J. Isaac Joins CFM Strategic Communications

Former Trail Blazers Exec Adds Strength to Firm’s Public Affairs Team

J.E. Isaac, who played a key role in building and operating the Rose Garden, home court for the Portland Trail Blazers, has joined CFM Strategic Communications as a member of its public affairs team. He will work out of CFM’s downtown Portland headquarters.

“We have worked for and with J. and are very impressed with his experience, expertise and connections,” says CFM President Gary Conkling. “We are glad someone with his credentials has joined our team.”

Isaac is completing a term as chairman of the Portland Business Alliance. He also served as chairman of Travel Portland and president of Pioneer Courthouse Square. He has received the REAP Men of Legacy Award and the OAME Chairman’s Award.

Best known for his work for the Portland Trail Blazers in the past 24 years, Isaac is widely known in business, government and community circles. He handled a wide variety of projects for Paul Allen companies, including work on the stadium where the Seattle Seahawks play.

For CFM, Isaac will help clients with local or regional government and community relations issues. He also will counsel business, real estate development, sports and entertainment clients. Prior to working for Allen, Isaac was personal manager for the Portland rock band, Quarterflash, whose debut album went platinum in 1982. Isaac is an adjunct professor at Portland State University’s school of business administration.

“When I thought about where to start and grow my practice, I immediately thought of CFM,” Isaac says. “I know and trust the firm’s work. And that’s how I want clients to view me.”

CFM is one of Oregon’s leading public relations, lobbying and research firms. Founded in 1990, it has offices in Portland, Salem and Washington, D.C.

Going from Monologue to Dialogue

Well-designed and representative online research can produce rich, reliable results. And, unlike traditional techniques such as telephone surveys and live focus groups, online research enables follow-up conversations and engagement with respondents, says CFM Partner Tom Eiland.

“Online research allows companies to have a dialogue rather than a monologue with customers,” Eiland explains. “You collect actionable information through research. You share the results with customers, stakeholders and internal audiences. The information and sharing stimulates ideas, generates conversations and develops loyalty.”

Eiland, who leads CFM's research practice, made the case for online research using databases to the spring membership meeting of Pinnacle Worldwide, an international network of independently owned and operated public relations agencies. CFM is the Pinnacle partner in Oregon.

The exodus from landline telephones to mobile smartphones has made phone surveys more difficult, time-consuming and expensive, Eiland says. Live focus groups, he adds, are limited by geography and the ability to get the right group of people to the same place on the same night.

"Online research overcomes those weaknesses," Eiland says.

Harnessing the power of customer databases, third-party databases or voter registration lists can yield broader participation in research projects, as well as more in-depth and extensive interviews.

"People don't like being interrupted at dinner or while watching their favorite TV show to answer a telephone on a subject they don't care about," Eiland explains. "But many people will respond to invitations to participate in online research on topics of interest or concern to them."

Organizations collect email addresses of customers or stakeholders, but don't think of them as an entryway to an ongoing conversation. "In today's world, people want to be involved, they want to be involved in decision-making. Online research gives them an easy, convenient way to engage,"

Online panel research typically involves a larger sample size than telephone surveys and live focus groups and that larger sample provides the assurance you get a reflective, representative response. "We have benchmarked panel research findings by conducting parallel telephone surveys and the results are comparable," Eiland says. "The difference is we can follow up with online respondents and continue the conversation."

For example, Eiland says you can invite respondents to participate in an online focus group based on their answers to specific questions in a quantitative survey. "That allows you to drill down and get more context on an issue."

Online panel research also is scalable, quick to field, and comparable or cheaper in price than traditional techniques.

"Times have changed. Technology has changed. Now it is time for research to change," Eiland say.

You can out more about online panel research by clicking on http://www.cfm-online.com/research/ or contacting Eiland directly at 503.294.9120.

CFM’s Gift of Laptop Helps Wellesley Student

Tutored for three years by former CFM senior associate Elizabeth (Slater) Remley (left), Annajoy Gilles is enjoying her first year at Wellesley College with the aid of a laptop donated by CFM.A recent good deed by CFM is helping a college freshman get off to a good start. A 2011 graduate of Portland’s Franklin High School, Annajoy Gilles says CFM’s gift of a Macintosh laptop computer is making a difference in studies and playtime at Wellesley College.

Annajoy was tutored for three years by former CFM senior associate Elizabeth (Slater) Remley through the Minds Matter program. Minds Matter is a national program with chapters in seven cities. Elizabeth was paired with AnnaJoy, then a sophomore. 

Because of her success in Minds Matter, Annajoy earned a full-ride scholarship to study political science.

“…The laptop you gave me has served me well and allowed me a fantastic college career. Thank you,” Annajoy recently wrote to CFM Partner Dave Fiskum.

“Besides the importance of technology in campus activities, this laptop has been vital to my academics,” she adds. “From using it to display study images for Art History to using it to take my Multivariable calculus notes.”

“We’re happy to help such a deserving student. And, we appreciated Elizabeth’s commitment to volunteering in the community,” Fiskum says. “She’s the latest great example of CFM good deeds.”

Brian, CFM Work as Strategic Partners

Tom Brian, Times PhotoTom Brian, one of the most experienced local officials in Oregon, has agreed to be a strategic partner with CFM on significant projects that require in-depth knowledge and a wide range of contacts.

"Nobody can match Tom's background, experience and expertise on local and state issues," says CFM President Gary Conkling. "He will give our team more depth and our clients knowledgeable, practical and savvy counsel."

Brian retired from elected office in 2011 after serving as chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners for 12 years, where he provided strong leadership in fields such as transportation, tourism, land-use and taxation.

He came to the county after a decade in the Oregon legislature, including being chairman of the House Revenue Committee, and leadership roles on the House Judiciary and Ways and Means committees. As Revenue chair, Brian successfully rewrote a contentious and flawed property tax initiative and referred the Constitutional amendment to Oregon voters, which was approved.

Brian was mayor and city councilor of Tigard for ten years before winning election to the legislature. During his long and varied career, he has been elected president of the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce, owned a commercial and industrial real estate firm and served as executive director of the Oregon Council on Crime and Delinquency. He began his career as a deputy sheriff before taking his undergraduate degree at Western Oregon University, then a Masters degree in Public Administration from Portland State University.

While serving on the Washington County commission, Brian graduated from the Senior Executives Program offered by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. More recently, he was active as a board member of the Westside Economic Alliance and led a Washington County trade delegation to China, a consulting team to Ukraine, and is vice-chair of the Clean Water Institute.

Married for 39 years with three adult children, his hobbies include photography and travel — but conversations with him never take long to get to great wine. Brian has been on the board of directors of Willamette Valley Vineyards since 2005 and enjoys advocating for the great wines produced in Oregon.

Combating Hunger at Home and in the Horn

Drought has ravaged the Horn of Africa and groups such as Mercy Corps have responded with long-term efforts to combat food insecurityThanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate friends and family through feasting. But it also is a fitting time to remember people around the block — and around the world — who face staggering hunger.

In that spirit, CFM contributed $2,500 before the holiday to support Mercy Corps efforts to provide long-term, sustainable assistance in Somalia and Niger to combat food insecurity, especially in times of drought.

"Distributing food is sometimes necessary, especially during times of crisis," Mercy Corps says, "but we believe in teaching people to fish, plant gardens and raise livestock for their household needs. This holistic approach not only ensures that families don't go hungry, but also looks out for their health and long-term economic prospects."

With help from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mercy Corps is bringing sustainable food security to 40,000 people in the southern part of Somalia, which has fallen victim to natural disasters and strife. It is helping Niger revamp its dairy production system. It works with 3,775 direct beneficiaries, with the ability to impact the lives of 100,000 people by delivering readily available, affordable dairy products and upgraded nutrition.

CFM's contribution was matched dollar-for-dollar by a special program conducted by Mercy Corps prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

CFM also worked with its clients, such as Del Monte Fresh Produce, to contribute fresh fruits and vegetables to the Oregon Food Bank, Marion-Polk Food Share and Harrisburg Harvesters Gleaners.

As a supporter of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, CFM also has helped generate donations to the Oregon Food Bank.

"We all have a responsibility to tackle the injustice of hunger, in our own community or the world community," says CFM President Gary Conkling. "No one has the power to erase hunger, but each one of us has the power to do something."

Link:

To donate to MercyCorp, click here.