Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Karen Lissy Fonthal was raised by two extraordinary parents — the late Dr. Gil Fonthal, a physicist and education professor at the University of California, Irvine, and Zoila Morote, a real estate entrepreneur. Instilled with a deep reverence for education, hard work, and ambition, Karen immigrated to the United States and built a life and career that would come to span a remarkable number of industries and disciplines.

After graduating from Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, California in 2003, she went on to earn her B.S. in Health Education from San Francisco State University in 2018. During that time she served as a Teaching Assistant to a genetics professor at Stanford University while also attending Stanford for web development training. She later completed computer programming at Hackbright Academy, earned her EKG Technician Certification at SFSU, completed a genetic counseling internship at UCSF's Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program — receiving a Certificate of Recognition from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. She served as a licensed Research Associate through the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute at UC Davis, utilizing that license as a Staff Research Associate at the University of California, San Francisco.

Her entrepreneurial journey accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when she pivoted into wholesale real estate, ultimately earning her California real estate salesperson license, loan officer license, and DFPI license. Today she leads INTEDCO as President & CEO, runs Fonthal Regulatory Group, and is currently developing two innovative apps — KeyedUp, a real estate listing aggregator, and Sahara, a medical and dental supply marketplace. She is also Co-Founder and Managing Member of Miltex Global Supply LLC, a warehouse operation specializing in the import and distribution of dental and medical supplies.

A Career Without Boundaries

Her Philosophy

Karen Lissy Fonthal believes that excellence is not a destination but a standard — one she applies equally to every industry she enters, every client she serves, and every venture she builds. Rooted in the values instilled by her father, Dr. Gil Fonthal, she approaches every endeavor with intellectual rigor, entrepreneurial tenacity, and an unwavering commitment to integrity. Her work is her legacy.

Expert Advice

The Journey "I was born in Venezuela, raised by a physicist and a real estate entrepreneur, and built my career across health education, genetics, research, regulatory compliance, real estate, and technology. I didn't plan for one path — I followed every door that knowledge opened. That breadth is exactly what I bring to the table when you need advice that actually works." - Karen Fonthal