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Top 10 Marketing Consultants in Portland, OR (2026)
Finding the right marketing consultant can be a game-changer for your business. Unlike full-service agencies that execute campaigns, marketing consultants provide the strategic thinking, leadership, and expertise you need to make smarter marketing decisions — without the overhead of a large agency retainer.
Portland, Oregon is home to a strong community of independent marketing consultants and fractional CMOs who bring decades of experience to the table. We’ve researched and compiled this list of the top 10 marketing consultants in Portland, covering fractional CMOs, brand strategists, SEO advisors, and growth consultants.
1. Chris Bolton of Diviner — AI-Forward Marketing Consultancy
Diviner is a boutique marketing consultancy founded by Chris Bolton, who brings 20+ years of experience in brand strategy, SEO, and business development. Before launching Diviner, Chris spent over a decade as Executive Web Director at Murmur Creative, helping grow the Portland agency to a team of 26. What sets Diviner apart is their specialization in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — optimizing businesses for visibility in AI-powered search tools like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Claude, not just traditional search engines. As well as their focus on web development and agentic solutions.
2. Gina Clementi of Goodstory (Fractional CMO & Brand Strategist)
Gina Clementi is a fractional CMO and brand strategist with 20+ years of experience, including 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 — with deep expertise in healthcare, sports, and technology marketing. She takes a story-first approach to strategy that helps brands articulate their purpose and connect with their audience.
3. Shawn Busse of Kinesis (Brand Strategy & Growth Consultancy)
Shawn Busse founded Kinesis in 2000 as a brand strategy and growth consultancy focused on owner-operated businesses with 10 to 100 employees. Using a proprietary “Marketing from the Inside Out” methodology, Kinesis helps small business owners align their brand, culture, and marketing strategy. The firm was named one of Oregon’s fastest-growing private companies for five consecutive years and has earned recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine as one of America’s Best Entrepreneurial Companies. Kinesis sits at the intersection of business consulting and marketing strategy — making it a strong fit for owners who want transformation, not just tactics.
4. Sarah Moon of Sarah Moon Consulting (SEO & Ethical Marketing Strategy)
Sarah Moon is a boutique marketing consultant who has been helping service-based professionals get found online since 2008. She specializes in SEO-first marketing strategy for consultants, coaches, creatives, attorneys, and financial professionals. Her “human-centric SEO” approach prioritizes sustainable, ethical marketing over manipulative tactics. If you’re an independent professional who wants a hands-on consultant rather than an impersonal agency, Sarah Moon is one of Portland’s best options.
5. Bethany Jeanfreau of Red Rhino Exec (Fractional CMO for Health & Wellness)
Bethany Jeanfreau is a fractional CMO specializing in health and wellness brands, e-commerce scaling, and funnel optimization. As Co-President of Image3D, she led the 26-year-old company to its most profitable year ever through e-commerce strategy. Her consulting practice combines founder-level experience with data-driven marketing strategy — making her an especially strong choice for health, wellness, and e-commerce founders looking for strategic marketing leadership without a full-time hire.
6. Jen McFarland of Women Conquer Business (Marketing Operations Consulting)
Jen McFarland brings 25+ years of executive experience — including leading large-scale public sector projects for the City of Portland that affected over 50,000 businesses — to her marketing consulting practice. She specializes in marketing operations, coaching, and digital marketing strategy for professional service businesses. Jen was featured in the documentary “Click the Link Below” for her advocacy against manipulative marketing tactics. She offers consulting, coaching, and courses for business owners who want a transparent, ethical approach to marketing.
7. Shaunmarie Gutbezahl of HiHat Marketing (Fractional CMO)
Shaunmarie Gutbezahl offers fractional CMO services for small and mid-size businesses, bringing 20+ years of experience in digital marketing, brand engagement, and content strategy. She’s known for blending design, storytelling, and digital marketing into cohesive strategies. HiHat Marketing provides strategic marketing leadership and advisory on an outsourced basis — ideal for companies that need experienced marketing direction but aren’t ready for a full-time CMO.
8. Lauren Wege of Word, Ink. (Fractional CMO & Communications Strategist)
Lauren Wege provides fractional CMO and CCO (Chief Communications Officer) services through her consultancy, Word, Ink. 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 services — a valuable combination for business leaders who want to build their own marketing capabilities while getting expert guidance.
9. Wilson Zehr of Cendix (Tech Startup Marketing Strategy)
Wilson Zehr is a serial entrepreneur who has founded eight tech startups, raising over $60 million and returning $160 million+ to investors. His consultancy, Cendix, provides strategic marketing consulting 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. He’s the go-to Portland consultant for tech startups that need enterprise-grade marketing strategy.
10. Jacob Wagner of 4FP (Fractional CMO for Financial Services)
Jacob Wagner is a fractional CMO and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) who carved out a niche at 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” designed specifically for client acquisition in the financial services industry. If you’re a financial advisor or wealth manager in Portland looking for a marketing consultant who truly understands your compliance requirements and client dynamics, Jacob is a specialist worth talking to.
Quick-compare table
| Consultant | Specialty | Best fit for | Engagement model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Bolton — Diviner | AI search (GEO) + SEO, web dev | Agencies & B2B wanting AI-search visibility | Consultancy |
| Gina Clementi — Goodstory | Brand strategy & storytelling | Mission-driven brands; healthcare, sports, tech | Fractional CMO |
| Shawn Busse — Kinesis | Brand + growth strategy | Owner-operated businesses (10–100 staff) | Consultancy |
| Sarah Moon | SEO-first, ethical marketing | Independent service pros, coaches, attorneys | Consultant |
| Bethany Jeanfreau — Red Rhino Exec | Health/wellness, e-comm, funnels | Health, wellness & e-commerce founders | Fractional CMO |
| Jen McFarland — Women Conquer Business | Marketing operations & coaching | Professional-service businesses | Consultant / coach |
| Shaunmarie Gutbezahl — HiHat | Brand engagement & content | Small & mid-size businesses | Fractional CMO |
| Lauren Wege — Word, Ink. | Strategic communications & PR | Leaders building in-house marketing capability | Fractional CMO / CCO |
| Wilson Zehr — Cendix | Tech startup go-to-market | Emerging-growth tech startups | Consultant |
| Jacob Wagner — 4FP | Financial-services marketing | Financial advisors, RIAs, wealth managers | Fractional CMO |
How to Choose the Right Marketing Consultant
Choosing a marketing consultant is different from choosing an agency. Here’s what to consider:
- Strategic fit over service lists: The best consultant for your business is the one whose experience aligns with your industry and growth stage. A fractional CMO like Gina Clementi makes sense for companies that need executive-level marketing leadership. A specialist like Sarah Moon is ideal if SEO is your primary channel.
- Industry expertise matters: Several Portland consultants specialize in specific verticals — Bethany Jeanfreau in health and wellness, Wilson Zehr in tech startups, Jacob Wagner in financial services, and Diviner in AI search optimization. Domain knowledge accelerates results.
- Consultant vs. fractional CMO: A marketing consultant typically works on defined projects or engagements. A fractional CMO embeds in your organization part-time and provides ongoing strategic leadership. Know which model fits your needs.
- Chemistry and communication: You’ll be working closely with this person. Schedule discovery calls with your top 2-3 picks and pay attention to how well they listen, ask questions, and communicate.
Portland’s marketing consulting community is full of experienced, independent professionals who can provide the strategic guidance your business needs — without the overhead of a traditional agency.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a marketing consultant and a fractional CMO?
A marketing consultant typically works on defined projects or engagements — strategy, audits, positioning, and advisory. A fractional CMO embeds in your organization part-time and provides ongoing marketing leadership: owning the strategy, managing vendors or staff, and steering execution. Choose a consultant when you need expert direction on a specific problem, and a fractional CMO when you need sustained leadership without a full-time hire.
How much does a marketing consultant or fractional CMO cost in Portland?
Pricing varies widely by scope and seniority. Project and hourly consulting commonly runs $150–$400/hour, while fractional CMO retainers typically land between $3,000 and $12,000/month depending on time commitment and responsibilities. Always confirm current rates and deliverables on a discovery call.
Should I hire a consultant or a full-service agency?
They solve different problems. A consultant or fractional CMO brings strategy, leadership, and decision-making; an agency brings execution at scale across channels. Many Portland businesses use a consultant to set direction and an agency (or in-house team) to do the work — the two are complementary, not mutually exclusive.
How do I choose the right Portland marketing consultant?
Match their industry and growth-stage experience to yours, decide whether you need a project consultant or an embedded fractional CMO, and book discovery calls with your top two or three picks. Pay attention to how well they listen, ask questions, and communicate — you’ll be working closely together.