Karla is a native of Branson, MO and is the daughter of a retired Missouri game warden and buffalo rancher and a famous romance novelist. She graduated from the University of Missouri. Karla’s career includes serving as the marketing and sales director for Roy Clark Celebrity Theater in Branson, followed by The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach and the Charleston Music Hall in downtown Charleston, SC. Karla relocated to Lexington, KY, in 1999, where she served as the vice president for sales for Host Communications. Through several ownership changes, including sponsorship giant IMG, Karla served as one of the few female executives in global sponsorship sales and was eventually promoted to president of the for-profit division of the National Tour Association.

Karla served for several years as the advisory board chairman for the University of Kentucky’s Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management school. She has served in various roles, including Booster Club president for Henry Clay Volleyball, PTSA vice president at EJ Hayes, CCD teacher at Christ The King and team mom for her children’s various sports activities. 

Karla has been married to her husband, Mark, for 19 years, and they own DiNardo Sports Performance. They have four children, Gracie, Luke, Logan, and Max and two dogs, Beau and Sadie. They are parishioners at Christ the King and UK’s Newman Center. In her spare time, Karla enjoys traveling, fishing, hiking, camping, baking and crafting.