We exist to help people thrive
Proud to serve those
serving others
Pivot Group is broadband’s leading marketing and CX agency. We collaborate with people who are doing meaningful work in the communities they serve, and we come alongside them to help their organizations grow and thrive. In this partnership role, we help our clients define and live out their brands, tell their unique stories, and strengthen relationships with their customers.
Pivot was founded in 2004, and we’ve been growing ever since. The formula that drives our success is simple: hire talented people who care, and focus on helping our clients instead of making money off of them. Is there a better indicator of the value we provide than our very low client turnover rate? Most of our first clients are still our clients, and our retention rates blow the industry average out of the water.
We are a group of dreamers and hard workers who love telling our clients’ stories. We also love pizza. Because, pizza.
Our team
We are a bunch of adventure junkies, musicians, athletes, nerds, artists, hillbillies, and comedians who care (almost too deeply) about our coworkers and clients.
Aaryn Slafky
Vice President of Customer Experience
Small but mighty. A graduate of George Washington University, Aaryn majored in anthropology and journalism. Before coming to Pivot, she spent nine years as Marketing and Communications Director for Randolph Telephone Membership Corp and seven years as Director of Communications for the NTCA. Aaryn and her husband live in North Carolina with their two children, where (if you’re lucky) you might see her dance in a Dancing With The Stars knock-off for the local college scholarship fundraiser.
Aaryn Slafky
Vice President of Customer Experience
Abbie Vanasse
Designer
Javaphile. Abbie graduated from Anderson University in South Carolina, with a major in graphic design and a minor in marketing. She’s currently working out of Pivot’s Greenville, South Carolina office (and, on occasion, a nearby coffee shop). She’s passionate about art, loves adventuring outdoors, playing soccer, spending time with friends and family—and visiting coffee shops. Actively athletic, Abbie enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and is always a willing participant when yard games are involved. It must be all that caffeine.
Abbie Vanasse
Designer
Adam Murphy
Front End Developer
Upfront guy. North Carolina native, Adam, brings extensive programming, web development, and project management experience to his role at Pivot. An avid runner, Adam picked up the sport when he was 19 as a way to build and maintain fitness, and enthusiasm that has blossomed into a passion. A self-taught cook, he enjoys experimenting with new recipes. Adam’s favorite food is sushi, and he believes he could eat if for every meal. Favorite song: “If You Knew Sushi Like I Know Sushi.”
Adam Murphy
Front End Developer
Allie Halperin
Project Coordinator
Murder, she says! Allie comes to Pivot with a degree in Communications from Anderson University in South Carolina, and works out of her office in Eugene, Oregon. She has a deep love of outdoor activities, from backpacking and bouldering to paddleboarding on alpine lakes and snowshoeing. She currently shares her home with a feisty cat named Bitty, who’s favorite game is playing fetch with Q-Tips. Her biggest irrational fear? Flocks of birds. After all, she reasons, there’s got to be a reason that a gathering of crows is called a murder.
Allie Halperin
Project Coordinator
Amber McAlary
Senior Production Designer
Quick on her toes. With a solid background in graphic design and photography, Amber McAlary brings a keen and resourceful eye to the Pivot Design Team. After studying dance as a child, Amber recently returned to ballet as an adult, where she found a warm and receptive dance community. Raised in the country, the outdoor spirit is in her blood. If you’re a fan of delicious vegan fudge, Amber’s the person you want on your speed dial.
Amber McAlary
Senior Production Designer
Ana Ibáñez Pankey
Senior Project Coordinator
Absolutely polyglottal. Ana brings a degree in Business Administration to her role at Pivot, along with experience in a wide variety of marketing-related roles and the ability to speak multiple languages. With secret plans to one day live on the beach in Mexico, Ana naturally gravitates towards large bodies of water, such as oceans and lakes, and loves to unleash her creativity through music (she plays piano and flute) and interior design. Lifetime goal: Eating an entire bag of Cheez-Its in a single sitting.
Ana Ibáñez Pankey
Senior Project Coordinator
Andy Peterson
Senior Copywriter
The quiet man. Before coming to Pivot, Andy knocked around the copywriting profession for more than 20 years, wordsmithing for companies like AT&T, Microsoft, and Nintendo. He’s had 14 plays produced, and been published in several books, magazines, and trade journals. When not setting words to paper, Andy can be found in local cinemas catching up on the latest movies.
Andy Peterson
Senior Copywriter
Anna Collins
Project Coordinator
Hello Dali. Holding down our office in Greenville, South Carolina, Anna graduated from Anderson University with a degree in communications and worked as a Digital Marketing Specialist before coming to Pivot. Recently married, Anna enjoys cooking with her husband, Grant, going on long walks, learning Japanese, and tinkering around in GarageBand—specializing in lo-fi, instrumentals, and acoustic lyrical songs. She also insists she finds surrealist humor really funny because fish bicycle orange wrench.
Anna Collins
Project Coordinator
Annie Mordhorst
Director of Marketing Services
The star. Annie Mordhorst is a Customer Experience Account Executive for Pivot. Before that, she was a Marketing AE for us. Annie loves working with teams so they are empowered to deliver the customer experience of their dreams. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from George Fox University and a master’s degree in culture, policy and management from City University London. She loves to run and teach indoor cycle classes and has a whole lot of EDM on her playlist.
Annie Mordhorst
Director of Marketing Services
Beacon Getsinger
Design Floor Manager
Good boy. Beacon is an English cocker spaniel, born in Iowa. He moved to the Pacific Northwest at only 8 weeks of age, though to him it felt like 56. Beacon’s professional background is in fetch, pheasant hunting, and snuggles. Today, he manages the quality of life for Pivot’s team of creatives. In his spare time, Beacon enjoys his Chuck It ball, wrestling with his cat-friend Tranq. An optimist and terrific listener, Beacon is an Enneagram 7.
Beacon Getsinger
Design Floor Manager
Ben Bonds
Senior Business Development Account Executive
Excelsior! After more than a decade of experience working for a local credit union and with a degree in Business Administration (and a concentration in Finance), Ben comes to Pivot to head up our office in Clarksville, Tennessee. He’s an enthusiastic Alabama football fan, which has had its challenges considering he’s a native of its neighbor state to the north—but he finds that winning helps him sleep better at night. A devoted family man, Ben and his family are loyal fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. ‘Nuff said.
Ben Bonds
Senior Business Development Account Executive
Brandon Waybright
Creative Director
Design for humans. Brandon comes to Pivot following a career teaching Branding and UX Design at George Fox University, and running an active design practice where he worked for a variety of prominent clients, such as Tim Burton, John Legend, Walt Disney Studios, and Princeton University. Outdoor adventures frequently coax Brandon to explore the untrampled world where people rarely go. Intelligence, creativity, and an adventurous spirit were all positive qualities that made us sit up and take notice—but when we heard that Brandon also loves donuts, we knew we’d found a person who truly belongs at Pivot.
Brandon Waybright
Creative Director
Carissa Young
Nonprofit Account Executive
All the right moves. A graduate of the University of Portland, Carissa comes to Pivot with a robust background of working within several nonprofit organizations in Oregon, particularly in the realm of fundraising and development. She loves the outdoors and drinking coffee as the mist rises outside her tent. Musically-inclined and increasingly well-read in British mysteries, her sandwich of choice is the Reuben. Veteran Carissa-watchers comment upon her tendency to dance when she gets excited, particularly noting a move entitled, “noodle knees.” America’s got talent, indeed.
Carissa Young
Nonprofit Account Executive
Carol Heller
Account Executive
Never stop never stopping. Carol works out of the Pivot office in Boca Raton, Florida most of the year, and from Beech Mountain, North Carolina in the summer. She earned a BA in Psychology from Cornell University and an MBA from Northeastern. Carol has a rich history working with advanced technology companies, leveraging her expertise in Operations, Strategic Alliances, and Marketing to their advantage. Friends, family, and tennis activities take up much of Carol’s free time, along with volunteering and leading her neighborhood book club. Whew! You go, girl!
Carol Heller
Account Executive
Carol Vaughan
Senior Account Executive
Tastemaker. Carol Vaughan graduated from Regent’s University London with a degree in Fashion Marketing, whereupon she launched a successful career in luxury retail management. After taking a break to raise a family, she returned to the workforce as a Marketing Specialist for Silver Star Communications in Wyoming. She works for Pivot from the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina and considers herself an amateur foodie, which includes growing her own veggies, cooking, and eating. Okay, mostly eating.
Carol Vaughan
Senior Account Executive
Carrie Grant
Senior Designer
Ripe mind. Carrie comes to Pivot with a degree in Graphic Design from Portland State University and many years of experience in field. Carrie also devotes time to working as a small group leader for teens, a lifelong passion that has only grown over the last 17 years. An avid player of World of Warcraft (and other video games), she loves to cook, snuggle with her dogs, and watch too much TV with her husband. If you’re a fan of the movie, Gentlemen Broncos, rest assured there are now two of you in the world.
Carrie Grant
Senior Designer
Cat Flaherty-Ng
Designer
Artistic license. Armed with a degree in Graphic Design from George Fox University and several years’ experience in the industry, Cat brings considerable creative energy to Pivot. In her private life, she’s a big fan of houseplants, while she pairs her love of thrift shopping with a minimalistic sensibility in an effort to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle—and she’s inclined to wear Birkenstocks all year round. Cat’s entertainment preferences involve an aggressive reading schedule, as well as anime, and a love of video and board games. Nerdy? Nah—we consider her Northwest normal.
Cat Flaherty-Ng
Designer
Charlie Kohlmeier
Designer
Amazing Story Coming Soon
Charlie Kohlmeier
Designer
Chelsea Radich
Director of Marketing Services
Go the distance. Chelsea has worked in Pivot’s research division and now serves as an Account Executive. She comes to Pivot from three and a half years in the public sector with a focus on public information, citizen engagement, and emergency management communication. Chelsea is an avid runner, leading a Hood to Coast team every year and always looking for a PR in her next marathon.
Chelsea Radich
Director of Marketing Services
Connie Stevenson
CX Programs Lead
Brick by brick. Working out of her office in Canby, Oregon, Connie brings more than 25 years’ experience in communications and broadband to Pivot. Passionate about supporting charities that are focused on giving children a chance to learn and grow into who they’re meant to be, Connie is happiest when she’s bringing joy to others. A confessed Adult LEGO Enthusiast (ALE), Connie recently completed work on the Grand Piano. That’s 3,662 pieces. Yowza!
Connie Stevenson
CX Programs Lead
Dave Nieuwstraten
CEO
The Dreamer. Before founding Pivot, Dave ran the marketing practices for two national consulting firms. Dave holds a business degree from San Diego State University and has completed the AMA School of Marketing Research, University of Notre Dame. When he’s not trying to help clients, he can be found spending time with family outdoors especially if it’s in a campground or on a lacrosse field. Dave is particularly passionate about helping children in need around the world, and is constantly on the search for the world’s best chocolate mousse.
Dave Nieuwstraten
CEO
Dawn Myers
Corporate Marketing Manager
Dawn by daylight. Dawn comes to Pivot with a degree in Marketing from the University of San Diego, a rich abundance of marketing and nonprofit management experience, and as the host of the popular Why We Work podcast. Her passions include community involvement, horseback riding, CrossFit, rabbit-hole conversations, and airplane turbulence. While she’s a self-proclaimed nacho queen, her favorite meal is actually the combination of a burger, fries, and an IPA. There’s a legend that she once ate 40 bananas in a single day—sadly, the legend doesn’t tell us why.
Dawn Myers
Corporate Marketing Manager
Dominique Britton
Project Coordinator
The naturalist. Dominique earned a degree in Communications from Portland State University and worked in project management and marketing before coming to Pivot. Growing up, she lived in a cabin in Lake Arrowhead, California. Dominique has cultivated a passion for gardening and being in nature, having recently backpacked through Montana, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Her traveling companion was a small rescue dog named Lily. Dominique’s perfect life would include having burritos every day.
Dominique Britton
Project Coordinator
EmmaRuth Potter
Project Coordinator
Slugger. EmmaRuth comes to Pivot with a degree in Sport Management and a background in Marketing. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Grafton, and a yellow lab named Penny. Athletically inclined, EmmaRuth runs (morning runs are her favorite), works out, and spends a fair amount of time trying to improve her golf game. Equal parts Dolly Parton and Atlanta Braves fan, she’s fully fluent in the language of baseball statistics—although, when pressed, she will concede that Dolly has the stronger hits-to-misses ratio.
EmmaRuth Potter
Project Coordinator
Eric Gewiss
Account Executive
Buddy buddy. An Oregon native, Eric works for Pivot out of the beautiful west hills of Portland. Eric’s spent his entire career working in Marketing, Communications, and PR. He’s a cat and dog lover, but, for the moment, his primary living companion is simply a plant named Buddy. Hiking, camping, fly-fishing—he enjoys the outdoor life, but he’s also a man of many talents, from bass guitar to creating art. Word on the street is that he can even hem a pair of pants by hand. Hey Eric! The Renaissance is calling—they want you back.
Eric Gewiss
Account Executive
Erik Doescher
Vice President of Creative Services
The one and only. Erik has been a consultant with Pivot Group since 2005, and has more than 20 years of marketing and advertising experience. Erik’s skills include development and implementation of marketing plans, creative direction, branding and image strategies, and advertising and promotions. Erik and his wife are the parents of two daughters, and he lives and dies (mostly dies) with the Seattle Mariners every season.
Erik Doescher
Vice President of Creative Services
Erin Bledy
Account Executive
Fuel injected. Erin brings wide-ranging Marketing and PR experience to Pivot—from World of Speed, Motorsports Museum to Warner Bros. television, along with multiple contractor and agency jobs. She married her high school sweetheart, with whom she has three boys—so, when she’s not at work, she’s likely attending some sporting event. And yet, all this good must come with a dark side—in Erin’s case, it’s her addiction to true crime podcasts and strong coffee. Very strong coffee.
Erin Bledy
Account Executive
Essynce Henderson
Telecompetitor Program Coordinator
Instrumental. Holding down our Hagerstown, Maryland office, Essynce brings experience in digital marketing and a degree from Bridgewater College in Virginia to her role at Pivot. Family, friends, and Jayce, her shichon pup, take center stage in her life, and she loves to work out at the gym. Nine years of musical discipline earned her 2nd chair as a violinist. Here at Pivot, we consider her a 1st chair Program Coordinator.
Essynce Henderson
Telecompetitor Program Coordinator
Jacqueline Enos Gore
Sales Support Manager
Wanderlust. Jacqueline comes to Pivot from a career in retail management spanning 16 years and 5 states. She received her Bachelors of Science from Drexel University in design and merchandising, and also studied at Oklahoma State University. She finally settled in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll never turn down the chance to travel just about anywhere with her husband and two sons. She loves reading nonfiction, buying craft supplies she intends to use some day, and falling asleep on the beach.
Jacqueline Enos Gore
Sales Support Manager
Jenny Green
Digital Services Director
Quicksilver. Jenny came to Pivot in 2014 and brought with her a passion for digital marketing and efficiency building. Whether she’s launching Pick-It, streamlining processes, or sharing her love of digital marketing with the industry, Jenny brings energy and excitement to those around her. Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from George Fox University. When not working, Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. Secret tip: If you get really friendly with her, she may show you her superpower: singing the alphabet backwards.
Jenny Green
Digital Services Director
Jeremy Graves
President
The Volunteer. Jeremy leads Pivot’s day to day operations and has particular passions for improving the customer experience and the color orange. Jeremy, a graduate of both Missouri State University and the University of Tennessee, now resides in Tucson, Arizona with his wife and three children, but still lives and dies by the Tennessee Volunteers.
Jeremy Graves
President
Jessica Rivera
Digital Marketing Specialist
Strategic thinker. Jessica arrives at Pivot following a stint for The Contingent, an Oregon-based non-profit organization that focuses on leadership. Located in our Portland office, she also spends time mentoring middle and high school students. After feigning interest in learning to play the guitar in an effort to get to know him better, Jessica married her college sweetheart, Sterling in 2017. Today they’re the proud parents of a young son, Luca. Spanish is Jessica’s first language—but she’s obsessed with British television programs, such as The Crown and Downton Abbey. Jessica’s Darkest Secret: She never learned to play the guitar at all.
Jessica Rivera
Digital Marketing Specialist
Jillian Witz
Account Executive
The name of the rose. Working out of our North Carolina office, Jillian comes to Pivot with degrees in both Public Relations and Arts Administration. She’s passionate about volunteering and music—she sings with her church praise team, at breweries, and with an LGBTQ+ community choir—and subsists on a vegan diet in a region where “vegan” is another name for “unicorn.” A nomenclaturist by nature, she freely applies names to everything from her car (Mildred the Malibu) to the plants that surround her (Mindy mint and Frankie the Friendship Plant).
Jillian Witz
Account Executive
Joel Sigrist
Business Development Account Executive
Going Rogue. A graduate of George Fox University, Joel comes to Pivot after working as an Integrated Marketing Specialist for Intel and as a freelancer in the fantasy football space. Joel and his wife (plus their pet bunny, Barnaby) live in the lovely Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon, where he hosts the podcast, Becoming Ourselves. He plays guitar and ukulele, loves sports, and enjoys cooking. He also loves the smell of freshly cut grass—next time you see him, take the opportunity to ask him to mow your lawn!
Joel Sigrist
Business Development Account Executive
Josh Williams
Video Manager
Viewfinder. Much more than just the man behind the camera, Josh is the driving force behind Pivot’s video team—focused on planning our shoots, capturing the cinematography, teasing out the stories we share, and nailing them down in the editing room. Self-taught in all things computers, he also plays the role of technical guru at Pivot. Josh’s varied interests include reading, cooking, and soccer. He’s currently on a mission to produce a perfect batch of homemade pork bone ramen broth.
Josh Williams
Video Manager
Kathleen Ketrenos
Accountant
Sweetie. Kathleen has been a bookkeeper and accounting assistant since college, when she graduated from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has worked for companies including Reser’s Fine Foods, the Beaverton School District, and various nonprofits. Before coming to Pivot, Kathleen spent seven years as a volunteer bookkeeper for a local church. Kathleen loves camping and taking RV road trips with her husband and their three children. She has a sweet tooth a mile long, loves quilting and painting, and is a registered member of the Osage Tribe in Oklahoma.
Kathleen Ketrenos
Accountant
Kristie Castanera
Copywriter
Kānaka Maoli. Hawaiian native, Kristie, joins our copywriting team following a meaningful stint at Children’s Cancer Association. She currently works out of our Portland office, although she’s also been known to craft prose from her parents’ Hawaiian home on the island of O’ahu. Music lover and former thespian, Kristie has sung in the same children’s choir that recorded songs for Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch.” Her current dream is to live in a house so full of plants that it feels like she’s in a jungle, begging the question—does she want a Jaguar in the garage?
Kristie Castanera
Copywriter
Lauren Pickthorn
Resource Coordinator
Awesome Story Coming Soon
Lauren Pickthorn
Resource Coordinator
Leah Neira
Social Content Writer
Happy hodophile. Leah comes to Pivot with tons of experience in developing social media content. She currently calls the Houston, Texas area home—but on any given day she’s likely to be found working from such places as Burlington, Vermont or Lima, Peru. When travelling, Leah likes to pick up refrigerator magnets as reminders of her fun adventures. How many magnets can you fit on a refrigerator before it tips over? Leah’s the person to ask.
Leah Neira
Social Content Writer
Leif Street
Training Manager
Snowman. Leif was the Marketing Manager at Hiawatha Communications before joining the Pivot team. He has held positions in marketing and sales in the telecom industry for more than 20 years, served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist, and has studied Russian history and music performance. In his spare time, Leif enjoys spending time with his wife and children, listening to jazz, shoveling snow and more snow, and sampling beer as often as he can.
Leif Street
Training Manager
Lydia Povolny
Project Coordinator
Wind in her hair. Lydia comes to Pivot with a degree in Marketing from George Fox University. She takes a passionate interest in the movement to stop human trafficking, and has spent time living in Thailand. An outdoor sports enthusiast, Lydia enjoys running, soccer, tennis, hiking, backpacking, and most recently kiteboarding. Deeply competitive, she’ll take on almost any challenge. Good advice: Don’t challenge her to anything that involves eating cheesecake. You’ll lose.
Lydia Povolny
Project Coordinator
Maryjane Mansfield
CX Project Coordinator
October dreams. Along with a degree in Communications from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, Maryjane comes to Pivot with a wide range of experience in program coordination and planning. Physically working out of our Portland office, she assures us that she’s mentally living the life in Puerto Vallarta most of the time. A plant hoarder by nature, Maryjane also crafts textiles extensively to make gifts for friends and family. Her lifelong dream is to own “that house on the street with all the best Halloween decorations.”
Maryjane Mansfield
CX Project Coordinator
Michele Jones
Account Executive
The active listener. Michele comes to Pivot with 20 years’ experience in broadband and telecom, and has focused her last 10 years on Marketing. Her personal passion lies in coaching and listening, leading her to create a popular podcast, Live Less Afraid, in order to help normalize discussions about mental health. When she’s not traveling the world and exploring new countries, Michele loves gardening and spending time with her family. A charm school graduate with a love of 80’s rock & rap, she’s nonetheless the type who’ll KISS and tell. (Seriously, ask her about the KISS concert she attended.)
Michele Jones
Account Executive
Mike Oslund
Account Executive
O captain! My captain! Mike comes to Pivot after owning his own marketing agency in Portland and providing client management services for many years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Arizona State University, with a specialization in marketing. Mike loves coaching basketball and baseball, and has volunteered hundreds of hours with Lines for Life. He is a regular runner and has participated in many marathons and other road races. Go, Mike!
Mike Oslund
Account Executive
Monica Santi
Vice President of Marketing
Patron saint of marketing. Monica’s client projects include developing and implementing marketing and communication strategies, new product launches, and corporate branding. Before joining Pivot in 2005, Monica worked in marketing and communications management for Canby Telcom and two different nonprofit organizations. Monica lives in the Sacramento area with her husband and two teenage sons, but will always call Oregon home.
Monica Santi
Vice President of Marketing
Myles Littlejohn
Digital Marketing Specialist
The good sport. Recent George Fox University alumnus Myles Littlejohn brings his keen Marketing sensibilities to bear at Pivot. Myles and his wife make their home in Newberg, Oregon—when they’re not out paddleboarding on a local river or lake. An avid sports fan, he barely discriminates in terms of his passion, having actively participated in seven different organized sports. Simply put, he enjoys anything that’s sports-related, sports-adjacent, or near the word “sport” in the dictionary.
Myles Littlejohn
Digital Marketing Specialist
Nathan Reinauer
Front-End Developer
Living on the upbeat. Before becoming a web developer, Nathan grew up in an apartment over a movie theater owned by his parents. Today, he shares his home with two kids and a cat, where most conversations and activities revolve around dinosaurs and building crazy LEGO contraptions. Music has long been a major theme in his life—he once released an album of original music entirely self-created in his tiny apartment. Successful? It was even released on a small record label in Japan, so…you decide!
Nathan Reinauer
Front-End Developer
Nicole Cochran
CX Programs Manager
Sneakers. Nicole comes to Pivot after teaching for two years and, before that, nearly twenty years in retail management. She holds an MBA from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in workforce education and development/training and development. Nicole is an avid runner who enjoys 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, and tries to run a half marathon in a different national park each year. Her long-term goal is to own a pet pig. Dare to dream!
Nicole Cochran
CX Programs Manager
Oleksii Tsioma
Senior Web Developer
A Great Story is Coming Soon
Oleksii Tsioma
Senior Web Developer
Phoebe Boyd
Senior Project Coordinator
The quartermaster. Phoebe graduated Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts with a BA in Medieval History and Medieval Literature. She’s an avid enthusiast of Dungeons & Dragons and runs weekly games for friends and family. Her culinary tastes run towards pie, white cheddar popcorn, and goldfish aka “the finer things in life.” Phoebe is Pivot’s resident professional pirate and she comfortably knows her way around a variety of sea shanties. She also loves puns and is a repository of “fun facts.” Our advice: don’t get her started.
Phoebe Boyd
Senior Project Coordinator
Rachel Getsinger
Design Director
Highfiver. When Rachel is not riding horses, painting or exploring, she is a graphic designer. Before coming to Pivot she studied graphic Design, lived in New York where she pursued art and design, and married her best friend, Matthew. Rachel loves an 8 oz. Stumptown latté in the morning. Her most true love though is her son Coen.
Rachel Getsinger
Design Director
Randall Spence
Development Lead
More than meets the eye. Before coming to Pivot, Randall Spence ran his own web development company, worked as an advisor, and helped shape the web development curriculum for Bellevue College in Washington. Once a bass player in a Seattle-based band, Randall now resides in sunny Las Vegas, where he’s still passionate about music and constantly seeks out new artists. Transformer figures from the ‘80s and Shogun Warriors from the late ‘70s form the core elements of his vintage toy collection. When you meet him, avoid asking him how much he had to pay for a tiny yellow Keshigomu figure from Japan to complete his Transformer collection—it’s still a sore subject.
Randall Spence
Development Lead
Rod Sawatsky
Art Director
The most interesting man in the world. Rod is a creative artist with many years’ experience as a freelance graphic designer. He studied fine art and graphic design in British Columbia, and worked for more than 10 years as a contracted Art Director for Glas Water, developing and promoting their beverage products throughout North America. Rod specializes in corporate identity, brand development, custom lettering and 3D illustration. Rod was raised in Congo, Africa—where he remembers Christmas on sunny beaches with his family—and now lives in Oregon with his wife and children.
Rod Sawatsky
Art Director
Ryan Kennedy
Quality Assurance Specialist
Player one. Before coming to Pivot, Ryan was an IT support specialist for three years and an economic support specialist for three years. He has a bachelor’s degree in general business management with an emphasis in technology from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Ryan is an avid long distance runner, a retro game collector, and loves spending time with his wife and children.
Ryan Kennedy
Quality Assurance Specialist
Sandee Buysse
Director of Marketing Operations
A beautiful mind. Sandee has a Bachelor of Science in psychology and an MBA, both from the University of Iowa. She comes to Pivot after 12 years at Liberty Communications, and has expertise in sales, operations, customer service, marketing, and process improvement. She loves to dirt bike, can split wood with an axe, but hates mashed potatoes. Two out of three ain’t bad.
Sandee Buysse
Director of Marketing Operations
Shaye Vanderville
Designer
A brighter shade of deep. Shaye comes to Pivot from George Fox University, where she developed her skills as a Graphic Designer for George Fox Athletics. A connoisseur of fine food (sushi, fruit, donuts, diverse varieties of lemonade), she loves videos about math and physics, actively arguing debating and discussing obscure questions, and watching movies that require multiple viewings to unravel. Ice cream? No. Milkshakes? Yes. Complicated? You betcha.
Shaye Vanderville
Designer
Sierra Salinas
Designer
Not so grump. Sierra comes to Pivot with a degree in Graphic Design from George Fox University and a strong freelance background. She loves expressing herself in just about every art form she encounters, from lino printing and 3D modeling to simply doing her nails. Her favorite activities include cuddling and playing outside with her three amazing dogs, Zuko, Zaheer, and Almond, and word on the street suggests that she enjoys the company of people, too. Her rabid appreciation of the Game Grumps channel on YouTube belies a warm, friendly, and outgoing personality.
Sierra Salinas
Designer
Sophia Zempel
Designer
The art of living. Sophia comes to Pivot with a BA in Graphic Design from George Fox University and experience in the specialty beverage industry, where she “learned to make a pretty bomb pour over.” Originally a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Sophia currently lives in NE Portland and loves the Pacific Northwest lifestyle. A woman of many enthusiasms, she’s totally onboard with yoga, cats, literature, personality tests, and Spotify lists. Furthermore, she loves all kinds of soup and prepares an epic charcuterie board. She’s a bundle of energy, this one.
Sophia Zempel
Designer
Steve Boespflug
Senior Insights Manager
Digging deep. Steve has enjoyed the field of market research for nearly 30 years, having owned two full-service research companies prior to joining Pivot. He has designed and managed more than 1,000 studies for a client roster that includes 3M, Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe, and LG. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. In his spare time, Steve enjoys golfing, wakeboarding, and hiking.
Steve Boespflug
Senior Insights Manager
Suzanne St. Pierre
Account Executive
Creative by nature. Located in Utah, Suzanne worked in marketing for All West Communications before coming to Pivot, and has substantial experience in the healthcare industry. Suzanne enjoys outdoor adventures, such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and snowshoeing—either with friends, or with her husband Eric and their German Shepherd, Nellie. Among her list of likes you’ll find: Chocolate, Stout, Chocolate Stout, pasta, bread, wine, tattoos from Ireland, and Halloween. She’s a person who clearly has found a lot to like in the world!
Suzanne St. Pierre
Account Executive
Tocia Johnson
Telecompetitor Operations Manager
Warmth of the sun. Before coming to Pivot, Tocia was a Program Supervisor for the NTCA and a Special Projects and Meetings Coordinator for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Armed with an AAS degree in business administration and Bachelor’s in Business Administration-Finance, she keeps our Virginia office running smoothly. Tocia has an enormous heart for community service—she’s served as a Girl Scout leader, an AHA event coordinator, and currently volunteers as a volleyball coach. While her taste in color runs to the midnight shades of purple, her real talent lies in her ability to brighten other people’s day.
Tocia Johnson
Telecompetitor Operations Manager
Toni Allen
Vice President of Finance and HR
Mimi. Toni has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Linfield College, and began her career as a CPA with Arthur Young & Co. After taking time off to raise a family, she helped plant a church in Wilsonville, Oregon, where she worked for 20 years. More recently, she has worked with both a start-up and a labor union council. Her passions are her two grandchildren, her dog Mango, and exploring the wonders of Oregon’s wine country.
Toni Allen
Vice President of Finance and HR
Tori Halverson
Account Executive
Make a splash. Tori comes to Pivot after six years working as an account lead for two marketing agencies in Sioux Falls. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. She loves spending time with her daughter and husband, reading, and boating on the Missouri river. She was a competitive swimmer for ten years and still loves to take a dip.
Tori Halverson
Account Executive
Travis Chillemi
Web Services Director
Webspinner. Travis comes to Pivot with a BFA Multimedia Web Design from the University of Colorado and after more than 15 years of putting that education into practice. From his office in Happy Valley, Oregon, he’s dedicated to making the web-building process as smooth and easy as possible. Family is important to Travis, whether they’re on the road in their travel trailer or gathered around the dinner table at home. He met his wife while singing in a karaoke dive bar. Smooth.
Travis Chillemi
Web Services Director
Wende Morgaine
Curriculum Specialist
Sunshine and blue skies. Prior to coming to Pivot, Wende spent 17 years as a college professor, teaching at prestigious universities, from University of Michigan to Stanford, as well as several others. She’s run numerous higher education grants and was the Training Manager for the Association of American Colleges & Universities. In her free time, she’s a writer of poetry and creative non-fiction and finds joy in the company of her two pet Schnoodles. She defines herself as a tireless optimist, though we’re not exactly sure what tires have to do with it.
Wende Morgaine
Curriculum Specialist
Yannis Gatsiounis
Project Coordinator
Travelin’ man. Yannis comes to Pivot with a Journalism degree from the University of Colorado and a background in journalism, project management, and economic development consulting. He currently lives a stone’s throw from the beach in sunny San Diego (where he enjoys playing in a fast-pitch, wood bat baseball league), but he’s a citizen of the world, having spent more than a decade living overseas, primarily in Asia and Africa, and has driven through 46 states across the US.
Yannis Gatsiounis
Project Coordinator
Care for all without condition.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Pivot, all team members are welcome and cared for. All have an equal opportunity to advance, grow and thrive…
View Our Full DEI Statement
Care for all without condition.
At Pivot, all team members are welcome and cared for. All have an equal opportunity to advance, grow and thrive. And all are respected and honored. These statements are consistent with our “People First” Company value: We believe that when we demonstrate genuine concern for all people — including teammates, clients, and those our clients serve — good things will come. To be part of our team means a commitment to care for all without conditions, to embrace equal opportunity, and to welcome and include others without judgment. We know that diversity broadens our own understanding and knowledge, equips us to help clients connect with their entire community, and enriches our team experience.
The values that drive us
Our company values guide our hiring, our conversations, and our daily work. Pivot seeks to:
Value people first
We believe that when we invest in building real relationships and demonstrate genuine concern for all people — teammates, clients and those our clients serve — good things will come.
Do the right thing
Demonstrating integrity in our interactions with teammates and clients is core to who we are. Our goal is to do the right thing in every situation. And when we don’t quite get it right, we act with humility and do what it takes to make it right.
Demonstrate fresh thinking
We provide the right blend of insights and inspiration our clients and teammates are looking for. We’re not content with the status quo, which is why we devote time to learning and professional development to keep fresh ideas flowing.
Get after it
We’re hungry to serve and work hard to create an experience that wows our clients and — just as importantly — generates results. We tackle projects head on, create amazing work and leave a lasting impact.
Have fun and laugh often
Professional doesn’t have to mean “stuffy.” We enjoy the people we work with, and look for opportunities to inject a bit of fun and share a laugh (or two or three) with our clients and teammates.
