HomeWork features AHAM members’ and partners’ insights into careers, success, life outside of work, and AHAM membership. This month, we spoke with Karen Elder, Product Manager, Glass-Ceramics, SCHOTT North America Inc., the sponsor of AHAM’s Supplier Networking Reception.
How did you get started in the home appliance industry?
My grandfather worked for GE his entire career. He even moved down to Louisville, Ky., to help open Appliance Park long before I was born. So, I guess I was destined to be in the home appliance space.
Louisville is something of a home appliance hub in the U.S. In 2006, I had the opportunity to join SCHOTT marketing for our specialty glass products. From the start, a large part of my role (beyond traditional marketing) was working with customers on new product development. This put me in direct contact with some of the world’s largest home appliance brands. You could say I was thrown into the deep end of the appliance world, and I haven’t stopped swimming since.
What early experiences and mentors had the biggest impact on your career path?
For a while, I functioned as both a marketer and product manager. This wasn’t sustainable. When I got the opportunity to focus on future-forward product strategy, I took the chance. My marketing background has helped me understand the North American home appliance landscape and consumer needs. Today, I pair that experience with deep technical expertise about SCHOTT to bring meaningful innovations to market.
How has consumer behavior changed the most during your time in the industry?
Induction cooking stands out as one of the biggest shifts. Working for a global organization gave me an early look at how induction could unlock new design and product opportunities developing in other markets. As the U.S. market started to embrace induction (especially in the freestanding range format) momentum really picked up. Induction still a small segment of the North American cooking market, but it's one of the most exciting and dynamic.
What is a common misconception people have about your job or your field?
People always ask me how to clean their cooktop. 😊 But I can’t help but also explain the technology and innovation behind what seems like a simple piece of glass. Over time, they start to see it differently. That glass-ceramic is carefully engineered to handle the heat, wear, and daily demands of modern cooking, while still looking beautiful. The fact that consumers expect that surface to last just as long as the metal components of the appliance shows just how integral it has become.
What professional achievement are you most proud of, and why?
Any time I see one of our innovations in customer appliances, it feels like a win. Whether the idea started with a customer or a glass expert from SCHOTT, seeing it produced after years of collaboration and development is incredibly rewarding.
What does your company gain from its work with AHAM?
Insights from events like the AHAM Annual Meeting are incredibly valuable. Our business also relies heavily on AHAM’s data reports. Personally, I find a lot of value in the people behind the numbers. The government affairs experts, fellow members, and the association’s leadership are some of the most committed people I’ve met. They work every day to support and protect our industry. Collaboration is essential to the success of any group working together for a purpose, and AHAM embodies what a trade association should be.
Outside of work, what hobbies or activities help you recharge and bring fresh ideas to your work?
You can usually find me at a music festival, a live show, or out on a hiking trail. I also LOVE to travel and find memorable dining experiences. And I am a full-on food and cooking show nerd. Learning new techniques and trying out recipes really inspires me. My personal experience in the kitchen often leads to better conversations with customers or fresh ideas for product enhancements.
