Karen E. Roepken

Ms. Roepken is director of research at Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc., based at their headquarters in Shelbyville, Ky.  She has spent over 25 years practicing integrated marketing and marketing research, and is especially dedicated to strategic business and new product development propositions and to furthering the role of cross-functional marketing practices.  Much of her professional experience is in the consumer packaged goods arena at companies like Unilever/Helene Curtis, SC Johnson (Johnson Wax), Sara Lee and Keebler Corporation.  She has provided integrated marketing and research support to a wide variety of products, including health and beauty aid, baked goods, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and generic, non-branded dairy.  She is the former senior vice president of marketing and economic research for the US Daily Industry Association and has been an integrated marketing and marketing research consultant, partnering with numerous companies from global corporations to small, independent firms throughout the US before joining Landmark.  She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois’ College of Communications (Champaign-Urbana).