Karen Monnier and her husband, Mike, opened The Sugar Baker for business in October, 2011, with a very specific purpose in mind: to provide a source of income to fund a non-profit organization called Safe Harbor Outreach.  Safe Harbor, a program that offers low rent housing to those who find themselves in financial need, is very near and dear to Karen and Mike, as they also started this organization themselves!  Karen joined Business Power Network shortly after opening her bakery, and BPN has been pivotal in helping the Monniers gain exposure for both the bakery and the non-profit.

Prior to officially opening the bakery for business, Karen spent 3 years building up her expertise in baking as a “serious hobby.”  With a background as a Quality Management Systems Consultant in the food industry, Karen felt she was positioned to start her own business, and so far, the results have borne her out.  Originally specializing in customized decorated cakes, she quickly expanded into cupcakes, cake pops, and pies.  As demand for new items increased, she began baking cookies, both “regular flavors” and customized decorated sugar cookies, including an item that originated with BPN:  business logo cookies!  Near-future plans include further expansion into scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and more.

Some of the creations that Karen has made include: wedding cakes, baby shower cakes, cookies and cake pops, birthday cakes of every size and description, “baby gender reveal” cakes, bachelor/bachelorette cakes (naughty and nice), sports team cake pops, business logo cookies and cupcakes, special occasion cakes (such as the Cattle Baron’s Ball), “thank you” cookies and cupcakes, and on and on and on. (See the slideshow below for some examples — and keep in mind that these selections are only from the past few months.)  There probably isn’t a cake she can’t make, so when ordering something for YOUR next occasion, you are limited only by your imagination!

Karen’s best customers include business owners, busy housewives, and event planners, so if you know someone in one (or more) of those categories, do them a favor and introduce them to Karen’s work!  The bakery is currently run out of a private, in-home studio, though plans for expansion into commercial space are in the works.  The best way to get in touch with Karen is by phone, at (417) 860-4144, or by email at karen@thesugarbaker.org. You should also visit The Sugar Baker on Facebook, and Like the page so you can keep up with Karen’s latest creations.  If you’d like to recommend or connect with Karen on a professional level, please visit her LinkedIn profile.

When she’s not “baking a difference in people’s lives”, Karen enjoys watching sports, camping, photography, gardening, painting, drawing, and reading.  Whew!  Not to mention taking care of the non-profit business.  Safe Harbor is currently waiting (and waiting, and waiting) on IRS approval of their 501(c)3 status, which should happen soon.  In any case, Karen and Mike are extremely thankful for their membership in BPN; as she says, without the referral business the chapter has sent to The Sugar Baker, there is no way they would have been able to progress as rapidly with the non-profit, and the bakery, as they have.  On a personal level, Karen says, “It is an honor to be part of such a wonderful group of individuals, who bring such a high level of energy, tons of laughter, and comraderie not often experienced” in business networking. It is certainly an honor for us, as well, and a tasty one, at that!