Karen Kershner, CPSM Principal (a.k.a The Presidentress) Karen Kershner founded Communications Plus in 1979, when she realized most marketing firms and advertising agencies preferred the ease of product marketing, rather than face the challenge of working with businesses that deliver intangible services to their customers. As a consultant, Ms. Kershner understands the power of differentiation in the marketplace and is devoted to providing clients with insightful solutions that produce results. With over 27 years of marketing experience, she maintains the ability to approach each new project from a fresh perspective. This, and her passion for her work, has translated into long relationships and great success with a varied list of clients in the medical, architectural/design/engineering, financial, energy and entertainment sectors. Her client list includes privately held and publicly traded companies, including Anadarko Petroleum, Texas Children's Hospital, Quanta Services, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, Park National Bank, SpawGlass Construction Corporation, Morris Architects, CHRISTUS Health Gulf Coast and the Houston International Festival. A graduate of the School of Communications at the University of Texas, in Austin, Ms. Kershner began her career at Lakeway Corporation, specializing in event planning and public relations for major events such as the CBS Tennis Classic and the Southern Governor's Conference. Tracy-Locke Advertising lured her to Houston in 1974, where she worked as a Copywriter and Account Coordinator on accounts such as Imperial Sugar Co. and Igloo Corporation. Later, she joined Rochelle Marketing Associates as Vice President of Client Services and handled marketing for Texas Heart Institute and Rice University. In 1992, Ms. Kershner was named Marketer of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the American Marketing Association for the results her marketing program produced for Houston Northwest Medical Center. In 1994, she was presented the Touchstone Award by the American Hospital Marketing Association for her work with Texas Children's Hospital. Most recently, her expertise took her to Cairo, Egypt to help that country's largest engineering firm orchestrate its marketing activities as it transitioned from working within North Africa to the international marketplace. As a Certified Professional Service Marketer (CPSM), Ms. Kershner conducts branding workshops for professional groups and works within organizations to develop environments that support successful marketing activities. Under her direction, the agency's work has garnered numerous awards from the Society for Marketing Professional Services, American Marketing Association, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Houston Advertising Federation. Ms. Kershner is a past President of the Southwest YMCA Board of Managers and is actively involved in the Society for Marketing Professionals, American Marketing Association, Houston Advertising Federation, and Second Wind Agency Network. She is an active VIPS volunteer, spearheading fundraising activities that benefit various public schools in Houston's older neighborhoods. Since 1990, Ms. Kershner has donated her talents to publicize Stella Link Redevelopment Association's activities as they raised $10 million to revitalize a section of Houston's inner city. Ms. Kershner is married and is currently mastering the art of parenting two teenagers. home | contact us | growth | services | approach | portfolio | our staff | marketwise Copyright 1999 Communications Plus. All rights reserved. web communications-plus.net | email coinfo@communications-plus.net