Karla Crawford Kerr
VP of Client Development
As VP of Client Development for Hawthorne Advertising, Karla drives growth by forging powerful partnerships with brands seeking measurable results. For over twenty years, she has specialized in translating complex marketing challenges into breakthrough campaigns that deliver both creative impact and hard numbers. Her approach centers on one guiding principle: creating windows where there are no doors – finding opportunity where others see obstacles.
Karla’s client portfolio spans diverse industries including home services, insurance, consumer goods, and government sectors. She has partnered with brands such as BLACK+DECKER, Procter & Gamble, Gerber Life Insurance, Groundworks, LeafFilter, Pella, U.S. Navy, Nikon, Oreck, and Honeywell. Her work encompasses the full spectrum of client engagement – from initial prospecting and pitch development to long-term strategic partnership management. She excels at identifying growth opportunities, building consensus across stakeholder groups, and orchestrating the seamless collaboration required to launch high-performance campaigns.
Her industry leadership extends well beyond client service. Karla served five terms as Chairman of the Electronic Retailing Association’s content and programming committee, was named ERA Volunteer of the Year, and earned recognition as a Direct Response Marketing Association Member of the Year nominee. She has moderated panels at the Inspired Home Show, LeadsCon, InventHelp – INPEX Pitch to the Pros, and delivered keynote presentations at the Great Ideas Summit, and served as a judge annually for the Association of National Advertisers Multicultural and B2B Awards, Moxie Awards, and International ECHO Awards.
Three times recognized by her Hawthorne colleagues with the “Works Hard, Has Fun” core values award, Karla brings relentless energy and authentic passion to every client relationship. Whether developing comprehensive RFI responses, crafting compelling case studies, or building multi-year growth strategies, she delivers results that matter – combining the art of brand storytelling with the science of data-driven response.
A history buff at heart, Karla volunteers with her daughter at the Pioneer Log Village for the Midwest Old Threshers and Settlers Association.
