Karen Pittenger

Karen Pittenger is President of Black Olive, an independent marketing agency that integrates brand, direct and online marketing to create programs that drive sales and sometimes change the world. With over 30 years of experience and dozens of awards, including the DMA’s top award for Innovation in Direct Marketing, Karen has served as President of three “Top 100 DM agencies”, including Haynes & Pittenger Direct. Karen founded Black Olive to deliver specialized marketing expertise to Fortune 1000 companies, political, and socially responsible entities using a unique agency-studio model. Notable clients include COUNTRY Financial, HP, American Red Cross, American Bar Association, Liebert, GE, Anthem, PAWS and TEC/Vistage. She is a Purdue University graduate, serves on several arts, education and humanitarian boards,  and her book “Mom, I Want to Buy a Gas Mask” is scheduled for publication in late 2012. Karen joined the BMA in 2006, and was the BMA “Member of the Year‟ in 2008. She serves on the board of directors and has been the Biz Bash chair since 2009.