Karin Nelson

08 / 07 / 12

3 min read

Table of Contents

How did a professional artist end up with a passion for affordable housing documentation?

Karin Nelson’s work at Yardi‘s headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif. is vastly different from her past life as a wood sculptor.

It’s also allowed her the chance to pursue a personal passion – an affinity for music that turned her into a performing artist.

Karin plays the flute, an instrument she took up 10 years ago. She started her Yardi career in 1999.

Her work requires her to make sure that Yardi’s software is up to date with all government standards and protocols for documentation, a task that entails dealing with near-constant change.

“If we aren’t adding features, then the government is changing their rules,” she says.

Change is something that she is really good at. After all, she made a successful transition from artist to compliance expert and from someone who was afraid to perform to an accomplished flautist.

“I hate to perform, but I love to practice,” Karin said.

Overcoming her fear, she plays the flute in chamber music performances in her hometown of Santa Barbara and often performs in conjunction with her twin sister Maren Henle, a violinist who also works at Yardi Systems in the Professional Services Group.

Karin’s coworkers have seen her perform at the company’s annual Children’s Day. Employees are invited to bring their kids to work, and a highlight is enjoying the music performed by Karin, Maren, and other colleagues.

One thing that Karin no longer has time for with her busy schedule is sculpting – she says that after dedicating her life full time to art for ten years, pursuing it as a hobby wouldn’t be same. But the better life balance she has thanks to Yardi has enabled her to find a great artistic pastime, the flute.

Learn more about Karin:

What is your favorite type of music?

Classical — especially wind quintets

What is your favorite book of all time and (optional: why)?

The Rainbow by DH Lawrence, because of the beautiful writing and the character development.

If you have an hour of free time to spare, what do you do with it?

Practice my flute.

What kinds of food do you like?

All types, especially Oriental

Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled?

So far, Dordogne, France ― but I’m going to Amazon this winter.

What do you like best about your job?

The people I work with.

If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or historical, who would it be?

J.S. Bach or the Dalai Lama.

What are the words you live by?

“It’s a beautiful day to be glad in.”

AUTHOR

Leah Etling is the founding editor of the Balance Sheet and a 12-year Yardi employee who also oversees press releases and social media. An award winning journalist, she holds a master's degree from UC Berkeley and is a native of Santa Barbara County, Yardi's home.

Karin Nelson

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