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Arizona native Karen Samfilippo went to Los Angeles in 1981 where she began her career in entertainment at the Wilhelmina West Modeling Agency. Two years later she landed at the well known publicity firm of Rogers & Cowan, where she worked with clients including Annie Potts ("Designing Women"), St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith and Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan. After 5 + years with the company, she was hired by the prestigious PR firm of PMK. Soon she was handling publicity for Keanu Reeves, Will Smith and Matthew Broderick as well as orchestrating Academy campaigns for Mercedes Ruehl ("The Fisher King") and Holly Hunter ("The Piano"). Following six years with PMK, Samfilippo wanted to broaden her horizons. She accepted a position with Planet Hollywood as the PR Director for the Western Region which included California, Arizona and Nevada. Not long after, the studio world beckoned and Samfilippo became Vice President of National Publicity for Polygram Films and Artisan Entertainment. Eager to return to personal publicity, she took a position at an associate's firm when one of his publicists left on maternity leave. She quickly began signing new business and building up her client list. After a successful Academy campaign with Halle Berry for "Monster's Ball," Samfilippo decided it was time to open her own shop. Image Management Public Relations was born in 2002. At IMPR, Samfilippo coordinated another winning Academy campaign with Philip Seymour Hoffman for "Capote." These days, in addition to Hoffman, her client list includes actor/director Tony Goldwyn, John Hawkes, Andie MacDowell, Mark Harmon, Emmy winners Allison Janney and Jon Cryer, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Cary Elwes and Annie Potts among others. When not working, Samfilippo devotes time to various charitable organizations, mostly dealing with women's issues and animal rescue.
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