ThinkNW Launches Purpose-Built Mission, Adds New Leadership and Board Members to Help NW Marketers Thrive

ThinkNW, an emerging Pacific Northwest organization dedicated to connecting and growing marketing and creative leaders and professionals, refocused its mission to go beyond being an advertising organization to “advancing the business impact of bold creative thinkers in the Pacific Northwest.” The new direction was selected after a two-month internal ThinkNW board process.

“We’re confident that this mission can serve as a magnet for a wide range of talent across advertising and marketing roles within brands, technology companies, agencies, media, and more,” says Doug Zanger, ThinkNW co-founder, president, and executive director. “It also gives ThinkNW a clear pathway forward in helping the Pacific Northwest industry grow its visibility and impact, developing strong communities, events, and programming to make a difference.”

Zanger took on the executive director role in mid-January.

“I proudly call the Pacific Northwest home and am borderline insufferable when I talk to people outside of our region about the great companies and talent here,” says Zanger, founder of Creative Bohemian, a strategic narrative consultancy. “But I will never apologize for my optimism and dedication to helping our talent and companies grow.”

Based in Portland, Zanger spent 15 years in the radio industry, mainly as a creative director at Rose City Radio and Entercom (now Audacy). Zanger’s career included stops as an Adweek and The Drum editor and director of brand and purpose communications at The Martin Agency. He also worked with Stillwell Partners on the Advertising Week B2B events in New York and London.

ThinkNW also bolstered its board of directors with new appointments in Seattle and Portland, welcoming Stephen Green, Britt Fero, Lisa Zakroff, and Paul Enriquez.

Green, based in Portland, is the founder of Greener Pastures consultancy and the successful PitchBlack event and competition. He is also a Backstage Capital mentor, Built Oregon and Oregon Growth Board member, and an adjunct professor at Portland State University. Green was previously COO at A Kids Company About and operations director at PENSOLE Footwear Design Academy.

From Seattle, Fero is the principal and founder of PB&, named an Ad Age Small Agency of the Year in 2018. Before founding her agency, Fero was EVP/Chief Strategy and Media Officer at Publicis Seattle, a partner and director of growth strategy at Cole & Weber, director of development at Publicis West, and an account director at Fallon.

Zakroff, also based in Seattle, is the general manager of Mekanism West and celebrates six years with the agency later this spring. Zakroff has 20 years of Advertising, PR, & Partnerships experience and spent several years at Deutsch LA leading campaigns for Target, Volkswagen, and Nintendo as SVP. Zakroff started her career with NASA in media relations for its Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Enriquez is the Northwest sales director for advertising tech platform Simpli.fi. Enriquez has a wide variety of experience in the tech, agency, and media space, with prior roles at Rocket Fuel, Monster.com, Thomson Reuters, Entercom (now Audacy), CNET, and J. Walter Thompson.

About ThinkNW:

ThinkNW is a next-generation community that connects marketers in the Pacific Northwest region—Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia—through consistent, high-quality programming, industry stewardship, and a relentless focus on growing talent and companies.

From top brands to iconic agencies, burgeoning startups to influential media, ThinkNW’s central focus is growth for its members and the industry in three key areas:

• Developing best-in-class programming, education, and inspiration focused on building pathways for diverse talent to thrive.
• Bringing visibility to the work and success of the Pacific Northwest brand, agency, technology, and marketing communities.
• Providing high-level, practical, and relevant professional development and networking at all levels of marketing, from seasoned professionals to those embarking on the beginning of their careers.

ThinkNW replaced the Portland Advertising Federation in January 2021 and is closely connected with West Coast-based trade bodies ThinkLA and sfBig, sharing industry intelligence and insight to grow the region.

ThinkNW partners include charter member Amazon and other Pacific Northwest brands and companies, including Alaska Airlines, The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland Business Journal, and MNI Targeted Media, and more.

To learn more, visit thinknw.org.

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Contacts:

Doug Zanger
President and Executive Director
ThinkNW
zanger@thinknw.org

Rebecca McCracken
Executive Manager
ThinkNW
rebecca@thinknw.org