The right marketing consultant can transform how your business grows. Unlike agencies that run your campaigns, consultants bring strategic thinking, industry expertise, and executive-level guidance — without a large retainer or long-term commitment.
Portland is home to some seriously talented independent marketing strategists. Whether you need a fractional CMO to lead your marketing team, an SEO specialist to drive organic growth, or a brand strategist to sharpen your positioning, this list covers the best options in the city for 2026.
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- Diviner — AI-Forward Marketing Consultancy
- Sarah Moon — SEO & Ethical Marketing
- Shawn Busse — Kinesis
- Gina Clementi — Goodstory
- Bethany Jeanfreau — Red Rhino Exec
- Wilson Zehr — Cendix
- Jen McFarland — Women Conquer Business
- Lauren Wege — Word, Ink.
- Shaunmarie Gutbezahl — HiHat Marketing
- Jacob Wagner — 4FP
1. Diviner — AI-Forward Marketing Consultancy
Specialties: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), brand strategy, SEO, fractional CMO
Founded by Chris Bolton, who spent over a decade as Executive Brand Strategy Director at Portland agency Murmur Creative (growing the team to 26 people), Diviner focuses on an area most consultants haven't caught up to yet: AI search visibility. Their Generative Engine Optimization practice helps businesses show up in AI-powered search tools like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Claude — not just traditional Google results.
Diviner's signature offering, "The Diviner Deep Dive," is a 15-20 page strategic roadmap covering brand positioning, website performance, SEO, and AI search presence. Chris also hosts The Creative Agency Podcast and runs the Grow Your Agency community, giving him a wide network across the Portland marketing landscape.
Engagements range from focused consulting hours to ongoing fractional CMO support, making Diviner one of the more flexible (and affordable) options on this list.
2. Sarah Moon — SEO & Ethical Marketing Strategy
Specialties: SEO-first marketing strategy, ethical marketing, service-based professionals
Sarah Moon has been helping service-based professionals get found online since 2008 — long before most consultants were thinking about content strategy. Her practice centers on what she calls "human-centric SEO," prioritizing sustainable, ethical marketing over manipulative growth tactics.
Her ideal clients are consultants, coaches, creatives, attorneys, and financial professionals who want a hands-on strategist rather than an impersonal agency. If SEO is your primary growth channel and you value a thoughtful, long-term approach, Sarah is one of Portland's strongest options.
3. Shawn Busse — Kinesis
Specialties: Brand strategy, growth consulting, owner-operated businesses
Shawn Busse founded Kinesis in 2000, making it one of Portland's longest-running brand strategy consultancies. The firm works specifically with owner-operated businesses in the 10-100 employee range, using a proprietary methodology they call "Marketing from the Inside Out" that aligns brand, culture, and marketing strategy.
Kinesis was named one of Oregon's fastest-growing private companies for five consecutive years and has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine. This is a good fit for business owners who want transformation at the intersection of brand and operations — not just marketing tactics.
4. Gina Clementi — Goodstory
Specialties: Fractional CMO, brand storytelling, healthcare, sports, technology marketing
Gina Clementi brings 20+ years of experience that includes leading major Nike campaigns and revitalizing marketing in the semiconductor industry at Micron. Her consultancy, Goodstory, focuses on strategic marketing and brand storytelling for mission-driven brands.
Gina takes a story-first approach to strategy, helping brands articulate their purpose and connect with their audience. If you're a mission-driven organization that needs executive marketing leadership with enterprise-level experience, Goodstory is worth a conversation.
5. Bethany Jeanfreau — Red Rhino Exec
Specialties: Fractional CMO, health & wellness, e-commerce, funnel optimization
Bethany Jeanfreau carved out a niche as a fractional CMO for health and wellness brands and e-commerce companies. As Co-President of Image3D, she led the 26-year-old company to its most profitable year ever through e-commerce strategy.
Her practice combines founder-level operational experience with data-driven marketing strategy — a strong choice if you're in the health, wellness, or e-commerce space and need strategic marketing leadership without a full-time hire.
6. Wilson Zehr — Cendix
Specialties: Tech startup marketing, go-to-market strategy, enterprise alliances
Wilson Zehr is a serial entrepreneur who has founded eight tech startups, raising over $60 million in funding and returning $160 million+ to investors. His consultancy, Cendix, provides strategic marketing for emerging growth tech companies — covering go-to-market planning, messaging strategy, and technology marketing.
Wilson holds a PhD in Technology and Management and has managed strategic alliances with Oracle, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco. If you're a tech startup that needs enterprise-grade marketing strategy from someone who's been in the founder seat, Wilson is Portland's go-to consultant.
7. Jen McFarland — Women Conquer Business
Specialties: Marketing operations, digital strategy, coaching for professional services
Jen McFarland brings 25+ years of executive experience to her marketing consulting practice, including leading large-scale public sector projects for the City of Portland that affected over 50,000 businesses. She was also featured in the documentary "Click the Link Below" for her advocacy against manipulative marketing tactics.
Jen specializes in marketing operations and digital strategy for professional service businesses. She offers consulting, coaching, and courses for business owners who want a transparent, ethical approach to marketing.
8. Lauren Wege — Word, Ink.
Specialties: Fractional CMO/CCO, strategic communications, PR, branding
Lauren Wege provides fractional CMO and CCO (Chief Communications Officer) services with 25+ years of experience in strategic communications, marketing planning, PR, and branding. She positions herself as a strategic extension of her clients' teams rather than an outside vendor.
Lauren also offers leadership coaching alongside her marketing advisory — a valuable combination for business leaders who want to build their own marketing capabilities while getting expert guidance.
9. Shaunmarie Gutbezahl — HiHat Marketing
Specialties: Fractional CMO, digital marketing, brand engagement, content strategy
Shaunmarie Gutbezahl offers fractional CMO services for small and mid-size businesses, bringing 20+ years of experience blending design, storytelling, and digital marketing into cohesive strategies.
HiHat Marketing provides strategic marketing leadership on an outsourced basis — ideal for companies that need experienced marketing direction but aren't ready for a full-time CMO.
10. Jacob Wagner — 4FP
Specialties: Fractional CMO, financial services marketing, client acquisition
Jacob Wagner is a fractional CMO and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) who specializes in the intersection of financial services and marketing strategy. His firm, 4FP, serves financial planners, RIAs, and wealth managers with a proprietary "Devoted Client Attraction Method" built for client acquisition in the financial services industry.
If you're a financial advisor or wealth manager in Portland who needs a consultant that understands compliance requirements and client dynamics specific to your industry, Jacob is a specialist worth talking to.
How to Choose the Right Marketing Consultant
- Strategic fit over service lists: The best consultant is the one whose experience aligns with your industry and growth stage. A fractional CMO makes sense if you need ongoing executive marketing leadership. A specialist makes sense if you have a specific channel to optimize.
- Industry expertise matters: Several Portland consultants specialize in specific verticals — health and wellness, tech startups, financial services, AI search optimization. Domain knowledge accelerates results.
- Consultant vs. fractional CMO: A consultant typically works on defined projects. A fractional CMO embeds in your organization part-time and provides ongoing strategic leadership. Know which model fits your needs.
- Chemistry and communication: Schedule discovery calls with your top 2-3 picks. Pay attention to how well they listen, ask questions, and communicate.
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