# Melissa Waggener Zorkin

> Melissa Waggener Zorkin is the founder and Global CEO of We. Communications, the independent agency she started in Portland in 1983 and grew to more than 1,500 employees working across over 100 international markets. Her career links the dawn of personal computing to the age of generative AI, while her leadership centers on purpose, independence, candid listening and an unusually personal commitment to mentoring new talent.

- **Role:** Global CEO and Founder at We. Communications
- **Organizations:** We. Communications, ColorComm, USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations, Mercy Corps
- **Education:** Lewis & Clark College
- **Known for:** Grew We. Communications from a four-person Portland start into an independent agency with more than 1,500 employees operating across over 100 international markets., Inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame in 2022., Inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame in 2020.

## Career timeline

- **1975-1980** — Worked at Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon.
- **1980-1983** — Worked at Regis McKenna's Portland office, including leadership of the Microsoft account.
- **1983** — Founded The Waggener Group in Portland with an emphasis on teamwork; Pam Edstrom and other early colleagues joined soon afterward.
- **1984** — The firm became Waggener Edstrom and developed a defining early relationship with Microsoft.
- **2008** — Received the International Business Awards' Stevie Award for Best Executive in North America.
- **2009** — Named Ernst & Young Pacific Northwest Regional Entrepreneur of the Year in Media, Entertainment & Communication.
- **2011** — Entered the PRNEWS Hall of Fame and was named to PRWeek's Power List of 25 communications professionals.
- **2017** — Inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Femme.
- **2020** — Inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame.
- **2022** — Inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame; helped launch the Young Changemakers Awards with PRovoke Media.
- **2024** — Named to the PRWeek US Power List for a fourth appearance, with recognition for leadership in applications of AI in PR.
- **2025** — Spoke at the Microsoft@50 event in Seattle, recalling the company's early press tour and the once-radical vision of a computer on every desk and in every home.
- **2026** — Published an essay on why communications feels newly consequential and continued public discussion of AI, trust, creativity and human judgment.

## Achievements

- Grew We. Communications from a four-person Portland start into an independent agency with more than 1,500 employees operating across over 100 international markets.
- Inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame in 2022.
- Inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame in 2020.
- Inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Femme in 2017.
- A repeat PRWeek Power List honoree, including a fourth appearance in 2024.
- Named Ernst & Young Pacific Northwest Regional Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 for Media, Entertainment & Communication.
- Received a 2008 Stevie Award for Best Executive in North America.
- Served on the Mercy Corps board for more than 15 years.
- Co-created the Young Changemakers Awards with PRovoke Media to support emerging communicators from underrepresented groups.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Continued leading We. Communications as Global CEO while the firm expanded its intelligence and AI-related advisory work.
- **2026-07** — Highlighted AI as a tool that can widen access and unlock human creativity, empathy, judgment and connection following a ColorComm conference discussion.
- **2026-06** — Reaffirmed her practice of meeting We. Communications interns, describing a spring cohort's questions as sharp and energizing.
- **2026-02** — Published “Why this moment in communications feels different and full of possibility,” focusing on communicators' role in explaining consequential innovation.
- **2025-03** — Spoke at GeekWire's Microsoft@50 event in Seattle and shared memories of taking Bill Gates on an early press tour.
- **2024-09** — Joined the 2024 Young Changemakers podcast with award recipients from North America, Europe and APAC/MEA.
- **2024-07** — Appeared on the PRWeek US Power List for the fourth time, recognized in part for leadership in AI applications for public relations.

## Links

- Website: https://www.wecommunications.com/about/leadership/melissa-waggener-zorkin
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissawz
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/melissawz
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u24k9yqCwg&t=3134s

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/melissa-zorkin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-26