Deana E. Karem

President & CEO

Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce

Deana Karem is currently the President and CEO of the Jtown Chamber of Commerce.  

Since joining the Chamber in 2020, she has initiated multiple new networking and leadership programs, launched a new chamber brand, created a top investment network, and hosted state and federal elected officials on multiple occasions.

Before joining the Jtown Chamber she headed up regional economic and workforce development for GLI (Greater Louisville Inc) as the Senior Vice President for Regional Economic Growth.  She led strategies focused on attracting companies and talent to greater Louisville.  Her team was also responsible for forming partnerships that would build workforce and education capacity within the private sector.

Some of her most significant accomplishments include lifting up the 15-county regional economic development partnership, hosting the first local annual Fam Tour inviting national consultants who support business attraction, the launch of Live in Lou (a regional talent recruitment effort), the passage of alcohol sales laws in Oldham County, the creation of the annual Celebration of Women event recognizing women’s contributions to the economy, and the initiation of a new Bluegrass Business Park coalition.

Most of Deana’s career has been focused on economic and community development.  She is a passionate and visionary leader who genuinely cares about the region and the opportunities it provides for others.

2000 to Present          Vector Engineers, Inc, Shelbyville, Kentucky

Dr. Karem was a founding member of a civil engineering design firm and began as a full-time employee in 2008. Dr. Karem is expanding the firms engineering capabilities into the geosciences focusing on site development, geotechnical consulting and failure investigations.

2004 to 2015          University of Kentucky, Department of Civil Engineering

Dr. Karem served as an adjunct professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He taught two classes to senior and graduate level Civil Engineering students; soil mechanics and foundation engineering. Dr. Karem was responsible for developing the course syllabus, outlining goals and mentoring the students. Dr. Karem also assisted one of the associate professors in developing subject matter for research and review of funding proposals that eventually assisted in obtaining tenure for that professor.

1997 to 2007          QORE, Inc. 

Dr. Karem has conducted several structural evaluations of buildings for uses ranging from damage due to weather conditions, age and impact from vehicles. Dr. Karem has conducted nearly a hundred HUD inspections for the Federal Housing Authority. He also has conducted several facility condition studies on apartment complexes to determine the long term maintenance cost for potential buyers.

Dr. Karem has also provided engineering consulting on old warehouse buildings to determine if various structural elements in the facility will handle the load increases due to revised architecture associated with the remodeling.

1984 to 1992           Law Engineering, Inc., Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky