Karen Kershner
Presidentress
I founded Communications Plus in 1979. From day one the agency's focus was marketing for clients that offered intangible services. Since most agencies much preferred product marketing, Communications Plus earned success filling a much needed niche.

I have a passion for storytelling and believe wholeheartedly in the power of differentiation. I have tackled the challenges of service marketing with proven success. Despite the fact I am only 25 years old, ahem, I have more than 30 years of experience marketing for clients who I am proud to also call friends. Even after all this time, I come to work every day excited and ready to approach each new project with fresh eyes. I love what I do!

As a Certified Professional Service Marketer (CPSM) I enjoy conducting branding and communication workshops for professional groups. I work within organizations to develop environments that support successful marketing activities that allow them to accomplish their strategic goals. Developing inspiring corporate cultures is my latest venture. My work as a certified professional coach goes hand in hand with helping clients define their marketing needs and set objectives. 

I am proud to be a Life Member of the Greater Houston Partnership. (I must say, I worked extremely hard to earn this status my first year as a GHP ambassador!) I am past president of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Houston and actively involved in American Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation, Second Wind Agency Network and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

In the community, I am active in the United Way Women's Initiative, serve on the Board of the Baylor Partnership and am a Life Member of the Women's Home. And then, there's the YMCA. I served on the Board of Managers of the Weekley YMCA for six years and still am active as a member and volunteer. In fact, most weekday mornings you'll find me there exercising or checking out what's up at the Teen Breakfast Club, a before-school program I helped create last year.

On the home front, I am the proud "mama" of two grown children, a Border Collie and BIG yellow Lab. Jim Slack, who I married way back in 1979, is my very best friend. Most weekends, we can be found on Lake Travis boating with our friends.

How far will you go in the name of marketing?
Literally, across the world. I once traveled to Cairo, Egypt to work with Enppi, an Egyptian oil field services procurement company. Talk about an amazing experience. The Nile was incredible and I'm still wondering how they built those pyramids. (Wonder of the world to say the least.) Seriously though, I'll go as far as I need to for any project, if that is holding up traffic to get the perfect shot on a photo shoot or staying up all night to brainstorm a creative strategy. I push the envelope and take things one step further than necessary, because that's when great things happen.

What's one of your favorite project memories?
That would be "Heaven Can Wait," the Chest Pain ER education campaign we developed for a hospital in Austin. It included city buses totally wrapped in vinyl featuring the campaign graphics. The day the campaign launched, the client had a celebration party aboard one of the buses. As the bus traveled through Austin, we all sipped champagne! The campaign ultimately won a Gold Addy, which was icing on the cake, but that day we felt like winners the minute the cork popped!

If I were a car, I would be a...'52 Ford truck.
I'd be in great condition, updated with all the modern amenities including GPS and A/C. I'd have a fresh coat of candy apple red paint and my name would be Arnold. (I name all my cars). I love the style of those trucks...they're classic, cool, a little "campy" and always generate great conversations!