Team

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As one of Gard’s Copywriters, Jon uses his more than 20 years of experience in journalism, writing and communications to craft compelling, effective copy for Gard and our clients. His writing spans the spectrum, from messaging and advertising to public relations, web content and more. Jon writes press releases, communications plans, messaging maps, social media posts, web pages and just about every other kind of copy our clients need.

Having been on the journalist side of the public relations equation for two decades has given Jon valuable insight into how the media works, how messages resonate with audiences and what makes for the most effective communications.

In addition to his role as copywriter, Jon also supports Gard’s account managers serving their clients.

A graduate of Michigan State University and the author of the book “On Mount Hood,” Jon joined Gard in 2019 after five years as the Portland Business Journal’s commercial real estate reporter. When he’s not at the keyboard, he is likely heading to or from the mountains — or some other natural wonder of the great Northwest — with his wife and two kids.

Read Jon’s latest post: Employee Spotlight: Kate Gillem, Account Manager

A senior at Portland State University who’s working toward a dual degree in advertising management and marketing, Beto joined Gard as our newest intern in September 2024. He brings a wealth of experience from past positions in client relation management, communications and networking at places such as Thesis, Monster and Chenowith Law.

At Gard, Beto specializes in a range of essential communications tasks, including research, developing targeted media lists, crafting compelling press releases, creating strategic pitch plans, conducting media audits, clipping videos, and preparing polished work decks. He also handles multiple facets of media relations and drives effective communications initiatives from start to finish.

An avid basketball fan who literally bumped into Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard at an Oregon State football game, Beto enjoys working out, playing video games and reading. He also loves going to concerts – at least 35 so far – and he became a cinephile during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since watched more than 700 movies.

As Gard’s newest Copywriter, Suzanne works with our creative team to write clear and compelling copy for digital, print and video projects. She has more than 20 years of experience in journalism, public relations and marketing and is highly skilled at all types of writing, from ad copy to feature stories.

She started her career as an education reporter at the Contra Costa Times in California and The Oregonian in Portland. Her 10 years as a daily newspaper reporter taught her to be efficient with words and time — writing stories about diverse people and complex issues on tight deadlines. After leaving newspapers, she worked for seven years in communications at Portland State University and then freelanced as a writer and editor, primarily for PSU and Oregon Health & Science University.

Suzanne has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in literature from Scripps College in Claremont, California. She taught English as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, and has traveled to 20 countries. But she grew up in Portland and always knew she’d come home to Oregon. When she’s not writing, she’s probably cheering on her two daughters at volleyball, soccer, choir, drama and life.

Read Suzanne’s latest post: Employee Spotlight: Connor McCarthy

Liz joined Gard in 2010 as an account manager. She became President and CEO in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Today, Liz leads and manages the firm, while also specializing in strategy, crisis management and public affairs. A strong believer in community involvement, Liz also enjoys shaping the firm’s ongoing commitment to giving back.

A graduate of Portland State University with a degree in English Literature, Liz currently serves as the Vice Chair of Marketing and Communications on the Portland Business Alliance Board, where she is able to help advocate for the region. Liz was named as of the Portland Business Journal’s Forty under 40 in 2021. Many of Gard’s clients care about public policy, and as a business leader, Liz does as well.

A former professional ballet dancer, Liz danced in Seattle and Portland before trading pointe shoes for pumps. She also spent time as a political and nonprofit consultant. Liz has served on the board of the Portland State University Foundation and is a past board chair of p:ear, a nonprofit that works with homeless youth. When she’s not at Gard, Liz is most likely on an adventure with her family, cooking some delicious food or enjoying an arts performance.

Read more about Liz: Gard’s president and CEO in the PBJ spotlight and Gard Communications Celebrates 40 Years.

Read Liz’s latest post: Liz Fuller on Taking a Stance

Scott is a storyteller who works with our team to create narratives and perceptions that help clients achieve their goals. A former college professor, marketing director for Rogue Ales and the director of communications for Portland State University, Scott collaborates with all of our team members – creative, web design, public relations, marketing, social media and advertising – to share those stories far and wide.

As Gard’s Vice President, Scott also works closely with clients so that they can maximize the benefits of partnering with Gard, a full-service firm with expertise in multiple mediums and communications tools. In addition, he enjoys Gard’s pro bono work, which helps nonprofits succeed and supports a variety of communities.

Scott has a Ph.D. in English literature and creative writing from Ohio University. An entrepreneur in his spare time, he also founded a cider business, Ulee’s Light Cider.

Read Scott’s latest post: Plan today for a successful year ahead

A copywriter and creative director by trade – and a strategist by inclination – Brian started the firm in late 1979 to specialize in corporate, public policy and crisis communications. He enjoys realizing opportunities for Gard’s clients, as well as protecting and defending their ability to operate in their best interests.

A graduate and now life trustee of Willamette University, who also holds a master’s in literature from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, Brian also appreciates and enjoys the operational and financial side of the business. He believes you can do great work, but if you can’t do it profitably and if you fail to maintain proper reserves of people, cash and determination, then you won’t do that great work for very long. Having led the firm for nearly four decades, Brian is now the firm’s senior partner.

From a long list of highlights after 40-plus years in the business, Brian points to Gard’s three decades of work in transportation safety as among the best it has done. In 1990, the firm managed the campaign that passed the adult safety belt measure in Oregon. It had been expected to fail and has since been credited with saving more than 300 lives every year. That accomplishment is what Brian considers the most meaningful to date.

Brian and his wife, Rhonda, have five children and, to date, four grandchildren. Brian likes to read, Rhonda likes to be with her grandchildren, and they both like to spend time in Manzanita.

Kate joined Gard in 2024 as an Account Manager. In her role, Kate builds relationships with clients and shares their stories and key messages with target audiences. With a decade of experience in public relations and public affairs, Kate has exceptional skills in research, crisis communications, content strategy and brand voice development.

Before Gard, Kate worked as a communications director and spokeswoman in the Oregon State Senate, where she managed crisis and communication strategy through multiple legislative walkouts. In her Senate job, she authored all press releases, legislative letters, talking points and social media content.

Kate left the legislature to start a communications consulting business, working behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for state senators, a congressman and nonprofit clients. Her communication strategy management for politicians has taught her to think creatively during unique situations, a skill she brings to Gard’s clients.

Kate earned a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she spent time on the Hill. She also has a B.A. in English from Oregon State University. When she’s not at Gard, she can be found at her sewing machine or outside with her family taking walks, blowing bubbles or playing at the park.

Before she joined Gard as our Digital Media Manager in 2023, Karah worked widely in video, photo and social media production. She started as a production assistant for a commercial studio in Los Angeles, but her creative eye quickly vaulted her into the world of shooting and editing video. Eventually, Karah started her own video business – with a dash of SEO and social media consulting on the side – which focused on events, weddings and fashion shoots. That endeavor took her around the world and landed her frequently in Martha Stewart Weddings and Vogue Weddings.

At Gard, Karah manages many aspects of the digital world. This includes paid digital media, such as Facebook advertising, social media monitoring and planning, and the occasional social media video production. She collaborates with nearly everyone at Gard, a testament to how far-reaching and important digital and social media have become.

A graduate of California State University with a bachelor’s in theater and Purdue University with a master’s in communications, Karah is big into paddleboarding, open mic nights, vintage shopping and her dog, Emma.

Read Karah’s latest post: How To Recognize AI, Deepfakes and Misinformation in Social Media

Formerly an Emmy Award-winning on-air reporter, Connor has been a professional communicator for half a decade. He joined Gard as an account manager in 2024 and works closely with our clients to build and maintain relationships and help them tell important stories in the community.

A graduate of California Polytechnic State University with a B.S. in journalism and a minor in political science, Connor has deep knowledge of the communications world. He’s worked for NBC News in Los Angeles, ABC News in Washington, D.C., KEZI 9 News in Eugene, Oregon, and FOX 12 in Portland. With his extensive background in news, Connor knows what the media wants and how to curate story pitches to get clients the attention they deserve.

When he’s not in the office or scanning television networks for the latest headlines, Connor enjoys frequenting Portland’s popular restaurants to see what the hype is all about. An outdoors aficionado, he loves being outside, hiking in the mountains, kayaking the rivers or heading south to body surf in the ocean.

Arthur worked with the Gard team for many years before officially joining in 2021 as Lead Web Developer. He is primarily responsible for turning designs into websites. As such, he chooses the right tools and then uses those tools to build the website. Or, if a client’s website has a unique need and there’s no off-the-shelf solution available, Arthur builds a custom tool to do the job.

Arthur likes to think that building a website is like building a house: If it has the right foundation and structure, then future changes and customization can be made easier.

A graduate of Emory University with a degree in philosophy, Arthur is a long-time web developer with more than 20 years of experience. He is a native of the Southeast, but he’s lived for 17 years in Portland, where he is a performing and recording musician.

As Gard’s Vice President, Operations, Tanya’s mission and passion is to help sustain the firm as a financially stable, reliable workplace, provide the team with the tools and information to carry out their duties and maintain a healthy work/life balance. All of these help with retention, which in the end serves our clients and helps promote long-term, fruitful partnerships.

Tanya also oversees Gard’s media strategy and planning work. She works closely with clients, as well as our account and creative teams, to define campaign goals, create strategies and execute buys that reach the right customers, in the right place, at the right time – all with an eye on maximum efficiency. She also knows her way around information technology. She’s never met software she didn’t like or couldn’t figure out, which is probably why Tanya also enjoys training her colleagues on software tools and sharing any tips and tricks she’s learned along the way.

Tanya’s first stint with Gard started in 1997 and found her managing several of the firm’s defining clients. She left in 2015 to explore the digital world and gain valuable experience in custom software and websites for Fortune 100 companies — experience she brought back to Gard with her in 2019.

Tanya is an avid nature lover who’s made it her mission to step up the greenery in the Gard office. When she’s not in the office, Tanya, a native of Ukraine, is likely hiking to a waterfall, swimming, paddling a kayak or cooking up something exotic in her kitchen.

A former communications specialist in the Sustainability Office at Portland State University, Jabriel joined Gard as an intern through the Emerging Leaders Internship program in 2023. He brought along experience in design and managing and creating content from his stints at PSU and another public relations agency.

At Gard, Jabriel helps the PR team with various tasks, including building media lists, managing social media accounts and drafting press releases. He also assists with client events and shoots B-roll for news stations to use in their coverage.

A graduate of Portland State University with a degree in marketing, Jabriel loves walking around and exploring the city. He seeks out unique events to meet people and have new experiences, and he’s got a green thumb, which comes in handy for tending to his collection of house plants at home.

Read Jabriel’s latest post: Collective Team Bonding: Gard Retreats on the River

John has had two distinct chapters at Gard, first as Senior Art Director from 1993 to 2000, and then he rejoined the firm as Creative Director in 2005. Self-described as part control freak and part renaissance man, John is a writer, designer and editor who helps clients get to the heart of what they want to say, simplifying and packaging their messages to reach their audience in unique and compelling ways.

At Gard, John directs designers, writers, artists and production teams in house and in the field in the development of all forms of media, including video, audio, digital and print. He designs, writes copy and directs TV, radio, print and digital advertising. John also occasionally writes song lyrics for our clients and works with musicians to create entertaining, yet informational, ear worms.

In addition to serving on the marketing committee at Solve, John co-owns a popular dog training school, opened in 1999 as Portland’s first dog daycare.

Read John’s latest post: Successful Rebranding Begins at Home

The former Chief of Staff for Oregon State Senator Ginny Burdick, Chelsea joined Gard in 2021 as a Public Affairs Account Manager. She largely works with accounts that have legal or political components, and she provides community relations, stakeholder assistance and other services to a growing list of clients. Chelsea also drafts communication plans and works with communities to help foster relations between them and her clients.

A graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in International Relations, Chelsea also earned a Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School, after which she worked for numerous public entities, such as the CDC and the Army Corps of Engineers. When she realized the courtroom was not her calling but drafting the law and policy was, Chelsea started a career in Oregon politics. One of her proudest moments from that work was helping to get common-sense gun legislation passed in 2021.

An avid sports fan ­ – watching, playing and hopefully coaching one day – Chelsea is a voracious reader who enjoys drinking tea, exploring the outdoors and trying, but failing, to not be obsessed with her dog, Archie.

Read Chelsea’s latest post: Gard’s first work conference since COVID – sun, sand and indoor air quality

An accomplished photographer, videographer, digital media strategist and social media expert, Jenna serves as Gard’s Producer. In that role, she produces cross-platform media, such as streaming video, TV ads, radio ads, animated graphics and more, working closely with our creative director on strategy. From pre-production planning to post-production editing, she is involved in every stage of the process.

Jenna also manages our clients’ digital media campaigns – Google, social, e-newsletters and others – and she is responsible for strategy, monitoring and reporting. An expert video editor, she is also our in-house photographer and regularly provides photo services for clients, most often event photography for public relations. Jenna enjoys working with diverse talent and production companies of all sizes, and she loves hiring voice talent because she can hire anyone across the globe.

After managing a veterinary hospital, where she wrangled pets and paperwork, Jenna joined Gard in 2011. A graduate of the University of North Texas with a B.A. in anthropology and psychology, she has explored every coastal town in Oregon, and she knows more about Star Trek than anyone else in the office (with the possible exception of Brian Gard). Picard is her captain.

Read Jenna’s latest post: Agency Work/Life Balance

Katie has been a graphic designer at Gard since 2008. She works hand-in-hand with our creative director and the rest of the team to bring concepts to life in print and digital formats. Her clean style and attention to detail helps maintain brand consistency across multiple channels for each of Gard’s clients.

Katie specializes in combining all of the elements – the copy, images and brand style – to create cohesive designs that align with the overall strategy and project goals. She prepares files for printing and delivers digital assets to clients, working directly with printers and other vendors to ensure the highest level of quality from start to finish.

Before joining Gard, Katie helped teach English to students in Japan. She has degrees from Pacific University in Japanese Studies and Portland Community College in graphic design.

Outside of designing for work (and for fun), Katie enjoys reading a good book, cooking a new recipe and sewing a one-of-a-kind garment. And she loves finding exactly what she didn’t need at thrift stores and estate sales.

Read Katie’s latest post: Employee Spotlight: Katie Sakurai, Graphic Designer

A former committee assistant in the Legislative Policy and Research Office at the Oregon State Capitol, Erica joined Gard as a Public Affairs Associate in 2023. Using her background in research and her knowledge of the Oregon political landscape, she supports clients with drafting content, communications and community engagement plans. She also compiles stakeholder lists to help support clients in forming long-term relationships.

After graduating from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor’s in biology, Erica worked as a research assistant in a biotechnology lab that propagated desirable rootstock for fruit tree growers. She later earned a master’s degree in student affairs administration, also from Lewis & Clark, where she held multiple student affairs positions. She then pivoted toward government relations in higher education, which led her to work as a research analyst in the government relations office at Portland State University.

A Portland-area native, Erica enjoys hiking, paddleboarding and yoga. She’s also a big fan of her dog, Lambeau, and the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.

Read Erica’s latest post: It’s 2024 election season. Are your digital campaigns ready?

Shelby is a Digital Project Manager for the web team at Gard who simultaneously keeps projects on track while looking out for new skills, hidden software tricks and better ways to collaborate. He joined Gard in early 2022.

With a bachelor’s degree and very brief stint in print journalism, Shelby moved from his hometown in Ohio to join the world of marketing and communications before finding his niche in project management. With more than a decade of experience that spans PR and content strategy to social media and web design, he’s comfortable touching many parts of a project in order to make it its best. An innate planner, Shelby is always thinking ahead to the questions and concerns clients might have, and he aims to make each step along the way easy and understandable.

In his personal life, Shelby is a longtime meditator, dog whisperer and connoisseur of top-notch reality TV. His deep knowledge of the Real Housewives franchise and early Drag Race is virtually unmatched. When not at work, he’s dancing in the kitchen with his husband, Googling photos of “jungle brutalism,” sipping kombucha at a bar or doting on his elderly lab-pointer mix, Nico. 

After working for various public relations and public affairs agencies in Portland for more than 10 years, Hannah joined Gard as an Account Manager in 2022. Here, she helps clients achieve their strategic communications goals, with a focus on project management and an eye for details.

In her time before Gard, Hannah gained a wide range of experience spanning sectors from health care, food and beverage and natural resources to education, nonprofit and finance. A native Oregonian, she has a strong background in digital communications – she once developed an internationally award-winning social media campaign for Tillamook Cheese – as well as awareness of government relations, political campaigns and grassroots initiatives.

A University of Oregon graduate with a B.A. in journalism, Hannah enjoys the Portland food scene, camping and hiking. She is also an avid traveler who, so far, has visited 22 countries, spent seven months backpacking through Southeast Asia and hiked a section of the Camino de Santiago in Europe.

Read Hannah’s latest post: Gardians Guide: Career Tips for Aspiring Communications Professionals

Angela joined Gard in 2021 as a Media Buyer. She works with the team to plan and execute media strategies to ensure the client’s message is effectively reaching the desired audience. By staying on top of market trends and ever-changing media consumption habits, she helps to create more responsive and relevant media campaigns. Maintaining vendor relationships is a pivotal part of Angela’s role and is essential for negotiating and maximizing media budgets.

Angela comes to Gard with 20 years of experience as a buyer/planner. A graduate of the University of Oregon, she has an extensive background in various media channels, including TV, radio, print, out of home, digital and social media.

When not strategizing, Angela enjoys hiking with her pup Milo, cooking for friends and family and planning her next adventure.

After more than a decade working on the East Coast as a video producer and creative storyteller, Daniel joined Gard in 2023 as our Video Storyteller. His diverse professional experiences have helped him cultivate an appreciation for every stage of video creation – from big-picture ideation to the small technical details of composing individual shots – and how they come together to tell a successful and engaging story.

A graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in psychology and New York University with a master’s in food studies, Daniel previously worked for the New York University Stern School of Business and the National Association of Manufacturers. At Gard, he manages every aspect of our video and storytelling process, ensuring that our clients’ brands and messages are translated to the screen in the most visually and narratively compelling way. And he’s always looking out for innovative spaces to feature visual stories and reach new audiences.

Having recently transplanted to Portland, Daniel enjoys exploring the Rose City’s renowned food and drink scene and learning everything he can about Oregon wines. He’s also looking forward to snowboarding on Mt. Hood and learning how to crab and clam on the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Look out over the Portland skyline and you may just see a little bit of Gard’s Office Manager/Bookkeeper up there. That’s because in an earlier life, before she joined Gard in 2023, Julie worked as an associate principal and marketing manager at Bora Architecture & Interiors, where she played key roles in securing signature building projects across the Northwest – and beyond.

Julie’s 20-plus-years in marketing and communications also included nine years as the office manager for Portland State University’s marketing and communications department. There, she oversaw everything from office management and executive assistance to human resources, accounting and orchestrating events large and small. At Gard, Julie is dedicated to the smooth functioning of our agency and the accuracy of our financial records. With a keen attention to detail, she also spearheads projects that enhance office efficiency.

A native Oregonian who graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, Julie finds solace in nature travel, seeking out hot springs and exploring new hiking trails. She’s also a volunteer dog walker for a rescue organization, and she loves the joy that comes from hosting gatherings and cooking for friends and family.

In her role as Senior Account Manager, Alexis maintains the professional relationship between clients and the rest of the hardworking strategists, creative heads and production people here at Gard, building impactful messaging and advertising campaigns. With SEO and content being huge drivers of attention today, Alexis also specializes in UX Content Design/Writing and enjoys collaborating with the team on Gard’s website builds.

Alexis is also part of Gard’s EDI Committee. In that role, she keeps an eye on our Diversity Growth and ensures that diverse voices are heard and recognized on our team and in our efforts.

A U.C. Berkeley graduate with a degree in architecture, Alexis joined Gard in 2018 from San Francisco, where she worked in digital advertising at Twitch and Rotten Tomatoes/Flixster. She has produced, worked and performed in theater for more than 15 years, privately coaches public speaking and serves on staff at PDX Women in Tech as a copywriter.

Read Alexis’s latest post: Gard rides along during distracted driving month