & Lioba
Mike and Lioba-
Great to hear from you. Thank you for the kind words. Wishing you both only the best. Karen
Congratulations on your retirement. Wishing you nothing but the best in your new adventures.
Thanks for the well wishes. karen
What a journey! Congratulations on your amazing career and retirement! Wishing you all the Best in your next chapter!
Lori
Thanks for the well wishes. All the best,
Karen
Great read and background information, I always like to hear how everyone came up in AAFES. Congratulations on your retirement and cheers to the next chapter.
Thank you for your well wishes.
To a humble leader who always cares for her people and supports them, may your retirement be all that you’ve hoped for. Thank you for your 47 years of amazing and dedicated service!
Thank you Yeonsil for your kind words.
Karen,
Congratulations on your retirement, both my father Gino and I always held you in high regard as a true professional and gave 100% in what ever assignment you were associated with.
Enjoy your retirement as you truly deserve it.
I’m confident that you’ll be successful in where your retirement leads you to.
Rex,
Thanks for your kind words. Wishing you all the best,
Congratulations on your retirement! Best wishes for you and your family!
Cathy,
THANK YOU for your loyalty and hard work. You faced challenges head on with courage and always led by example. I wish you well.
Congratulations, Karen! Thank you for all you have personally done to make the Exchange the great organization it is today.
Judd,
My sincerest appreciation that I could count on your support when needed. It never wavered and it meant a lot to me. Thank you for your leadership, I’ve never met a better leader and writer than you. Wish there were more Judds in this world. God Bless, Karen
Congratulations Mrs. Karen Stack The best wishes from Honduras Luis Rivera
Luis,
Thank you for the kind remarks. I always knew you would run the place some day. I wish you good health and happiness. All the best, Karen
Great achievements! Thank you for sharing your journey – this is an inspiration to all women serving with AAFES. Congratulations on your retirement and enjoy every moment!
Marivel
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you continued success. All the best, Karen
Ms. Stack: Hello and Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! Thank you for all your support in my seven years with the Exchange. The times we’ve shared are priceless and will remain dear to me. You made a positive impact and want to say a big, “Thank You”. May God bless and forever keep you is my prayer.
Happy Retirement
Gwendolyn (Gwen) Grant
A.K.A. Locum servant in times of Karen Mason absence
Gwen,
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you the very best. Karen
Karen,
Congratulations on a fabulous career with AAFES, and many blessings for your next chapter. You made a difference everywhere you went. It’s your legacy.
Barry
So nice to hear from you and thank you for the kind words. I wish you the very best.
Karen
Karen,
Congratulations on your career, and your retirement with AAFES. You will forever leave a mark on the Exchange and the ones who had the great opportunity to learn and grow from you as I did. You set the stage for many of us and taught us to become great forward-thinking leaders will always taking in the bigger picture. That I will never forget and will always take with me and pass on.
In your story you write “But you always had your AAFES family to fall back on”. My AAFES family, in particular you and the region in 2008 when tragedy fell upon me and my family’s lives, you were there. I want to thank you for that again, and let you know to this day, that has always been one of my stories of why AAFES is such an amazing place. Because of the people and family that encompass our mission “family serving family”. It goes beyond just the military community, it is the AAFES community, and leaders like yourself who never let their AAFES family fall but are there to lift them up in times of need.
Thank you for your selfless dedication to the AAFES family and mission in whatever means you were needed. I am excited to hear of your upcoming travels for your family journey and hope you truly stick to the no clock goal! You deserve it! All the best to you and to your family.
Alison,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write me and thank you for your kind comments. So happy to hear from you! I wish you the very best. Karen`
Such an amazing career! Thank you for your leadership! I appreciate getting to meet you and learn from you!
Thanks for your comments. I wish you well. Karen
Congrats Karen, on your 47 amazing years, you have definitely carved your place in the AAFES Ring of Honor! The three years I spent supporting Western Region were the most gratifying of my career. Enjoy your retirement!
Darrin,
Thanks for taking time to comment. I appreciate the kudos. Yes you had a lot of responsibility but you managed the priorities well. Thank you! Karen
Congratulations, you should be very proud. Had some good times over the years, I will always remember our hike to the top of Mt. Rushmore, it was a pleasure working with you over the years. All you have to do now is Have Fun!!!
Andy
So good hearing from you. Thank you for the kind words, I will always remember the Mt Rushmore hike and how we continued to build teamwork; but had fun doing it. Wishing you the best, Karen
Congratulations Karen on your upcoming retirement. You have had an amazing career and impacted the lives of so many associates. I will always be grateful for your guidance and mentorship throughout the years. You will be missed!
Anna
Thank you for your comments. You have always been a leadership pillar where ever you were assigned….no nonsense and get the job done. Good luck in you new role. Know you will do great. All the best. Karen
Karen, loved watching you in action during MG Frost’s tenure at AAFES. She and Ms. Iverson had so much faith in you! Your fearless leadership and tenacity in supporting deployed Soldiers was amazing. Congrats to you, and cheers for your fun-filled future “off the clock”! You friend, Martine
Martine,
Thanks for the kind words. MG Frost’s work ethics and passion for our troops fueled my soul and kept me going for many years. All the best, your friend, Karen
Mrs. Stack,
Many Thanks and Congratulations, literally!
When I came to work at AAFES I was aware of the immediate chain of command but didn’t know who our Executives were. And then I found out, I was so thrilled to know that we had a woman for EVP and Chief LG Officer. I’m not biased, I just find it inspiring to see females operate in those various roles because I know just how challenging it is and can be. Thank you for inspiring us, all!
I really enjoyed when you would come to visit the D.C. because you didn’t hide in the background, you were out there with us finding out what we were going through, doing what we did, listening to our presentations, and thanking us for all we do. You never looked down on us. You held down Leadership Presence with Style! You were always engaged. I remember when I stepped into my beginning role of management which I knew would be a challenge, the DCM said Mrs. Stack wants to meet you (via conference that is) and I thought really. That made me feel as though you felt like everyone made a difference! Thank you for caring!
As I read your Farewell Bio, I was comforted by our similarities of military influence and diversity, my father an Islander retired from the United States Army, and I have various family members that have served and are still serving. That is one of the measures of fulfillment that an Exchange career provides, an opportunity for service, serving those that serve us. It gives you a sense that in some way you are following in the footsteps of family. I admire your strength and courage to have worked for so long, take on the responsibility of the company, contribute selfless devotion, and accomplish numerous victories despite the challenges. Not only does it take selfless devotion it takes courage and faith to trust and embrace the journey (at times you put your life on the line). I can only imagine what you’ve endured mentally, spiritually, and physically. All extremely inspiring! Thanks for Sharing!
I have learned so much throughout the time of your Leadership with the Exchange and I’m still learning and developing. Just reading the Bio, I learned that things can get rough for everyone no matter what position you are in, to continue to be open to change, behind the success story are mountains of dedication, and to always value freedom by remembering the mission. Thanks for Making a difference!
Congratulations on your retirement and your many accomplishments in and outside of AAFES! You will be missed! Prayers for a joyful retirement journey!
Aisha
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and provide your feedback. I am elated when I hear that something I said or did inspired someone to act. Keep your great attitude and you will go far. All the best, Karen
I first met Karen at the Presidio of San Francisco in the 1990s. She attended Sixth Army Staff Meetings representing AAFES and I attended them when my boss (6th Army, Deputy C-of-Staff, Personnel) was not available. In that group of 20-25 soldiers, Karen was the only civilian and only female in attendance. It was during those meetings that I noticed and admired her knowledge, confidence, and communication skills while presenting information and answering questions from Generals and Senior Field Grade Officers. I did not know her well at that time but as I watched the way she handled herself, I would say to myself “That lady is going places”. Since then, I have enjoyed observing her many successes and advancements as she has moved upward.
Karen, your legacy will live on for generations, but AAFES will not be the same without you, your enthusiasm and AAFES roots. I wish you the best in your retirement. Enjoy it, you truly earned it!
Russ,
What powerful comments and I am very humbled. Thank you. Respectfully, Karen
Congratulations on your retirement. You distinguished yourself as a leader at every level and every discipline. AAFES is a far better organization and delivers a greater service to military members and families as a result. Best wishes for a long and healthy retirement.