Karen is responsible for global economic development activities and innovation programs for The Water Council. She leads three separate global innovation programs for the Council including a corporate-sponsored open innovation Tech Challenge, a post-accelerator program and a pilot program. She leads the organization’s international efforts and works closely with our European representative to serve partners and companies in Europe and beyond. Karen managed the program development, implementation and oversight of The Water Council’s U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Innovation Cluster Contract from 2015-2020and is active in the execution of The Water Council’s 2023 NSF engine development award for Water and Energy Resiliency for Manufacturers and Utilities. She is an experienced connector and strong relationship builder and collaborator with the small business community, project partners and funders.
Our Team
Karen Frost
Program Manager
Karen is responsible for global economic development activities and innovation programs for The Water Council.
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Ocean Exchange invites you to learn more about Awards Program, our ecosystem and success of our award winners and participants. Together, we can chart a powerful course to help ensure the future of our oceans and the Blue Economy.
Testimonials
The Guy Harvey Foundation has been a proud partner with Ocean Exchange for the past few years as it provides a wonderful platform for innovations to be shared, meaningful networking to take place and overall supports the growth of the ocean economy and conservation efforts. We’ve been fortunate to provide awards for both collegiate and high school categories, participated on the judging panel and are inspired by the problem solving solutions presented by each candidate. If you want a good dose of inspiration, definitely look to supporting, attending or participating in the events!
Jessica Harvey
Chief Executive Officer, Guy Harvey Foundation
Participating in Ocean Exchange as an AUV subject matter expert was a meaningful way to share Anduril’s perspective on operational autonomy and AUV deployment. The event brought together diverse stakeholders focused on advancing practical, impact-driven maritime technologies, and provided a valuable platform for meaningful and inspiring discussions that delved into the complexities and opportunities spanning the full spectrum of ocean innovation.
Jessie Gray
Engineering Project Manager, Anduril
At Carollo Engineers, water is all we do—so we’re passionate about protecting our oceans. Attending the Ocean Exchange connected us with innovators advancing the blue economy, including those driving reuse and improving wastewater treatment and water quality. Events like this highlight how essential cross-sector collaboration is to solving global water challenges and creating a more sustainable future.
Dave Sobeck
Executive Vice President, Carollo Engineers
Ocean Exchange consistently brings together some of the most promising innovators in sustainability, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to support their work through the Solutions Review Team. Each year after attending the annual conference, I leave energized by the quality of ideas presented, the mission‑driven entrepreneurs involved, and the collaborative environment that drives meaningful progress for our oceans and The Blue Economy.
Rick Claar
Partner/President, The Martec Group
Being a voting delegate at Ocean Exchange reminded me why I do this work—watching students and industry leaders alike push the boundaries of what’s possible for ocean health and the blue economy. Deep thanks to Moffatt & Nichol for supporting our time and commitment.
Lynette Cardoch
Vice President Director, Resilience and Adaptation, Moffatt & Nichol