Karen Zanis has over 20 years of experience as a corporate/contracts paralegal with expertise in project management, contract administration, legal affairs, and business operations. She has a proven track record of coordinating business and legal functions across multiple sites and managing all aspects of projects. Most recently, she worked for Scripps Networks Interactive for 14 years, where she coordinated legal issues, drafted agreements, and handled employee relations and risk management. She has a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies and is a certified paralegal.

1. KAREN (DRINNON) ZANIS
2720 Chapel Lane • Racine, WI 53406
(262) 977-5225 • zanis37@hotmail.com
CORPORATE/CONTRACTS PARALEGAL
Areas of Expertise: Project Management • Contract Administration • Legal Affairs • Financial Operations
Employee Relations • Human Resources • Process Development, Upgrading & Standardizing • Streamlining
Operations
Proven record of paralegal experience and accomplishments: (1) coordinating business and legal functions to
facilitate smooth operations across multiple sites; (2) coordinating and completing all aspects of full life cycle
projects; and (3) achieving contractual, financial, and technical objectives. Earned a reputation as a leader with the
ability to develop solutions that improve corporate legal position, resolve critical business challenges, reduce risk
management issues, and enhance operations.
Professional experience and additional strengths by category include:
Business Administration:
• Collaborating with executives to provide business support on specific assignments and responsibilities to
maintain quality, efficiency, and compliance.
• Preparing and managing comprehensive reports and legal compliance documentation and creating specific
forms and templates that are used for standardized applications across multiple departments.
• Advising and working with managers on troubleshooting and resolving business issues and administering
various databases to maintain accurate information on employees, contractors, inventory, or projects.
• Assisting with human resources functions involving employee background checks, drug screenings,
personnel records management, and training.
Contract Administration:
• Developing and preparing contracts related to hiring independent contractor, broadcast/media production
services, services for facilities, licenses, confidentiality, logistics, public relations, and information technology.
• Overseeing legal compliance of service providers; serving as liaison and primary contact for resolving
contract issues.
• Creating solutions for potential contractual issues by applying a broad range of knowledge related to contract
agreements, terms, and legal requirements.
• Ensuring fulfillment of contract obligations and troubleshooting problems related to agreement negotiations
with outside legal entities, agents, and services providers.
Project Management:
• Managing large-scale projects from startup to completion, including working with multiple departments to
coordinate services, troubleshoot issues, and ensure efficient project execution.
• Monitoring the work of contractors, assisting with project problem solving, maintaining compliance with
schedules, and reviewing/approving contractor invoices as need be for legal compliance as relates to IRS
rules/regulations for paying independent contractors.
• Developing standardized procedures and processes for all aspects of projects to facilitate teamwork among
all involved parties and ensure consistency in decision-making throughout the organization.
• Assisting with procuring services from contractors and developing contracts to outline scope of work,
performance expectations, and project timelines.
WORK HISTORY
SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE INC., Knoxville, TN, 1996 - 2010
Established a strong business career with this leading lifestyle media corporation comprised of HGTV, DIY
Network, Food Network, GAC, Fine Living Network, and Scripps Productions. Served in multi-faceted roles
providing support in key areas including business administration, corporate liaison, employee relations, training,
problem resolution, contract administration, human resources, project management, risk management, and
compliance. Duties by position include:
Manager, Legal Affairs (2000-2010):
• Coordinated business issues with groups and individuals integral to the production and operation of the
company’s numerous entertainment endeavors, including independent contractors, writers, editors,
photographers, landscape designers, production crew, composers, sound design, sales consultants,
information technology, graphics, event marketing, public relations, marketing, event planning and logistics,
and crew and equipment rental.
• Handled all business issues related to independent contractors, including managing the worker classification
process and conducting training for hiring workers in the Knoxville, New York, and Los Angeles offices.
• Worked with the Viewer Services department to manage the resolution of viewer/customer-related issues.
• Handled issues related to agreement negotiations with outside attorneys, agents, talent, and producers.

2. KAREN (DRINNON) ZANIS
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SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC. - continued:
• Worked with the corporate office to resolve insurance issues related to independent contractors and
problems at New York and Knoxville facility locations.
• Drafted legal agreements that included independent contractor, creative service, short form,
staffing/employment, talent, facilities, non-disclosure, and confidentiality agreements; drafted releases for
use of location, materials, and personal appearances.
Legal Assistant/Coordinator, Finance and Administration (1996-2000):
• Assisted the Vice President of Production in handling problems surrounding equipment theft or property
damage, including working directly with insurance agencies, property owners, and various outside agencies.
• Worked with the Director of Human Resources to coordinate criminal background checks and drug
screenings for job applicants; created templates and drafted documentation for permanent, temporary, and
leased employee hires.
• Provided executive administrative support to the CFO, including handling intricate projects as assigned.
• Drafted legal agreements for various business services.
• Cleared workers for proper classification as independent contractors, temporary, or leased employees;
distributed corporate information related to employment; and functioned as primary liaison to independent
contractors.
• Worked with corporate on risk management issues related to the use of company vehicles, handled
insurance certificate requests, and worked with outside agencies to troubleshoot issues that arose on
location shoots.
• Assisted with coordinating legal issues related to the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway contests, including
working with real estate agents, attorneys, title companies, and winners; setting up and monitoring of
services to the homes (e.g., utilities, insurance, water, phone, alarm systems); receiving monthly billing from
general contractors and generating payments; and assisting winners through final property transfer.
• Monitored and coordinated monthly payments owed to and from Scripps for transponder satellite usage.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, Knoxville, TN
Bachelor of Science, Human Development & Family Studies
Paralegal Certification Program
Performed with UT Singers