KL received the 2003 National Women of Achievement Award from Women in Management, Inc., recognizing her professional accomplishments in business consulting and her outstanding mentorship of women business owners. A natural-born leader, KL is an active community member who received both the 2004 Volunteer of the Year Award from Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) High School and the 2008 Outstanding Community Leader Award from Concordia University-Chicago. In 2005, the OPRF Chamber of Commerce presented KL with the ATHENA Award, recognizing her accomplishments in developing women leaders.

KL is an advocate for women’s rights globally and believes strongly that women’s voices should be heard on important social issues. Through her involvement with International Visitor Leadership Program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State′s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, she has participated in numerous discussions, exchanging ideas with foreign leaders in government, politics, media and education.  As a strong proponent of mentoring young women seeking higher education, she received 2011 Influential Women in Business Award from the Daily Herald-Business Ledger for her work with the participants of Miss America Competition.

Having received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University (IU), she joined the Institute of Management Accountants, serving as the organization’s Indianapolis Chapter President in 1993. Her passion and appreciation for the arts led to a leadership role on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Young Friends of Art; she served as its President in 1999.