Karen Harris-Beauchamp - Nana K's All Purpose Seasonings

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Angelia Malbrew Photography

Great food always begins with great seasoning. Arizona resident, Karen HarrisBeauchamp, understands this concept and has devoted her professional career to mastering it. She is the owner of Nana K’s All Purpose Seasoning. She says, “Oftentimes healthy eating is associated with almost zero flavor. We want a healthy but also a palate pleasing taste. This is what prompted me to launch my company. Our seasoning is highly concentrated and subtle, yet it brings the best flavors forward. You won’t need another spice once you try ours. If you are looking for the taste of mom’s home cooking, then NANA K’s is what you need.”

Karen is originally from Milwaukee, WI. She honed her skills as an entrepreneur and culinary artist from the time of her youth. As a teenager, she worked for a catering business owned by Bob Thomas, the owner of a local newspaper. That exposure to business intrigued her, and soon Karen would find herself running a business of her own.

Karen and her aunt opened and managed a successful restaurant and catering business. The name of their company was Mardi Gras Catering, and they had clients such as Miller Brewing Company and Summer Fest Vendors in Milwaukee. They also served the Children’s Hospital, the Milwaukee Bucks, the National Bar Association, the United Way, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Her execution, leadership skills, and wealth of knowledge eventually enabled her to acquire full ownership of the company. Soon, she would lead the business to become the most successful catering and event planning business in the greater Milwaukee area. Their business would eventually enjoy success in Milwaukee for over 30 plus years.

Good food brings a lot to so many things. It brings comfort to your home, it encourages fellowship, and it creates opportunities for people to connect.

Alongside her many entrepreneurial endeavors, Karen is also an actor on television shows, commercials and print advertising. Her credits include Facebook, Wingman, Consumer Cellular and several others. She is also a full-time lifestyle model.

Karen says she is a very passionate and family-oriented person. She married the late and former NFL player Joe Beauchamp, who played with the San Diego Chargers. Karen and Joe were married, and she says he has greatly impacted her life and career.

Karen now focuses her 40 years of restaurant, catering, and event planning experience on consulting small businesses with particular emphasis on social entrepreneurship. With Nana K’s All Purpose Seasonings, Karen focuses on creating products for cooks and chefs who love the robust flavor in their dishes.

Karen says what she loves most about what she does is giving her clients an opportunity to enjoy good food. “Good food brings a lot to so many things. It brings comfort to your home, it encourages fellowship, and it creates opportunities for people to connect,” she says.

She credits her grandmother, Mildred Lee Harris for inspiring her the most. She also credits her Aunt Charlene for working with her and pushing her to start a business.

Like most business owners, many walls have presented themselves to Karen along her journey. “Starting out as a young entrepreneurial female was challenging for me. Caucasian males dominated our market at that time. One thing that changed the game for me was being a preferred vendor for Miller Brewing Company. Doors opened for me after that connection was made, and I in turn, I was able to employ others and introduce them to the craft and art of culinary,” she says. “Quality has been my mantra and remains my mantra. I instilled in my team members that we only have one time to make a first impression.”

Karen’s advice to others who may be interested in jumping into the world of entrepreneurship is to stay true to yourself and stay true to your brand. “You must do the necessary work and reach for the low-hanging fruit first. Stay transparent and equitable and ask for help if you don’t know the answers,” she says.

As she moves forward with her brand, Karen says her goal is to change the game. In addition to collaborating with other businesses, she plans to participate in national food shows. Nana K’s All Purpose Seasonings is working with various platforms to get their products on more shelves and in more places, including Amazon. They are also expanding their retail and wholesale presence.