Our team
Meet the team behind Fat Happens: Visionary Karen Gomez, Creative Lead Ellen MacWilliam-Barnum, and Finance Guru Lisa Wilson. Together, they drive the brand with purpose, passion, and personality.
Karen Gomez
Visionary Partner
Ellen MacWilliam-Barnum
Design Partner
Lisa Wilson
Finance Partner
Karen is a Business Professional, Yoga Teacher, and Visionary Partner. As the brainchild of Fat Happens, she collaborates with her partners to create fun fitness apparel and accessories for all. Karen holds a degree in Business Administration, a 200-hour yoga teacher certification, and is a certified Holistic Life and Wellness Coach specializing in workplace stress reduction. She champions positive body image through her innovative designs and engages in local wellness initiatives by teaching chair yoga and mindfulness classes. Her philosophy is that everyone deserves to feel confident and empowered, and we should all embrace our curves at every stage of life. Outside of work, Karen is a passionate singer and performer, sharing her love for music with her community. Karen resides in Connecticut with her husband Doug and two dogs, Bailey and Bella.
Ellen is a Banking Professional and Freelance Artist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She also volunteers and is a Board Member of a local Maine non-profit, Inn Along the Way, whose mission is to promote and provide community, engagement, and respite for elders and their caregivers. As the Creative Design Partner, Ellen illustrates the Fat Happens characters to infuse fun, positivity, and a bit of whimsy into the mind-body journey. Her outlook is to “embrace the curves” while striving for health and wellness. Ellen enjoys reading, painting, hiking, yoga, and relaxing on the beach. She grew up in Connecticut and has lived all over the US, particularly in the southwest. She has three grown children and now resides on the coast of Maine with her husband Wilt, their dog Sunny, and cat Cassady.
Lisa is a seasoned Accounting Professional, and as the Finance Partner, she brings extensive business expertise to the team. Originally from the Midwest, she moved to Connecticut in her early teens, where she formed lifelong friendships with Karen and Ellen, who became supportive companions during a pivotal time in her life. These friendships have endured throughout the years. During a conversation with her co-founders, they shared their vision for "Fat Happens," a concept that promotes body positivity in a fun and engaging way throughout mid-life, encouraging activities like walking or exercising while celebrating life's little indulgences. Inspired by this vision, she joined the mission. Lisa enjoys reading, stargazing, gardening, and spending time with her family, especially her new grandson. She also loves the company of her cat, Lady, and is an avid Raiders football fan.