We believe that effective communication fosters organizational health.

Sheepscot Creative serves public agencies, nonprofits and foundations.

By communicating more effectively, our clients build stronger, more meaningful relationships—an engaged community that’s invested in their success.

Working towards community well-being.

Our clients deliver programs and services vital to their communities. They keep water clean and flowing. Empower kids to learn. Deliver life-changing programs and services.

We augment their capacity how and when they need us.

For some, we build and manage the brand. We work with leadership and staff to develop 1-, 3-, and 5-year communication plans. Some clients hire us to implement the plan, others take that work in-house. We provide direction and training as needed.

Other clients engage us to tell a very specific story—say, the impact of iconic legislation or how poo from Washington County helps Central Oregon farmers meet their bottom line.

Or they need help activating a particular audience: laid off workers eligible for little-known benefits, big-city foundations invested in rural economies, Frank Lloyd Wright fans.

We produce film and video, stage photoshoots. We design campaigns. Build story maps. We art-direct magazines and other content packages. For many clients, we manage social platforms and newsletters.

We admire what our clients do for their communities. We want them to succeed. We do our part by delivering better ROI on communication. More purposeful, productive and efficient.

What else can we tell you? Reach out and say hello.

Equity Statement

At Sheepscot Creative, we understand the limitations of our own perspectives. Creative collaboration is most productive when it engages people with different points of view, whether those differences stem from race, gender, age, socioeconomic background, education or life experience. Sheepscot’s equity values are reflected in our client roster. We exclusively serve organizations dedicated to improving quality of life for their communities. It’s our job to make their work even more impactful. 

Meet the Team

  • Dave Weich

    LEAD STRATEGIST & FOUNDER

    Dave founded Sheepscot Creative in 2010 to support clients committed to improving quality of life across the Pacific Northwest. He develops and directs communication strategies that help Sheepscot’s clients achieve their organizational goals.

    Dave hosts a podcast called Work-Shaped Life: What Making a Living Makes of Our Lives. Previously, he spent eleven years at Powell’s Books. He has interviewed thousands of subjects on- and off-camera, from Joan Didion, Annie Leibovitz and Anthony Bourdain to engineers, ecologists, business leaders, farmers and ranchers, makers and more. His short films have screened in more than seventy cities.

  • Benna Gottfried

    ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

    A thoughtful listener who understands the individual needs of teammates and partners, Benna guides teams through Sheepscot’s discovery, production and deployment efforts. After leading communication and development efforts at several Portland-area nonprofits, Benna brought her deep expertise and expansive professional network to Sheepscot. 

    An active community advocate, Benna served as the Marketing Director for PDX Pop Now!, has sat on the board of directors for My Voice Music for more than a decade, and is a founding member of ninety-nine girlfriends. Clients appreciate her reliability, responsiveness and attention to detail.

  • Bailey Cain

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    Creative storytelling has been the constant throughout Bailey’s career. Her work began in television and film production, and then found focus in the nonprofit sector in a development role at the Northwest Film Center. Subsequently, she worked as the Public and Digital Programs Manager at the San Diego Museum of Art, where she produced a series of celebrated collaborations between the Museum and local performing arts institutions. 

    An artist in her own right, Bailey brings her passion for forging meaningful community connections to her work at Sheepscot.

  • Michael Nipper

    DIRECTOR OF VIDEOGRAPHY/PHOTOGRAPHY

    Michael brings deep technical savvy and practical knowledge to every choice of equipment and shot. A licensed drone pilot, seasoned photographer and experienced editor, he has contributed to hundreds of Sheepscot’s videos. His work integrates original illustration, digital graphics and animation to educate and inspire audiences young and old.

  • Amelia Lukas

    MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR

    Amelia Lukas is a public relations strategist and writer specializing in narrative positioning for organizations, mission-driven initiatives, and creatives. Her work focuses on distilling what distinguishes a project at its core and translating that into clear, compelling language that resonates with media, audiences, funders, and the public.

    Amelia has led hundreds of successful PR campaigns across disciplines, resulting in meaningful press coverage, increased visibility, and sustained audience engagement. She is the founder of Aligned Artistry, a private practice centered on strategic narrative authority and public-facing identity.

  • Caitlin Wilbert

    ART DIRECTOR

    Caitlin has been creating and developing motion graphics for organizations and agencies of all sizes for nearly twenty years. A master visual storyteller, her work has served Sheepscot clients including the Oregon Employment Department, Oregon Department of Transportation, Tualatin Valley Water District and Tree for All, among many others.

  • Elena Cronin

    ART DIRECTOR

    After spending six years in an agency setting working with big brands, Elena refocused her work around small businesses, nonprofits, and cause-driven projects, believing that the best design collaborations are built upon a shared ethos. She specializes in branding, print design and illustration. Her portfolio includes work for the Department of Land Conservation and Development, Travel Portland, Project Youth+ and Clean Water Services.

  • John Cunningham

    WEB DEVELOPER

    John is fluent in a host of digital mediums, building and designing websites, apps and motion graphics. Equally important, he has a foundation in core design disciplines such as hand-drawn typography and signage, so his digital solutions remain grounded in timeless design principles. He’s worked on websites for the Kuni Foundation, Topaz Farms and Willamette Week, to name a few, using platforms ranging from WordPress to Squarespace and Wix.

  • Kate Sokoloff

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

    Kate uses her powers of engagement to help organizations tell their stories in memorable and meaningful ways. She has named hamburgers (for Burgerville), an apartment complex (in Beaverton), and a whole lineup of beers (for a brewery on the Oregon coast). Her scriptwriting has garnered her two Bronze Tele Awards. 

    A founder of multiple beloved Portland institutions including Live Wire Radio and Low Bar Chorale, Kate’s contributions to Oregon culture continue to delight audiences across the state. Clients appreciate her uncanny ability to connect with almost any individual and reflect their thoughts in creative outputs.

  • Derek Rutkai

    ANIMATOR

    Derek discovered a passion for motion graphics and animation while earning a degree in graphic design. Working mostly in After Effects and Cinema 4D (and more plugins than we can list here), his work has served Snapchat, XBOX and General Mills, as well as Sheepscot clients such as Clean Water Services, Project Youth+ and the Kuni Foundation. His favorite projects present technical challenges that push him to use new techniques and processes.

Six reasons why clients hire Sheepscot Creative.

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