AboutUs
In 2013, we began planning a stunning, new home to share with guests in the beautiful Verde Valley.
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Now that our kids are grown, we have left our corporate world careers in pursuit of this opportunity to serve world travelers and the community of Cottonwood.
Jeff
Jeff is almost an Arizona native, having grown up in Goodyear and most recently lived in Litchfield Park, both southwest of Phoenix.
A proud graduate of Agua Fria Union High School, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering degree from Arizona State University and a Master’s Degree in Information Management from the University of Phoenix. His additional technical certifications included becoming a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and a Project Management Professional (PMP).
His corporate career was predominantly spent with a major credit card & travel management company, in roles supporting the design and management of customer servicing and/or information management.
He also served his local community; roles included being a Board Member of the Litchfield Park Historical Society and Council Member of the City of Litchfield Park.
He now volunteers at Cottonwood's Clemenceau Museum - in the Train Room - ans serves as Treasurer of the Verde Village Community Connection, a local association with the goal of connecting with our neighbors and nature.
With these experiences, naturally, Jeff was destined to become an Innkeeper!
Well, perhaps not, but he is able to apply much of his experience toward serving guests and creating an excellent customer experience.
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Jeff likes to say he spent 50 summers in Phoenix … and that that was enough. Cottonwood is consistently 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix, which makes a significant impact on one’s enjoyment of summer. Though it still gets hot here (and fairly cold in winter), the beauty of the landscape makes even the hardest outdoor labor an enjoyable experience. The views are amazing!!!
Karen
Originally from Minnesota, Karen has spent the majority of her adult life in non-snowy Arizona. She grew up in Hastings (southeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul), so living near a river is not new to her. She graduated from Hastings High School, then from Winona State University with Bachelor degrees in Math and in Computer Science. After serving as a high school teacher for two years, she moved to Phoenix and into the corporate world. As she progressed in her career, she took on roles with increasing leadership responsibilities. Most of her corporate life was spent within UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Passionate about ensuring health care is provided to those who can least afford it, she ended her career as the Chief Operating Officer for UHC’s AZ-based Medicaid program (AHCCCS). She is a Director for Soroptimist International of Phoenix, an organization with the strategic goal of empowering women and girls by providing access to - and support of - their educational objectives, and now serves as a mentor for SCORE, a business development organization whose mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education.
Becoming an Innkeeper was Karen’s idea, but not her first choice; her ideal role would be as a chocolatier (try her chocolate-covered strawberries, or her hand-made truffles, and you’ll understand why). Karen makes the “artfully delicious breakfasts” that you will enjoy. Her penchant for research and trying new things has allowed her to hone her skill at food preparation (as has Jeff’s appetite for her cooking). When you contact us, it will likely be Karen you interact with, as she plays the lead role in communicating with our past, present and future guests of Origins B&B.
Your Innkeepers
Married in 2007, Jeff and Karen each brought two children into their marriage.
The oldest lives in Portland, OR, and works in marketing & communications for a public engineering firm. Two have established careers in the Phoenix, AZ area – one as a journeyman electrician and the other as a civil engineer specializing in vehicular traffic design. The ‘baby’ recently graduated from university with a degree in visual arts and is currently residing in Tempe, AZ.
AND they became grandparents in 2023!
The successes and independence of our children allow us to focus on this new Origins adventure!