Replacing the 107-year old Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River with a climate-friendly, earthquake-resilient structure.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Social Media Content (2022 and 2023)

Amico is proud to spearhead media and social media as part of the communications consultant team supporting the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program, a bi-state initiative led by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Just about every story you read, hear, or watch about the IBR program has been touched by Amico, whether local or international. Social media strategy and execution (on six platforms!) led by team member, Michael, is also central to Amico’s role. And, it so happens that social media is regularly cited as the primary way people stay current on what’s happening with the program.

“Call 811 Before You Dig” – Advocating for Community Safety.

Just about everyone who works in their yard digs holes without really thinking about potential dangers of what could be below or that there is a law requiring calling 811 before digging. In 2021, NW Natural responded to 600+ “dig-ins'' (utility line damages) and millions of dollars in damages in 2021 caused by contractors or homeowners who didn’t call 811 before excavating for a project.

Through key messaging and targeted media relations, Amico elevated the dangers of erroneous digging, then accentuated the ease of being safe: just call 811. The client was so impressed with the resulting community engagement that they hired Amico to repeat the program in 2023.

Raising the media coverage bar for an organization tackling an issue that most wish would just go away.

We hit the ground running with MHAAO after they’d received some rather unjust media coverage for a program they were managing to help fight Portland’s growing drug problem and related social issues. Within a few months, we were well on our way to not only changing the narrative for the original issue, but we’d helped manage numerous TV stories, radio interviews and a front page Sunday Oregonian feature.

All eyes are on how Portland is trying to eradicate a complex social challenge. We’re helping to put MHAAO at the forefront of creative and street-smart solutions.

Getting a startup ready for (and winning) early round financing.

Finnegan the Dragon is the brainchild of an entrepreneur who harnessed the power of technology and language development to create a system that turns passive screen time for preschoolers into an active learning experience.

Under a quick turnaround deadline, Amico updated Finnegan’s brand assets, created a new website, developed key messages and placed a nearly-nine minute news feature that appeared multiple times on KGW-TV, Portland’s NBC affiliate. The story ran the same week that Finnegan the Dragon presented at the Bend Venture Conference in 2023, where he won his category and its $25,000 prize, plus an additional $15,000 from an anonymous investor.

Helping the country’s largest seafood processor target and hire 3,000 seasonal workers for its Alaska plants and vessels.

Post-COVID, no company is immune to a shrinking labor base, particularly one needing to staff its sustainable fisheries in Alaska during the dead of winter. Never shying from a challenge, in less than three weeks Amico designed and implemented a digital media and community outreach campaign to promote a 12-week recruitment tour. Featuring targeted programatic and Facebook ads, along with organic social posts highlighting employees speaking glowingly of their experiences working for Trident, the campaign was well on its way of meeting the company’s goal less than halfway through.

Conscientious development and construction in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Earned Media

Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top 20 builder, developer and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional and energy sectors. Founded in 1954, Mortenson has operations across the U.S., including an office in Portland. Amico is proud to spread the news about Mortenson and its projects across Oregon and SW Washington

Breaking ground for a new home in a revitalizing historic district.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Media/Blogger Relations

Having built a solid reputation for designing creative workplaces for companies across the country, it was only fitting that Ankron Moisan spread the news regarding the completion of its own new headquarters at 38 Davis in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown District. Encompassing 58,000 square feet and three floors of the six-story 38 Davis building, Ankrom Moisan was the largest tenant of the district’s first ground up new construction project in a decade. Strategic messaging and customized story angles resulted in high-profile placements in key targeted publications.

Preparing David for battle with Goliath: empowering cabbies to demand equal regulations for rides.

When Uber rolled into Portland in December 2013 and eschewed all ride-for-hire regulations, cabbies were outraged and worried about their livelihoods. Amico helped establish a single alliance and communicate as one, which empowered the taxi companies and drivers to publicly demand equal regulations through city testimony, public demonstrations and robust media strategy.

To humanize the taxi industry that Uber had demonized, Amico guided cabbies in sharing stories of how their family wage jobs positively impacted lives. While Uber ultimately won out, the issue was an international watershed event that was eventually highlighted in episode two of the critically acclaimed Showtime series “Super Pumped: the Battle for Uber.”

Updating the brand of a treasured Oregon town while keeping it authentic and real.

In 2010, Greg partnered with the communications firm, Maxwell, to develop a new positioning for this land where Lewis and Clark landed. As a city passionately embraced by locals and visitors alike, Astoria and its neighbor, Warrenton, were beloved but lacked a cohesive message and visual image.

Serving as creative director and senior strategist, Greg led the creation of multiple advertising campaigns and promotions, website refreshes and content development. One particular challenge that was successfully navigated was switching gears in 2020 from new-visitor marketing to helping the Chamber and local businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic. New messaging and content touted how visitors could still visit, while reinforcing the need to be kind and good stewards of this vaunted destination.

One of the first statewide attempts to spark culinary tourism throughout Oregon.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Marketing Consumer Products; PRSA National Silver Anvil award

Oregon Bounty was created as an annual Fall statewide media relations and promotions campaign that encouraged winery visits to sample some of Oregon’s most beloved products: Oregon wine, pears, cheese and hazelnuts. Amico and Greg Robeson (who would go on to manage the annual culinary tourism initiative for nearly a decade), joined Travel Oregon, the commodity commissions for the featured products, and global advertising agency, Wieden + Kennedy. Overseeing media relations, Amico was able to generate more than 80 stories for this promotion.

Turning competing tourism destinations into a marketing partnership for the benefit of all.

Through his work with the Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, Greg saw the opportunity to combine the marketing efforts of multiple Oregon coast towns into a single, cohesive voice. From that core idea grew Oregon’s North Coast, a branded co-op of Cannon Beach, Seaside, Warrenton and Astoria.

Focussing on the region’s strengths in history, culture, culinary, outdoor adventure and family fun, Greg helped Oregon’s North Coast unite marketing dollars under a central brand umbrella. Through advertising campaigns, craft brew promotions and online marketing, messaging invited visitors to visit all north coast cities even while lodging in just one.

Ensuring special ed students have access to a Free and Appropriate Public Education.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Media/Blogger Relations

As Oregon’s only firm primarily focused on special education law for families, Wiscarson Law has shepherded thousands of Oregon and Washington families through the region’s public schools and educational service districts on behalf of their special needs children.

Amico has been consistently placing earned media for Wiscarson Law since 2015, with the primary target audience being parents, followed by other special education advocates and referral sources.

Changing lives for children with learning challenges.

One in five children has a learning or attention issue that makes school difficult. Without the right support, they become discouraged and may even give up trying. When one child gives up, we all take a step backward.

That’s why The Shadow Project teams with teachers to make school a place where children who learn differently can thrive. Their mission is to make school more accessible and engaging for K-8 students with learning challenges like dyslexia, ADHD, autism and trauma. They accomplish this by helping to foster an education system that normalizes and celebrates learning differences, and supports every student, no matter how they learn.

Helping charter schools thrive.

As the country’s first national financial services provider exclusively focused on charter schools and the students they serve, Charter School Capital, has invested upwards of $2 billion in charter schools across the country, serving more than 1 million students. This impressive trajectory has been covered in regional and national news outlets. Schools served by Charter School Capital’s enrollment marketing team are also supported by Amico.

Introducing earth-friendly mobile dog grooming.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Integrated Communications; also named "Best of Show"

Green Whiskers is a Portland, Oregon-based premium-quality mobile pet salon owned by and for passionate pet owners. Forward-thinking and values-driven, the company’s products and practices are as gentle on the earth at their groomers are on their pooches. A longtime fixture in Oregon’s marketing community, Founder, Greg Robeson and son, Milo, are taking the mobile dog grooming industry in a new direction that fosters the earth and indulges dogs.

Building an entirely new neighborhood, from the ground up.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Media/Blogger Relations; PRSA National Bronze Anvil, Media/Blogger Relations

When complete, Reed’s Crossing will have more than 4,000 single- and multi-family homes and apartments. More than just a place to live, Reed’s Crossing is a community in every sense of the word - Town Center, Greenway, parks, walking and biking trails, a welcome center, a plaza, and the list goes on! Impressive in scale, Reed’s Crossing is the largest mixed-use master-planned community, by density, in Oregon. Amico is delighted to partner with the team at Liaison PR to share via earned media the details of this transformative community of tomorrow. Here’s the latest attention that our friends in the press have given Reed’s Crossing:

Helping Nike enter the world of social media.

Stu led an agency team for @Nike's short and long-term social executions. He's most proud of developing an innovative network of photographers from around the world. His creative briefs led to outstanding photos that helped turn the @Nike Instagram into a highly acclaimed and rapidly growing channel. Their Instagram follower count increased from 2.5M to 16M in the 1.5 years Stu oversaw the channel.

Later Stu would work on content development in various Nike categories, including Nike Training, Nike Women, Nike Court, the Nike App, and more.

Launching MJ’s social channels into the stratosphere.

Stu introduced Jordan's Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook channels. This included developing a robust strategy, developing campaigns for key athletes and products (including three Air Jordan launches), and managing all aspects of each channel. Over three years he grew their presence from zero followers to over 6.5 million.

Helping Maitripa College host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Special Events & Observances; PRSA National Silver Anvil award

In 2013, Amico was hired to support Maitripa College (the only Tibetan Buddhist college in the Pacific Northwest) in this opportunity of a lifetime. Amico assisted with advance media outreach and coordination, and even more pressing, logistics pertaining to all press aspects of the summit events, which were attended by numerous state, national and global leaders.

Stu developed mattress start-up Tuft & Needle's initial social media strategy, including brand positioning and content franchises for each social channel. He led content development and creative briefs to align with the new strategy. Tuft & Needle would later be acquired by Serta.

Changing the way we think (and care) about our health.

Amico worked with Vera Whole Health to share how this advanced primary care provider is creating a health revolution and overriding our nation’s “sick care” system through empathetic listening to promote behavior change.

One-time exhibit of most exquisite natural fancy color diamonds ever discovered.

Optimum Diamonds LLC is one of the world’s elite houses for rare and exotic natural fancy color diamonds. Optimum Diamonds’ extensive collection of rare natural green diamonds – the largest in the world – staged a special showing at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles in “Green Diamonds: Natural Radiance.”

Making tennis fun and accessible for everyone.

The United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW) is on a mission to make tennis available to everyone. Amico helped USTA PNW identify key messages and narratives for both facilities and its RecTennis programming. Then we helped them solidify key audiences and create and implement an earned media and content marketing plan to achieve their goal to grow the game of tennis in the Pacific Northwest.

Helping a family-owned business announce its sale with empathy for employees.

PRSA Oregon Spotlight Award, Integrated Communications

Dick Anderson founded Cadet, a privately-held, market-leading heating products company, in 1957, in Vancouver, Wash. In 2016, Glen Dimplex Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of electrical heating, headquartered in Ireland, extended an offer to Anderson to purchase Cadet that assured continued business as usual for the company in Vancouver.

When it came time to announce the news of the ownership transition, it was profoundly important to Anderson that his employees be the first to know. Cadet and Glen Dimplex hired Amico to roll out the news of the ownership transition to all target audiences, including employees, clients, vendors and the news media.