About
Mary Lou Keeran
Career Consultant
My life-long pursuit of running has proven an appropriate analogy for my own career journey. So many life lessons learned along the many miles on my feet. I gained experience building discipline to achieve my goals, developed a resilience while overcoming obstacles that got in my way, I’ve shifted directions and adapted plans due to unforeseen circumstances and I have an amazing network. I’ve experienced the emotions and challenges of change and learned how to navigate to the other side stronger and focused.
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In addition to my experiences in the school of life and the miles on the road, I bring over 20 years of expertise in talent acquisition/recruitment, talent development, career exploration and search, training facilitation, professional brand, and career and leadership development. I directed the talent acquisition function and teams at KeyBank, KinderCare Education and New Seasons Market. I currently contract with The Bell Lap as a career coach with professional track and field athletes as they begin to consider what’s next in their post-athletic careers.
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I am skilled in resume development, LinkedIn branding and usage, interviewing, negotiations, onboarding planning, action planning and leadership development. In addition to my bachelor’s degree in human resource management from George Fox University, I hold certifications in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Hogan Assessment, and previously held the SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. I am a Coach, Guide, Networker and Relationship Builder.
Another core value is my contribution to the community. I give back regularly by serving as an Industry Advisor/Mentor with college of business students at George Fox University, volunteer with my local food bank and provide coaching/coach support/projects for Girls on the Run of Greater Oregon.
My Motto: Take heart and create heart wherever you go.
Testimonial
"Mary Lou has been my career coach for over 4 years now. I cannot imagine navigating the world of careers without her insight, guidance, and expertise. Mary Lou has years of in-depth knowledge to provide understanding and guidance on the fundamentals of job searching, but her true gift is being able to push oneself to research and explore what they really want from a career.
It is with Mary Lou’s help that I was able to land two new positions in the last 3 years. I was looking to move my career in a different direction, both her and I knew it was going to take dedication and hard work, but Mary Lou wholeheartedly knew I could do it. She was instrumental in scripting my resume and LinkedIn profile to draw out transferable skills and with her guidance on when and how to contact people I doubled the size of my LinkedIn community.
Mary Lou’s superpowers are that she listens, she’s honest, she pushes, and she believes. More than once, as I was working on shifting my career, I asked Mary Lou “am I crazy, should I just give up?”, and she wouldn’t let me. Mary Lou would admit it’s hard, she would let me have my bad days, but she always reminded me of how far I have come and reminded me that I can do it and I did! She held me accountable to the work, and she would question me if I was veering off path. I highly recommend Mary Lou to anyone looking to move their career forward.”
Amy Bostwick, Keen Footwear | Former Nike | Career client of Mary Lou’s
