Speaker

Karen Dougherty Buchholz, Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Corporation, has a wide array of corporate development responsibilities, including corporate real estate, facilities, aviation, diversity, corporate services, business continuity, travel, security and sustainability. She was the executive in charge of the development of Comcast’s new Technology Center, a $1.5 billion, 60-story tower adjacent to Comcast’s corporate headquarters, the Comcast Center, which is one of the nation’s tallest. Karen previously oversaw the development of Comcast Center, a $750 million, 56-story tower from 2005 through 2008. 

From 2000 to 2003, Karen established Comcast’s first corporate communications infrastructure, unifying communications for the entire family of Comcast companies. This included leading communications during many company acquisitions, including the company’s transformative acquisition of AT&T Broadband in 2001-2002. 

Prior to Comcast, in 1997, then-Mayor Edward G. Rendell appointed Karen as President of Philadelphia 2000, the organization that brought the 2000 Republican National Convention to Philadelphia and served as the City’s official Host Committee. The Convention attracted 50,000 visitors and won national and international media attention. Immediate economic benefits exceeded $300 million. 

Karen served as Sales Executive for Comcast-Spectacor from 1993 to 1997 for what is now called the Wells Fargo Center, a 20,000-seat arena and home to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Comcast-owned Philadelphia Flyers. In 1991, Karen led the development of the Pyramid Club at the top of the Mellon Bank Center for Club Corporation of America. 

Karen served as Special Assistant to State Treasurer Barbara Hafer during her 1990 gubernatorial bid. From 1988-1990, Karen was Special Assistant to United States Senator John Heinz in Washington, D.C. 

Karen received her M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. She is a 1988 graduate of Dickinson College and the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna, Italy. 

Board Memberships 

Karen serves on WSFS Financial Corporation and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB Board of Directors. She also serves on the Boards of many civic and charitable organizations, including: Board of Trustees, Drexel University; Board of Directors, Museum of the American Revolution; Global Board of Directors, Women in Cable Telecommunications; and University of Pennsylvania’s Trustees’ Council of Penn Women. 

Karen has received numerous awards, including: 2018 Police Athletic League of Philadelphia’s PAL Award; 2017 Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council’s Construction & Real Estate "Good Scout" Award; 2016 Philadelphia Magazine's Trailblazer Award; 2014 United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Women’s Initiative Award; National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications - Philadelphia 2012 Paragon Award; 2012 Multichannel News Wonder Women Award; 2011 Women in Cable Telecommunications Seasoned Professional Service Award; 2009 Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business Award; 2008 American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” Woman of Heart Award.