Our Story
We are a national independently-owned strategic communications firm specializing in food, drink and hospitality.
Our founder, Lisa Donoughe, is a cultural anthropologist who spent the first half of her career in New York City managing international PR campaigns for global brands, commodity boards and world-famous chefs. Today, she leads a small team of hard-working, talented professionals who have category expertise, digital marketing savvy and personal interest in all things culinary.
Since 1999, Lisa has lived and worked bi-coastally which allows the firm to maintain its 20-year relationships with the elite circle of national media who have been instrumental in increasing the visibility of Northwest cuisine and appreciation for all the exciting culinary stories LAD has brought to the table.
The firm has gained a reputation for its creative yet practical solutions which generate big results on small budgets.
Lisa with winemakers Marcus Goodfellow and Jason Lett at the James Beard Foundation in New York City for the annual Indie Wine Foundation Celebration
The firm’s style is to look at a client partner’s problems in a very straightforward manner. LAD’s approach is to keep everything flexible, personal and focused on results. Why not come up with solutions that cut to the chase, save the client money and increase revenue while challenging convention? That’s what we think makes sense. It might not be the classic formula for agency success but we’re not interested in peer pressure.
Whether it’s our idea to start a blog for a Seattle restaurant that led to a front page New York Times story (www.lifeofapig.com) or our repositioning of Erath Vineyards for acquisition by Chateau St. Michelle, or creating a grass roots campaign that has doubled sales for Nancy’s Yogurt, our work is highly creative and expressive. It’s a process that didn’t come from a textbook or set of standards, it’s more organic than that.
We think like writers and producers. What’s the story? How can we tell it? and Who would care?
Our clients appreciate the focus on their unique stories and the attention we pay to customizing our marketing to fit their specific business goals. This is not the land of the template.
This is LAD communications.
A dash of genuine passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients. A world-class understanding of how art and science combine to create a transformative experience. And the ability to find and tell a memorable story.
We are a national company based in Oregon with a New York satellite office. Please join us in our quest for connecting meaning and truth to your brand.
