Page 99 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2024

presented by South Mississippi Living magazine
Karen Sock
President and CEO
After a long and rewarding career in the hospitality and gaming industry, consulting was the next logical step for Karen Sock. “I am able to apply my skills and abilities in a way that delivers positive impacts and is both fulfilling and rewarding and keeps me engaged across the community,” she says of her role.
Prior to this position, Sock made history in 1996 when Harrah’s Entertainment appointed her to the position of General Manager
at the Original Harrah’s Casino in Tunica. “That appointment distinguished me as the nation’s first African American female to lead the operations of a full service casino,” she recalls. “I am grateful for all the opportunities that followed and for the skills that I honed and use in my business today.”
Sock enjoys working with business professionals in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. “I am able to partner with them to deliver specific work products while also learning new things about each business and or organization,” she says. “I have also been fortunate to build some wonderful relationships over the years as a result.”
Philanthropy has always been near and dear to Sock, who is the creator and owner of the CEO Talent Show that benefits the United Way of South Mississippi, which is now in its 9th year. She is also the co-founder of Pathways2Possibilities:P2P, a hands-on career expo now in its 11th year. The expo has served over 124,000 8th graders since 2013 and 53 percent are now studying or working in target industries identified by the Mississippi Development Authority according to a study conducted by the Center for Research Evaluation at The University of Mississippi.
She is also a board chair for the Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, serves on the board of directors of the Renaissance Community Loan Fund (RCLF), East Central Harrison County Public Utility District, and Coast Chamber Foundation, as well as serves as an advisory board member for the Lighthouse Business and Professional Women’s organization. In fact, their Woman of Achievement Award is named in her honor.
The advice she would give to young female entrepreneur is to “Go after your goals, keep learning and exploring opportunities. Know that whatever you put your mind to, prepare for, and work toward, you can achieve. Build positive and supportive relationships. Our experiences
as women are unique in business, and we need to be able to confide in each other, mentor each other, and sometimes just listen and be there for each other.”
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net September 2024 | 99
SOCK ENTERPRISES
P.O. Box 8821, Biloxi
901.651.7167 | karensock52@gmail.com