we're not bankers.
We've worked in the financial services industry, but we don't consider ourselves bankers. If we did, that wouldn't help you a lick because we'd be stuck in the same marketing rut that you're in.
The value we provide is the fresh perspective and the unprecedented experiential marketing ideas that result. Being able to see your challenges from a different point of view and addressing them in ways never seen, heard, felt or tasted before.
Jeff Stephens
CEO/Account Director
With the vision to become an agency with more far-sightedness than an ad agency and more spine than a marketing agency, Jeff Stephens founded Creative Brand Communications. As CEO and Account Director, Jeff oversees the operations of the business while collaborating with the creative team and continuing to develop new strategies and materials for clients.
Jeff's precise direction for CBC is a result of his experiences. After arming himself with an Advertising degree from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, he landed in the big-agency world of advertising. Lack of the big-picture mentality compelled Jeff to think beyond the narrow focus of ads and into the broader field of marketing. That led to becoming a Marketing Project Manager for Umpqua Bank. With the company, Jeff launched several campaigns, managed many strategic and creative initiatives, and discovered all sorts of new ways to build powerful, experiential brands.
Away from the office, Jeff can often be found at a coffee shop with his wife and friends, playing sports, or hiding in Europe.
Jesse Villanueva
Brand Director
As the Brand Director for CBC, Jesse's primary responsibilities include the strategic development and tactical implementation of CBC clients' branding and marketing efforts. In short, Jesse is your man when it comes to proposing and executing non-traditional, “It may just be crazy enough to work” ideas.
Prior to joining CBC, Jesse was the Assistant Creative Director at Umpqua Bank, where he contributed to the expansion of the Umpqua Bank brand through the creation of various marketing campaign components including print collateral, direct mail, in-store marketing, interactive and advertising. From providing copywriting, creative direction and conceptualization to production and launch, Jesse also managed internally focused initiatives and communications that fostered growth of the Bank's culture.
A graduate of the University of Oregon's esteemed Journalism and Communication School, Jesse received his bachelor of arts degree in Advertising.
Casey Boggs
Vice President/Public Relations Director
Casey Boggs is Vice President and Public Relations Director at CBC. Throughout his career he has worked with numerous companies in a variety of industries and capacities to develop strong communication infrastructures, with specific expertise including strategic media relations, market analysis, media training, crisis communications and corporate imaging.
Over the past few years, Casey helped develop some of the industry’s largest public relations and advertising campaigns in the financial services, consumer and technology industries, including PR Week's 2004 Campaign of the Year, as well as the launch of Microsoft's Windows Vista™ in 2006. At CBC, Casey develops and implements strategic public relations efforts for a variety of clients and industries, including banks, credit unions, law firms and technology companies.
Before joining CBC, Casey managed a multitude of accounts for two of the world's largest public relations agencies, Waggener Edstrom and Weber Shandwick. Clients included Microsoft, JP Morgan, Bank of America, NVIDIA and Allstate. Casey also served as Director, Public Relations at AIG, leading the public relations efforts of six affiliated retirement services companies.
Casey lives in NE Portland with his wife, twins, and Labrador Retriever.
Natalie Noble
Account Executive
As account executive, Natalie ensures that our clients' top priorities are CBC's top priorities. Natalie is our resident expert in managing several projects simultaneously from inception to completion - she keeps things moving and guarantees that we deliver on time, on budget and on-scope.
Before migrating north to join the CBC crusade for experiential and multi-sensory marketing, Natalie lived in southern California and worked as an account executive, working with clients like Brookfield Homes, Shapell Homes, BabyStyle, the Los Angeles Zoo, The Orange County Museum of Art and The New York Times. Not bad.
In her spare time, Natalie enjoys baking delicious goodies, writing short stories and taking road trips with her dog. OK, and her fiance comes along too.
Keith Biehn
Business Development
Keith heads up our new business efforts, working with the creative and account management teams to pursue and develop new clients.
An Oregon native, Keith comes from a diverse sales and marketing background, where with over 14 years of experience, he has developed, worked with and acquired long lasting relationships by providing strategic solutions and direction for well known Fortune 500 and 1000 brands in the Financial, Hi-Tech, Retail and Entertainment industries.
Keith's background and experience allow him to effectively promote results-oriented communication solutions by working with potential clients for innovative ways to leverage CBC's expertise in finding the story, telling the story and proving the story.
Keith lives in Tualatin, OR with his wife Tami and the “controlled chaos, but would not have it any other way” that comes with four boys: Jackson, Sam, Kyle and Alex.
Irina Beffa
Graphic Designer
Irina has been creating design for eight years now, since graduating from UC Davis in 1998. She's art directed, designed and marketed for non-profits, engineers, chefs, musicians, lawyers, filmmakers, bankers, comedy troupes, realtors, and pipe retailers, just to name a few, and we're proud to have her on our team, designing for the most forward-thinking financial institutions. In her spare time she also creates bright, colorful abstract paintings.
Jessica Sanders
Operations Director
Jessica enhances CBC with extensive experience in managing a wide range of special initiatives—from unique projects for our clients, to lofty internal goals and beyond. As our versatile pinch hitter, Jessica is everywhere.
Before joining the team, Jessica spent the last few years in Membership and Development at the Portland Art Museum. Most recently, she was the Museum's Membership Manager, where she oversaw all aspects of the membership program and managed a staff of five.
Jessica, an aspiring photographer and rock drummer, graduated from the University of Oregon's Clark Honors College with a degree in Art History.
Maija Klarin
Sales and Marketing Assistant
Maija is responsible for administrative support of CBC's sales efforts. She is involved in strategizing, planning and implementing marketing campaigns, developing project proposals, and managing CBC's online marketing efforts.
Prior to joining the team, Maija lived in Finland for several years and worked in communications and customer service. She is a recent graduate of the esteemed Helsinki School of Economics with a degree in Economics and Business Administration. In her free time she enjoys people watching and traveling to new, far-off lands.
Andrea Arbuckle
Production Designer
Andrea brings a wealth of unconventional ideas and creativity to CBC. After graduating from the Art Institute of Portland with a BS in Graphic Design, she went on to work in screen printing as a designer and an art separation genius. Her various clients have included Nike, Adidas, Women of Faith, Portland Rose Festival and others worldwide.
Andrea is weird about bicycles. In her free time she enjoys riding her tall bike around Portland with her unique and bike-crazy friends. She also loves spending time with her high-maintenance, shower loving Bengal kitty.
Aaron Cronan
Producer & Sound Designer
Aaron breathes life into brands through custom sounds, music and video. From audio logos and music compositions to national commercials, Aaron proves your brand’s story in ways that are both moving and memorable.
Before joining the CBC team, Aaron worked in Los Angeles in sound design/composition and production for commercials. Aaron earned his BS from UC San Diego and his Juris Doctorate from UC Hastings College of Law. (Did we forget to mention Aaron is also a lawyer?)
Aaron’s personal interests align perfectly with his work. When he is not spending time with his wife and freakishly smart dog, Aaron finds himself writing his own music and creating sketch comedy videos.
Jeff Petersen
Environmental Designer
Jeff has worked in the Northwest as a designer for the past 25 years. A BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Washington in Seattle has led to designing contemporary retail spaces that reinforce the client’s brand and product. A physical presentation of the company and its culture is more than slapping a logo on a wall. Learning about the business, the product and customers is the first step to inventing the right space at the right time for the right client. Jeff collects endless piles of design inspiration, sketches, and then creates a 3d environment with his computer. The result is a place that works for the brand and is just plain cool. Jeff’s favorite thing is doing just about anything with his wife and two sons.
Touch Points: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
FAQ: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Experts: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Clients: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
CBC Insights: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Industry Insights: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
The Story Blog: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Contact: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Estimate Request: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Fundamentals of Multi-Sensory Marketing: Bank and credit union marketing and branding
Philosophy: Bank and credit union marketing and branding