Packing a Parachute and Other Superpowers

About Our Facilitators



Karen Hawkins

Karen brings nearly 30 years of experience and a passion for the partnership between assistants and leaders to her work. She served as the assistant to the North American Director of Youth With A Mission for 18 years. She has pioneered and organized an annual Mission CEO’s Assistant Retreat for the past nine years. Karen takes every opportunity to teach in workshops on being an assistant to a ministry leader.


Connie Ekberg

Connie Ekberg currently serves as executive assistant to the International President of The Navigators. She has over 25 years of experience as an executive assistant and has been the primary assistant to eight different leaders. Most of her experience has been with The Navigators, but she also worked five years for the Intel Corporation and three years as office manager at a software development company. Connie is a Colorado native who loves to travel. The beach is her happy place.

Related Articles

Practical Tips on Preparing for Home Assignment

The Joneses are busy getting ready for their home assignment, or furlough, next week. Dad may have to pull a few all-nighters to finish packing. They haven’t even thought about cleaning the house and readying it for the next occupants. They’ll have to ask their missionary friends to return borrowed items.

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