When you first meet Karla Blake, she might introduce you to her Labradors, Charlie and Bella. They pad around her home office, ever-loyal companions she calls her “best assistants.” But what stands out most is not the dogs or her desk piled with files—it’s her availability. Her phone buzzes constantly with texts and calls, many from clients who have long since become friends. Sometimes they need Medicare help. Sometimes they just want to say hello. And sometimes, they ask her to pray with them.
This year, Karla is celebrating her 10th anniversary as a Medicare insurance specialist—a milestone that represents much more than professional success. It’s the story of a woman who rebuilt her life after divorce, raised four children alone, and leaned on faith, resilience, and service to create not just a career, but a calling.
Karla’s roots in Venice run deep. Born in New Jersey but raised here, she attended Venice Elementary, Junior High, and High School. Back then, the community was smaller and close-knit. “We rode bikes until dark, doors weren’t locked, everyone looked out for each other,” she recalled. She was a cheerleader for eight years, and the friendships she formed still enrich her life today.
Those lifelong ties—along with her mom and nephews—became part of her foundation when she returned to Venice as a single mother. “There’s an instant camaraderie among Venice alumni,” she said. Her youngest son Nick also attended Venice High. "I wanted to live closer to my mom. Venice was the best choice for us and God blessed it. Not that it wasn't hard to leave Ft Lauderdale where she'd lived for 25+ years. "I have many close friendships and a close church family there that, to this day, still bless my life."
Before insurance, Karla studied fashion merchandising and interior design and worked in both design and advertising. But when her children were born, she made a deliberate choice. “I didn’t want anyone else raising my babies,” she said. “I wanted to be their first teacher.”
She called her years as a Domestic Executive—the title she still embraces—her most important role: home-cooked meals, church involvement, and daily presence in her children’s lives. “The days were long, but the years were short,” she reflected. Today, her four children are grown, but she remains closely connected. “They still text me every day.”
After 21 years of marriage, Karla found herself divorced, with four minor children and no financial support. “I had to figure out how to keep the lights on and food on the table,” she said.
She turned to baking under Florida’s cottage law, selling cookies, muffins, and pies door-to-door. She walked miles each day, sometimes in intimidating places, determined to provide for her kids. “It was humbling,” she admitted, “but it kept us going.” In the summer, even her youngest joined in, carrying a basket and learning to count change. Karla called this her “humble pie” phase, a season of survival and grit.
A friend suggested she pursue an insurance license. At first, Karla dismissed the idea. How could she manage coursework and exams while raising four kids alone? But friends helped pay for her study course and exam, and she pushed through—even when she felt too sick to sit for the test. She passed, and in October 2015, launched her career.
Just months later, tragedy struck when her brother died suddenly. Despite the loss, she pressed forward, fueled by faith and the responsibility of caring for her family. “I built this business on a wing and a prayer,” she said.
Karla insists her Christian faith is not just part of her life—it defines who she is. “It’s not what I do, it’s who I am.” Clients often call her not just for insurance help, but for prayer, companionship, and support. She has connected clients with resources during illness, grief, or transition to nursing care. “It’s about being a kind human to another person,” she explained.
Her approach has built extraordinary loyalty. She maintains one of the highest client retention rates in her field, with most of her business coming through referrals. “When someone shares me with their friends, that’s the best compliment I could ever get.”
Today, Karla ranks among the top 30 producers nationwide for United American, one of her favorite insurance companies. She sends handwritten thank-you notes to every client and prays gratitude over each policy she writes.
Her success has also allowed her to give back. She’s active with local Chambers—Venice and Nokomis/Osprey—which she credits with establishing her Venice presence. She also participated in Leadership Venice (2024) and the Citizens Police Academy (2024), and she’s involved with Venice Main Street, Sertoma, and Family Promise.
With her children grown and independent, she’s embracing new freedoms—from traveling, to serving her community, to checking off items on her bucket list.
Looking back, Karla is proud of what she’s built. “People see the success now, but I started with no capital, no business plan. Just hard work and faith.”
For her, the true measure of success isn’t rankings or revenue, but the relationships she’s built. “My clients become family,” she said. “When they call me just to say hello, or when I grieve with them over a loss—that’s what this is all about.”
I built this business on a wing and a prayer!