We open the door for A Better Life

KARLA ROTH-BARDINAS | CEO, PRESIDENT, AND CO-FOUNDER, THINK MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS Karla is the CEO and President of Think Media Communications, a public relations firm specializing in crisis communications, branding, media placements, earned media, on-air training, and social media management. She is a thought leader in the world of marketing and promotion, and has clientele that spans politics, government, nonprofits, celebrities, corporations, and more. Karla is also an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award winning journalist. She worked in television news for 25 years--- as a producer, writer, reporter, anchor, and host. She started in college at WNBC, News 4 New York, interning for television news legend Ralph Penza. After graduating college, Karla was hired at WPIX, Channel 11 News as the New Jersey Bureau Chief, where she was nominated for two Emmys. Karla then moved on to News 12 New Jersey, where she reported for more than 20 years and was nominated for several additional Emmys. At News 12, Karla was one of the first hosts of "Power and Politics", the host of "Week in Review", the station’s political reporter, a live feature reporter, a breaking news reporter, and the Jersey Shore Reporter for more than ten years. She anchored every show at the station, covered hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, explosions, high profile murder cases, and in-depth investigations. Among the historic stories she covered during her news career... 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, the Clinton Impeachment hearings in Washington D.C., several presidential races, the TWA Flight 800 disaster, and the trial of Megan Kanka's murderer, which led to "Megan's Law". Karla's story about Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno, who was trapped under the rubble at Ground Zero, was featured in Oliver Stone's movie, “Trade Center”. Karla says, "I am grateful for such a long and rewarding career in television news... nothing better than helping others and having a bird's eye view of history." Karla also served as the Director of Communications and Marketing at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, working directly for the Commissioner. In this capacity, she led and managed the Communications Office, the Marketing Unit, the Constituent Relations Division, the Forms Control Unit, and the Web Unit. She led design efforts for the branding of “65 by 25: Many Paths, One Future” under the Christie administration, which included event planning and execution, marketing materials, social media management, website creation, and extensive earned media. Karla earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College, with a double major in Journalism and Mass Media (Highest Departmental Honors) and Spanish with Honors. She is also a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She says her biggest accomplishments though are her two children, who she raised at the Jersey Shore where she grew up. Karla has a passion for making the world a better place, as exemplified with her devotion to many charitable organizations. Helping the less fortunate in Guatemala – her mother’s native country - is among her philanthropic endeavors.