# Gard Communications

> Gard Communications is a Portland, Oregon-based, woman-owned creative, digital and public relations agency founded by Brian Gard in 1979 and now owned and led by Liz Fuller. It combines public affairs, crisis counsel, branding, advertising, design, video, social media and enterprise WordPress work for public agencies, nonprofits, regulated businesses and other organizations with consequential stories to tell.

- **Founded:** 1979
- **Headquarters:** Portland, United States
- **Founders:** Brian Gard (Founder)
- **Products:** Public relations and social media, Public affairs, Crisis communications, Branding, advertising and design, Web design and development
- **Notable:** Helped pass Oregon Measure 9 in 1990, an adult safety-belt law the company says is credited with saving more than 300 lives a year., Helped plan and manage OHSU's 2000-2002 Oregon Opportunity Campaign, which secured $200 million in state funding and helped create thousands of jobs., AAA Oregon/Idaho membership grew more than 50% after Gard began working with the club in 2000; Gard later created the 'Keep Life Going' brand platform.

## Products & services

- **Public relations and social media** — Media relations, earned media, communications planning, social strategy and content.
- **Public affairs** — Policy communication, stakeholder engagement, coalition and community relations, and issue campaigns.
- **Crisis communications** — Preparedness plans, executive counsel, message development, media training and response support.
- **Branding, advertising and design** — Research, positioning, naming, messaging, identity systems, campaigns, print design and infographics.
- **Web design and development** — User research, information architecture, UX/UI design, SEO, content and enterprise WordPress development.
- **Video and audio production** — Strategy, scripting, filming, editing and distribution for public service, corporate and documentary work.

## Achievements

- Helped pass Oregon Measure 9 in 1990, an adult safety-belt law the company says is credited with saving more than 300 lives a year.
- Helped plan and manage OHSU's 2000-2002 Oregon Opportunity Campaign, which secured $200 million in state funding and helped create thousands of jobs.
- AAA Oregon/Idaho membership grew more than 50% after Gard began working with the club in 2000; Gard later created the 'Keep Life Going' brand platform.
- Won 2018 Silver w3 and Best Overall WAGGY honors for consolidating five Oregon DOJ websites into one responsive WordPress site.
- Won Summit Creative Awards for Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative annual reports in 2022, 2023 and 2024, including 2022 Best in Show.
- Won 2023 and 2024 Telly Awards for Oregon Forest Resources Institute sustainability videos.
- Certified as a Women Business Enterprise by Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity in 2024.
- Portland Business Alliance recognized Gard as 'A Place with No Ceiling' for advancing women leaders.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Liz Fuller became chair of the Portland Metro Chamber board for 2026-2027.
- **2026** — Portland Business Journal named Liz Fuller a 2026 Woman of Influence.
- **2025-09** — Gard published a Gard Talks installment on measuring public-affairs strategy and the effect of social media on the field.
- **2025-07** — Gard hosted Portland State MBA student Mahina LaBoy through The Script internship program.
- **2025-05** — Gard launched a three-part public crisis-communications video series covering preparation, response and recovery.

## Links

- Website: https://gardcommunications.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gard-communications/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/gardpdx
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gardcommunications
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardpdx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardcommunications

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/gard-communications
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-21