karen fluharty

FOUNDER | FIGHTER | MOTHER

In 2017 Karen began to look toward the future for her then 12 year old son Ryan and quickly realized that special individuals fall off what is known as “the cliff” at 21. Armed with a mother’s will and years of business acumen, Parents With A Plan was founded in 2019 with the goal of creating a scalable model that brings the private and public sectors together for real social impact and change.

As a 30 year real estate executive & entrepreneur, Karen has contributed marketing leadership to over 15 million square feet of retail real estate globally. She has a track record of creating, managing and scaling multi-million dollar companies and has found corporate and self-made success throughout her career.

A noted industry leader with more than 30 years of real estate marketing experience and the founding partner of Strategy+Style Marketing Group, she is responsible for putting brands on the map, quite literally. Currently, Karen’s work has touched more than 100 projects globally.

Previously, as Vice President of International Marketing stationed in Hong Kong and New Jersey for Chelsea Property Group/Simon, Karen pioneered Premium Outlets’ early entry into Japan, Mexico and Korea launching nearly 10 ground-up projects. With oversight of marketing strategy development, branding, net operating income metrics, organization re-alignment, and expansion and repositioning of a national portfolio of shopping centers.

JOHN KLEIN

partner | developer | advocate

With philanthropic ties deeply rooted in Monmouth County, N.J. that benefit the residents of Red Bank, Middletown and beyond, Real Estate Developer John Klein lends his leadership and expertise to Parents With a Plan as Partner where he is leading the development and financing.

Serving for six years as a Board member, along with three years as the President of Lunch Break, a community organization which provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need. John was recently honored with the not-for-profit group’s 2021 Heart to Hand Award for his invaluable contribution to the organization’s growth. He is a member of the group’s Advisory Council, co-Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee, and lead of the Construction Committee.

In his more than 30-year professional career as a noted real estate developer and executive, John is currently Principal of International Outlet Consultants offering incomparable insight and knowledge to firms interested in developing outlet centers in major international markets. Earlier in his career John served as Chief Executive Officer of the Premium Outlets division of Simon Property Group, the largest portfolio of outlet center properties in the world. During his tenure, he was responsible for the successful growth of the division leading all facets of the business including leasing, development, real estate, marketing, finance, and operations of a worldwide organization. Domestically he was responsible for a portfolio of 81 properties containing 33 million square feet. On the international front he successfully oversaw development and investment in 16 centers across Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Canada & Mexico.

Fondly known to Ryan as his dear uncle, John earned his Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University and Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University.

robin l. klein

activist | arranger | auntie

As a member of Parents with a Plan’s Board of Directors, Robin Klein brings enormous operational and community engagement to the organization.

In addition to work with Parents with a Plan, Robin’s activism and volunteerism speak to her passions supporting her local community and beyond; she is on the board of several non-profit organizations and serves on many committees including the Count Basie Center for the Arts where she serves on the Executive Committee as Chair of HR and Board Governance; is on the Education Committee and was Co-Chair of the R&R Committee. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Lunch Break, a non-profit community organization which provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need. Robin was recently honored with the 2021 Heart to Hand Award. She sits on the Construction Committee; is Co-Chair of the current Capital Campaign and Co-Chair of the newly formed Nutrition program.

Robin is a Trustee for Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center Foundation rounding out her board involvements Robin is President of the Board for Open Heart Yoga, a new and unique non-profit organization located in Red Bank.

In addition, Robin and her husband John are now actively involved in raising funds to support the Ubumwe Community Center and School in Rwanda. Additionally, Robin is strongly active in protecting and saving animals, and has been on the front line in China fighting with No Dogs Left Behind.

Professionally Robin is a successful retail real estate entrepreneur. As Founder and President of Fashion Retail Group, a boutique firm representing select brands where she offers specialized real estate services assisting brands in growing their portfolios. Robin’s career spans more than four decades of experience in development, operations, site selection, lease procurement and construction.

A licensed real estate broker, Robin earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah in Business Administration.

Robin is known to Ryan lovingly as Auntie Robi. She and her husband John reside in Middletown, NJ with their five rescue dogs.

PROFESSOR | PRACTITIONER | ADVOCATE

Christopher J. Manente, PhD, BCBA is the Founding Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Dr. Manente is an accomplished professor, practitioner, and advocate who has dedicated his career to helping adults on the autism spectrum succeed within their homes and communities throughout the lifespan and across the contexts of school, work, relationships, leisure, and transportation. Dr. Manente has taught over a dozen distinct university courses for students across the undergraduate and graduate levels, he has authored articles in peer-reviewed journals and written book chapters, and has presented at numerous national and international conferences on a variety of topics related to the advancement of community-based educational, vocational, and residential opportunities for adults with autism.

Dr. Manente’s previous roles included serving as an Assistant Professor of Education at Caldwell University, as an educational/behavioral consultant supporting the success of neurodiverse students in schools throughout NJ, as the Senior Program Coordinator of Adult Services at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) at Rutgers University, and as a Sergeant on active duty within the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Infantry Division. Additionally, Dr. Manente is a prior special education student who was often told by many of his teachers that he was “too smart for his own good” and that he “wouldn’t amount to much”.