The Leadership Behind Elevate PDX
Stephanie Van Dyke
Founder
Mission-Driven Focus. With 20 years of experience in communications and branding, Stephanie has found that her strongest work comes from partnering with teams whose mission resonates on a personal level. That’s why she founded Elevate PDX with a simple goal: to focus her efforts on causes she’s passionate about.
She works with a network of talented collaborators including designers, writers, photographers, and strategists, bringing in the right people to each project. Every project gets her direct attention to ensure the work aligns with what matters most to each organization.
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From global firms to grassroots impact. Stephanie’s career has taken her from high-pressure marketing departments of international architecture, engineering, and construction firms to the dusty roads of Zambia. She’s led marketing and business development efforts where every detail counts and results matter, delivering tangible wins in competitive markets. On the nonprofit side, she co-founded Bike Zambia, a 300-mile ride through Zambia that funded projects like a school kitchen, a soccer day that doubled as an HIV testing center, and a clinic expansion. As Co-Founder and Communications Director, she spearheaded fundraising and grant-writing efforts that turned ambitious goals into real-world impact. She sat on the board of directors until the organization merged with World Bicycle Relief, and the ride still rolls on with the support of a larger organization with the reach and resources to expand its impact.
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Community Impact. Beyond client work, Stephanie is active in her communities. In the small business community, she serves as a mentor for SCORE, a volunteer-based organization that provides mentoring to emerging businesses. With recent funding cuts to the SBA, this work has become especially meaningful. It keeps her connected to trending ideas and strategies while helping new businesses gain their footing in their early stages. She also serves as Communications Chair on the board for her Neighborhood Association in Portland, Oregon. These roles reinforce her commitment to supporting organizations that are making a difference in their communities.
Claudia Williams
Copywriter
Claudia is a seasoned copywriter who writes for websites, newsletters, and magazines, diving deep into the topics of small business, healthy living, and social justice. She's the kind of person who actually enjoys digging into research (yes, really) and has a knack for getting people to open up in interviews. Her secret? She writes like she's talking to a friend – which means her readers want to keep reading instead of clicking away.
Jessica Scott
Graphic Design
Jessica has been designing for 20 years, and she's one of those rare people who's equally at home creating a sleek annual report or a scroll-stopping social media post. She handles everything from proposals and official documents to websites and digital campaigns. Her graphic design prowess helps clients bring their visions to life visually. Her superpower? She weaves custom infographics and professional photography into her layouts so naturally that you don't even notice the magic happening. But it's the little things that really set her apart – those subtle design touches that most people miss but somehow make a whole package or piece sing. The resulting designs that tell a story people want to pay attention to.