Karen Smith

In the HR field for over 37 years, Karen Bedenbaugh Smith, SHRM-SP, PHR, CSP, has been on staff with GPS since 1998.  Her journey through the staffing industry is truly full-circle—she’s been a GPS client, a temporary employee on assignment, and now a long-standing staff member. For Karen, HR isn’t just a profession, it’s a passion! In addition to handling HR for the GPS staff and employees, she is very involved in SHRM on both the state level and local level - she calls it “Volunteeritis”.  Karen is also involved in her church – standing member of the choir, serving as lay assistant, served on council and for her crafty side, she makes banners for children when they are baptized. 

An empty nester in Gilbert, Karen, a Winthrop graduate and her husband Charles have a son, Andrew and his wife (both Winthrop grads) along with their first grandson, Bennett; and a daughter, Alexandra, (another Winthrop grad) who is married and serving in law enforcement.  In her spare time, Karen enjoys shopping, crafting, experimenting in the kitchen, and watching movies.