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Karen A. Brennan, Vice President, Marketing, Coco's Bakery Restaurant, Irvine, CA

Karen A. Brennan, Vice President, Marketing, Coco's Bakery Restaurant, Irvine, CA

KAREN A. BRENNAN
Vice President, Marketing, Coco's Bakery Restaurant, Irvine, Calif.

Age: 48. Why she's rising: The articulate Brennan is among the best full-service marketers in the country, having demonstrated her ability by helping grow Max & Erma's (from 10 to 40 units) with several outstanding promotional campaigns and creative menus. Ladder climbing: Vice president, marketing & strategic development; vice president, marketing; director of marketing, Max & Erma's Restaurants. Schooling: M.B.A., Ohio State University, 1983; B.S., Indiana University, 1971. Wins praise for: Ability to understand customer behavior; garnering a prestigious industry award for a 1995 advertising campaign. Mentor: Dan Sweeney, former CEO of Management Horizons, "who always thinks outside the nine dots." First job in foodser-vice: MCL Cafeteria, salad pantry, age 19. What the future holds: Brennan says job number one is to make Coco's "a global household name for relaxed dining."

TAGS: Rising Stars