Our Staff
Karen Audrey Carter, CFm
President
Karen Audrey Carter, Cfm, is a 27 year veteran of the Post Mastectomy and Foundations Industry. Having worked for major bra retailers, foundations manufacturers, post mastectomy manufacturers and owning three businesses,
she has accumulated an extensive knowledge of the needs of this specialty business.
Karen opened her first business in 1998 as a home fitter for post mastectomy services in Augusta, GA.
She subsequently opened her boutique, Second To Nature Women's Boutique,
in Augusta, GA at University Hospital Breast Health Center in 2000.
She had the pleasure of serving thousands of women with their fitting needs over the years,
and obtained extensive experience and training in the image consulting needs of women with cancer.
In 2007, she went to work for two major post mastectomy manufacturers as a sales representative.
After being tutored under the leaders in the industry at that time,
she was also given the tasks of certifying new fitters and business owners for Post Mastectomy Fittings.
She also assisted in the development of new bras and garments for manufacturers
through design and prototype tasks.
In 2011, Karen purchased Designed By Nature/The Balancing Touch, in Aiken, SC at the
Aiken Regional Medical Center's Cancer Care Center. She also managed four mastectomy
boutiques in the Knoxville, TN area from 2011-2018. She also has a successful consulting business
and assists hospitals in developing their post mastectomy boutique programs.
See her site at www.karenaudreycarter.net for more info on her consulting services.
Karen loves to give her patients messages about self love, self care, and their internal beauty, hoping to make a difference to them during their journey through cancer. She enjoys working with complementary care
and healing arts practitioners in merging the gap between traditional health care
and complementary health care.
She has had personal experience with cancer as her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.
Karen watched as her mother went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
She has thankfully enjoyed a successful remission from the cancer, but the journey taught
her a deeper level of understanding her patients through this journey.
Sheila Bates, CMf
Knoxville, TN
Sheila is a certified mastectomy fitter in our Knoxville, TN location at UT hospital.
She has over 16 years experience as a mastectomy fitter and is a 13 year breast
cancer survivor. Her personal experience with cancer as well as her fitting
experience allows her to empathize with her customers and help them through their cancer journey.
Shannon Hobbs, CMf
Aiken, SC
Shannon is a certified mastectomy and wig fitter in our Aiken, SC location. She has over 5 years as a mastectomy
and wig fitter with a background in cosmetology. She enjoys making women feel whole after their cancer journey.
She specializes in wig customization and fitting, using her background in cosmetology to help her make women feel
beautiful again after experiencing hair loss.
Jill Lamuth
Knoxville, TN
Jill is our insurance specialist, working from our Knoxville, TN location. Having a 20 year background in
cardiology and ENT practices, she brings her expertise and excellent customer service to Designed By Nature.
Knoxville, TN
Jill is our insurance specialist, working from our Knoxville, TN location. Having a 20 year background in
cardiology and ENT practices, she brings her expertise and excellent customer service to Designed By Nature.
