About Us

Denise Barr, Principal

Denise Barr’s career in marketing, event planning, communications and strategic planning spans 25 years. Denise worked for Northwest Strategies, Inc., a Portland consulting firm specializing in public affairs; was the marketing director at Spirit Mountain Casino, the number-one tourist attraction in Oregon; and most recently is working as a private consultant based in Ridgefield, Washington.

Denise has designed, developed and implemented some of the region’s most memorable events and projects. This includes the opening of the Oregon Convention Center in 1990, the U.S. Mayor’s Conference in Portland, Re-grand Opening of Lloyd Center Shopping Mall, the Sesquicentennial of the Oregon Trail, 75th anniversary of the Historic Columbia Gorge highway, openings of TriMet’s yellow and green lines, opening event of NW Natural’s 150th anniversary and many, many more.

In 2004, Denise provided event-marketing expertise to TriMet, opening the Interstate Max line in North Portland. Along with PacWest Communications, Denise produced Children’s Relief Nursery’s Portland Iron Chef event in 2005 and 2006, with significantly increased revenue for the agency of $452,000 the first year and over $520,000 the second year. Other recent past projects include Metro’s Open Spaces public awareness campaign and the opening of Firstenburg Community Center in Vancouver, Washington, where Denise’s expertise in marketing brought noteworthy reach, impressions and attendance.

In 2006 and 2007, Denise worked with Burgerville to generate a highly successful internal marketing campaign designed to tell the story of extraordinary service experience to Burgerville’s employees and supplier partners, and to thank employees for an exceptional year of “Service with Love.” The results that she created are still rippling through the organization and are reflected in increasing sales, inter-restaurant communications and enhanced workplace motivation and morale.

For First Independent Bank, Denise developed and executed a pre-brand launch campaign that created a sense of excitement and wonder throughout the city of Vancouver. Denise also provided marketing expertise and organizational visioning to the Portland Development Commission’s Minority Home Ownership Campaign, as well as produced its 50th anniversary year with advertising, events and community outreach.

Denise brings a deep level and broad-based marketing background to all projects with an emphasis on telling the organization’s story, inspirational creativity, strategic planning and a passion for creating results for clients and community.