Our collaborative staff includes an exceptional web team, a highly skilled public affairs and public relations group, an award-winning creative crew and excellent project managers. We share good judgment, intelligence and the pride and determination to get the work done right. And we come from a wide variety of backgrounds – read on to get a glimpse of what makes us tick.
From Mt. Hood to Megadeth, Jon Bell keeps us guessing. But one thing that doesn’t surprise us is his love for writing and consistent ability to craft compelling stories. Full story »
What do painting, philosophy, teaching and fiction writing have to do with user experience design? Quite a bit, apparently, when it all underpins website strategy and design. Full story »
Everyone has a story to tell, and Natalie’s talent is helping tell that story in a way that not only inspires intrigue, but also elevates the core values of the person or organization behind the story. Full story »
John Plymale, our creative director, first joined Gard in 1993 directly out of school for graphic design. After seven years, he took a break from the firm to… Full story »
Andrew Thompson is the kind of person who sees connections. Like how trucking relates to technology, or the way insurance intersects with philanthropic foundations. “Industries are often interconnected in surprising ways,” Andrew says. “Even very different businesses experience similar trends. I find the deeper I go with one client, the better I understand another.” Full story »
Meet Ulee, short for Ulysses. That’s him on the cans. Good guy. Likes to travel. Dislikes calories. Occupies much of Scott Gallagher’s free time. “Nights, weekends, vacations, lunches,” Gard’s director of public relations says. Full story »
Meet Scott Gallagher, Gard’s director of public relations. He graduated from Ohio University with a Ph.D. in English literature and creative writing. He learned marketing and public relations (PR) “on the fly” as the director of marketing and communications for Rogue Ales breweries and pubs. He joined Gard in 2016 after eight years as the director of communications and spokesman for Portland State University. Full story »
Jenna Rose, our front-end web developer and photographer, has worn many hats at Gard Communications over the last five years (all color-coordinated, of course). She joined the firm in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of North Texas. She previously managed a busy veterinary hospital, where she wrangled excited puppies and wandering kittens just as often as paperwork. Today, she wrangles web and digital projects like a true professional, no matter the size of the beast. Full story »
Our graphic designer, Katie Sakurai, is truly one of a kind. She has a degree in Japanese, and for two years lived and worked abroad assisting junior high English teachers. After returning to the U.S., she graduated from Portland Community College with a degree in graphic design and has worked at Gard Communications since 2008. We love her sense of style and work ethic. She righteously won the coveted Gard Gold Star for 2015 and we’re proud to have her on our team. Full story »
This year on National Philanthropy Day, a few of us at Gard had the pleasure of attending the Oregon chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ annual Philanthropy Awards luncheon. Our president, Brian Gard, and friend of the firm and executive secretary of the Oregon State Building & Construction Trades Council, John Mohlis, received an award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers of the Year. Full story »
