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Award Recognizes Professionals Making Significant Contributions and Impact in Their Fields

Amanda Karfakis, the CEO of Vitamin®, a leading digital-first integrated marketing agency, has been named to The Daily Record’s list of 2024 Influential Marylanders, a powerful group of professionals who have made significant impacts in their field and continue to be leaders in Maryland.

Karfakis’ recognition is in the “Communications” category, and she is one of 57 professionals selected from 12 industries from across the entire state. Awardees were selected by the editors of The Daily Record for their significant contributions to their respective industries and for their leadership in Maryland.

“It is an honor to be named to this list of exceptional influencers,” said Karfakis. “I personally know many of the people being recognized, and Vitamin has collaborated with several of them on marketing projects and campaigns. It never ceases to amaze me how robust the professional community is in Maryland, and everyone on this year’s list continues to blaze a trail forward in their industries. Not just in the state, but across the country.”

A graduate of Towson University, Karfakis’ career in marketing-communications began in 1998 as a research and marketing associate with McCormick & Company. She later led and launched the public relations (PR) divisions for two agencies in Baltimore. In 2005, she joined her husband and Vitamin Founder, Mike Karfakis, to launch the boutique agency’s PR division, propelling Vitamin into the fully integrated marketing agency it is today. Her vision and oversight have led to significant growth for Vitamin’s marcom team, retaining and adding an ever-widening list of noteworthy clients from a range of industries. Many are among the region’s most recognized, including Catholic Charities, CreditXpert, Ellin & Tucker, GBMC, KLNB, MCB Real Estate, Penn-Mar Human Services, and WesBanco.

A career spent partnering and collaborating with such an impressive group of clients on a range of pioneering campaigns has helped Karfakis hone her craft. But she attributes the foundation of what she’s learned from the skills she acquired at a very young age.

“Much of what I have been able to accomplish in my career is because of the experiences I had before I was even in high school,” said Karfakis. “My family owned a Greek diner, and I began working there at around 10 years old. That kind of busy, nonstop environment perfectly prepared me for a career in communications, where situations and circumstances can change instantly, and you need to quickly adapt and overcome disruption with fluidity. I also learned the importance of rolling up my sleeves and performing at a high level alongside team members and with customers of all backgrounds, regardless of the challenges we faced together, both behind the scenes and on the frontlines.”

“The 2024 Influential Marylanders are dynamic leaders who make a difference. Their contributions to our community through their professional accomplishments and civic engagement are impressive,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “These leaders have stood the test of time, and we at The Daily Record are pleased to recognize them.”

Karfakis will be honored at a celebration on September 18, 2024 at The Grand Lodge in Cockeysville, Md., along with her fellow 2024 Influential Marylanders honorees, including:

• Kevin Benson, President – Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan Association
• Kerry Doyle, Managing Director – Tradepoint Atlantic
• Bradley Chambers, president & COO – MedStar Health
• J. Kirby Fowler, President & CEO – The Maryland Zoo
• Amy Michelle Gross, President – France-Merrick Foundation
• Heather Iliff, President & CEO – Maryland Nonprofits
• Chrissy M. Thornton, President – Associated Black Charities
• Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg, president – Towson University
• Nancy Greene, President & CEO – Miles & Stockbridge
• Melony G. Griffith, President & CEO – Maryland Hospital Association
• Kathy Hostetter, President & General Manager – WJZ-TV
• Leslie Simmons, COO – LifeBridge Health
• Mark Anthony Thomas, President & CEO – Greater Baltimore Committee

About Vitamin®
Celebrating more than 20 years as the “Cure for the Common Brand®,” Vitamin® is known for creating deeply branded, precisely executed, highly effective, and budget-conscious integrated marketing campaigns in close collaboration with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Vitamin has assembled an exceptional team who leverage the experience and expertise of a large agency with the attention to detail and complete integration only a boutique can offer. Vitamin is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and located at the gateway to the historic Federal Hill neighborhood. More on social @vitaminisgood.

About The Daily Record
The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government and business at TheDailyRecord.com. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year, including Power Lists, in a variety of industries. The Daily Record hosts 13 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. These events include Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders, Health Care Heroes, Icon Honors and more. The Daily Record’s Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting and email marketing among other services. The Daily Record, with 136 years of editorial excellence, is part of BridgeTower Media, the leading provider of B2B information, research, events and marketing solutions across more than 25 U.S. markets and industries.