ABOUT

KARIE TERHARK

I'm Karie Terhark, a professional facilitator and trainer. I work with leaders, teams, and communities who are navigating complex conversations, competing priorities, and the need for real collaboration.

My role in the room is to stay grounded, read what's happening beneath the surface, and guide groups toward clarity and action that holds beyond the meeting itself.

"Facilitation is not about controlling the conversation. It is about creating the conditions where people can think clearly, speak honestly, and move forward together."

Certified ToP® Facilitator & Mentor Trainer

Lumina Learning Practitioner

10+ Years of practice & training

MY STORY

HOW I CAME TO FACILITATION

I came to facilitation through practice, not theory.

2018

While serving as the Director of a community coalition, I was responsible for bringing together diverse stakeholders with different perspectives, priorities, and levels of influence. Traditional leadership approaches were not enough. Progress required participation, trust, and shared ownership.

Facilitation offered a different way to lead.

THEN

Through facilitation, I saw how structured dialogue, intentional design, and respect for group dynamics could transform confusion into clarity and conflict into collaboration. That experience became the foundation of my work.

2023

I founded KT Facilitation to focus fully on helping individuals and organizations lead through facilitation and build collaborative capacity that lasts.

WHAT SHAPES MY APPROACH

My facilitation style blends structure with presence. I bring a calm, steady approach into rooms that may feel tense, uncertain, or politically complex.

MY WORK IS SHAPED BY A FEW CORE PRINCIPLES:

01

Clearer communication and fewer misunderstandings

03

Disagreement can be productive when handled with skill

02

Group dynamics are information, not obstacles

04

Good meetings are not the goal; shared understanding and action are

01

Clearer communication and fewer misunderstandings

03

Disagreement can be productive when handled with skill

02

Group dynamics are information, not obstacles

04

Good meetings are not the goal; shared understanding and action are

Rather than imposing solutions, I design processes that allow groups

to surface insight, make decisions together, and commit to next steps they can stand behind.

CREDENTIALS

TRAINING, CERTIFICATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

For more than seven years, I have facilitated and trained alongside experienced practitioners across sectors.

🏅

Certified ToP® Facilitator & Mentor Trainer

Grounded in the Technology of Participation methods used globally across sectors.

🔷

Lumina Learning Practitioner

Deepens my understanding of communication styles, strengths, and group dynamics.

This work supports leadership growth that is both personal and organizational.

SUPPORTING WORK IN

This work supports leaders who can:

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Organizational and community change

Leadership development

Stakeholder engagement

Conflict navigation and decision-making

This background allows me to work fluently across corporate, public, nonprofit, and community environments.

WORKING TOGETHER

WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WORK WITH ME

I pay close attention to what is happening beneath the surface of the conversation while keeping the group focused on purpose and outcomes. I adapt in real time, adjusting facilitation structures as needed to meet the moment.

My role is not to dominate the room. It is to hold it.

The result is facilitation that feels respectful, inclusive, and effective, even when the work is hard.

CLIENTS OFTEN DESCRIBE ME AS:

STEADY

PERCEPTIVE

DEEPLY PREPARED

I bring a calm, grounded presence into rooms that may feel tense, uncertain, or politically complex and I stay that way, even when the energy in the room shifts.

.I listen for what's happening beneath the words, not just the agenda items. That's where the real work is.

BEYOND THE ROOM

My work does not end when a session concludes.

I am committed to building facilitation into leadership practices as a long-term capability within organizations and communities. Through training, coaching, and strategic engagement, I support leaders in developing the skills needed to lead with confidence.

My goal is to help organizations move from reliance on external facilitation to internal confidence and competence.

SUPPORTING LEADERS IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS NEEDED TO:

  • Lead participatory meetings

  • Navigate disagreement constructively

  • Build shared ownership

  • Foster cultures of collaboration and accountability

LET'S TALK

If you are navigating complex conversations, leading through change, or looking to strengthen collaboration in your organization or community, facilitation can help.

I begin every engagement by listening, understanding context, and designing support that fits your reality.

© 2026 KT Facilitation · Professional Facilitation & Leadership Development · Midwest-Based · In-Person & Virtual

641-860-0344