Karen Marie Shelton
Encyclopedia
Karen Marie O’Connor Shelton (born June 23, 1951) is an Internet
and Telephony
Entrepreneur
who is the CEO and founder of Hairboutique.com, one of the oldest and largest consumer hair portals on the Web
. She is also the CEO and co-founder of T&S Software, a telephony software provider of award winning software in the VOIP arena. Shelton has authored over 2,500 original articles on consumer hair care topics.
, Missouri
where she attended Our Lady of Sorrows grade school and Bishop DuBourg High School
in South St. Louis. In August 1971, she married Jerry Lee Shelton and moved with him to Triangle
, Virginia
, near where he was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 1979, Shelton and her husband were divorced but she kept Shelton permanently as her professional moniker.
where she was a member of the Epsilon Xi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta
.
Shelton graduated with a B.A.
in Sociology
with a concentration on industrial and business sociological topics. Upon graduation she began a career in the software industry focusing on systems engineering and management.
Shelton received an M.A.
in Public Policy
with a focus on business and economics from St. Louis University in 1975. She completed post-graduate work at Washington University and St. Louis University in Public Policy and Business.
, Texas
to pursue business and professional opportunities. Ten years later they founded T&S Software (Telephony & Speech), working closely together until Thayer’s death in 2005. On August 15, 1997, Shelton founded Hairboutique.com to provide consumers with comprehensive hair care information.
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and Telephony
Telephony
In telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
who is the CEO and founder of Hairboutique.com, one of the oldest and largest consumer hair portals on the Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
. She is also the CEO and co-founder of T&S Software, a telephony software provider of award winning software in the VOIP arena. Shelton has authored over 2,500 original articles on consumer hair care topics.
Background
Shelton was born and grew up in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
where she attended Our Lady of Sorrows grade school and Bishop DuBourg High School
Bishop DuBourg High School
Bishop DuBourg High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Louis, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis.-Background:...
in South St. Louis. In August 1971, she married Jerry Lee Shelton and moved with him to Triangle
Triangle, Virginia
Triangle is a census-designated place in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census. It is bounded to the south by the Quantico Marine Corps Base, which surrounds the town of Quantico. It is bounded to the north and west by the town of Dumfries...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, near where he was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 1979, Shelton and her husband were divorced but she kept Shelton permanently as her professional moniker.
Education
In December 1971, Shelton moved back to St. Louis with her husband and resumed her interrupted studies at the University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
where she was a member of the Epsilon Xi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference...
.
Shelton graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
with a concentration on industrial and business sociological topics. Upon graduation she began a career in the software industry focusing on systems engineering and management.
Shelton received an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
with a focus on business and economics from St. Louis University in 1975. She completed post-graduate work at Washington University and St. Louis University in Public Policy and Business.
- August 2007
Attended Paul Mitchell Cosmetology CollegeJohn Paul Mitchell SystemsJohn Paul Mitchell Systems is the company known for Paul Mitchell hair care products and styling tools. It was founded by John Paul DeJoria and Paul Mitchell in 1980 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills. Paul Mitchell also has beauty schools in multiple locations. The company sponsors a martial...
CarrolltonCarrollton, Texas-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - January 2008
Attended Velma B’s Cosmetology College
Oak Cliff, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- Karen Marie Shelton
Hair Braider
Texas Cosmetologist – License Number #1434744
- Karen Marie Shelton
Career
In 1980, Shelton met Michael Thornton Thayer in St. Louis and married him in 1983. In 1985, they moved to DallasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to pursue business and professional opportunities. Ten years later they founded T&S Software (Telephony & Speech), working closely together until Thayer’s death in 2005. On August 15, 1997, Shelton founded Hairboutique.com to provide consumers with comprehensive hair care information.
Awards
- In April 2001, Shelton "was honored at the Working Women’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards and named Entrepreneur of The Year – Best Employer - by Working Women Magazine".
- That same year she was also named a 2001 Tech Titan as Emerging CEO by the Technology Business Council. “The Technology Business Council handed out its first set of techTITANS awards - T&S Software's chief executive Karen Shelton received, Emerging Company CEO Award.”
- Emerging Company CEO Award for 2001
Published works
In addition to the thousands of original articles authored by Karen Shelton on Hairboutique.com, Shelton’s writings on consumer hair care issues are included in Peter Lamas’ Dying To Be Beautiful and Hair Profiling.- "Fresh Idea! Flower Hair Accessories." Celebrity Hairstyles Presents Cut + Color #53 Vol 1, Issue 1.
- "Updos Or Updon’ts." Quick & Easy Hairstyling Ideas
- "27 Step-By-Steps." Quick & Easy Updos: Your Guide To The Sexiest Updos #6
- "Jennifer Hudson: Steal her Golden Globes’ Style." Hair Expo: Your Ultimate Hairstyle Guide #12
- "Tress RX: Ask The Hair Doctor." Hair Expo: Your Ultimate Hairstyle Guide #12
- "Dana Delany’s Sexy Style." 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8
- "Rock Star Style: Miley Cyrus’ Tress Success As Hannah Montana." 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8
- "Fat Hair: 36 Tricks For Ultimate Volume." 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8
- "Salon Treatments: 8 Hair Saving Questions To Ask!" 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8
- "Sexy SideSwept Styles – Perfect For Proms & Weddings." 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8
- "Tress RX: Ask The Hair Doctor." 101 Celebrity Hairstyles #8