Karen always had an interest in theater and arts. Her passion of performance was turned toward clown work after being given a box of crayons by Bozo the Clown when she was a small child.

It was not until the Air Traffic Control strike in 1981 that Karen made her dream a reality. Her husband, a recently fired FAA employee, was out of work and now their family needed a plan. Being a homemaker and not wanting to leave her young children with babysitters, Karen decided to create her clown image of Hanna Banana. With minimal money, a wig, an outfit and some makeup were purchased and a plan became a reality.

Since she had no formal training, Karen relied on sources she found in the public library and through conversations with other young mothers of what they were looking for in a child entertainer. Karen quickly realized that her goal would be what all young moms seek, safety. She promoted the fact that she was fingerprinted, insured, licensed, that the paint for face painting would be gentle to decrease chances for allergies, and that she would not use glitter all to help ensure the children’s overall wellbeing and safety. Initially, Karen wore a traditional white face clown style but over time she realized that many children feared the traditional clown and so she took on a more contemporary Jester style with minimal paint and no wigs.

Performance - As the “city-clown” Stockton has faithfully reserved Karen for all large city functions. Karen has been hired twice by Lieutenant Governor, John Garamendi and has received commendations from both Governor Schwarzenegger's office and from Brian Sandoval who is running for Governor of Nevada. In 1990 Women's Day Magazine included Karen in an article about starting a home business and along with numerous newspaper write-ups in the Stockton Record; Karen has become household name in Central California. Word of her gentle style of clown work has spread and in 2008 playwright/writer Bill Corbett took note and wrote this, "Good for you, Ms. Banana. As the dad of two very young kids, I’d rather they enjoy clowns than have nightmares about them."

Clown School - As Karen's empire continued to grow she realized that she desired to train and educate other clowns. Karen started California Clown School in 2005. Karen is still seen today at everything from Birthday Parties, to Company functions, to School Assemblies and now includes teaching Clown School.