ABOUT PORTENT INTERACTIVE: STAFF

Ian Lurie – CEO
Ian started the company in 1995. His diverse background includes degrees in History and Law, experience as an information designer, graphic designer, marketing copywriter and programmer, two years working in a bicycle shop, and a brief stint as a political hack. As a child he used a TRS-80 Model One to print out fliers advertising his lawn mowing business. The rest is history.

Ian is the firm’s chief internet marketing strategist and tactician.
Read Ian’s internet marketing blog, or see where Ian’s presented recently here.
Most Likely To: Jump in the Green River.

Steve Gahler – President
Steve Gahler is an experienced, multifaceted sales, operations and marketing senior executive, having achieved success within Fortune 200 media corporations, mid-sized organizations, as well as leading emerging companies. Steve has proven to be media & marketing industry front runner over the last 15+ years, with highlights that include leading the turn-around of the CBS-owned-and-operated property in Seattle, having spent over five years as its Vice President, General Manager & Director of Sales.

In his time there, he is credited with restoring overall profitability and improving EBITDA 200%; launching and directing interactive/digital efforts that resulted in a 500% on-line audience & revenue expansion; driving all sales operations that experienced double-digit revenue and share growth; a brand rebuild that lead to 20% on-air audience growth; and, strategically revamping on-air & on-line content via negotiated distribution deals (including NFL & Major League Baseball contracts) that created greater value for national and local clients.
Still a Vikings fan

Tracy Beach – Chief Operating Officer & Creative Director
Tracy graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in 2000, and came straight to work at Portent. After working as an office mover on his first day at the company, he helped grow the company from 4 to over 20 people. Tracy guides the creative side of Portent’s business and supervises the company’s day to day operations. He never gets far from his roots and has led several successful projects, including IAMAW.
Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”- Wayne Gretzky

Elizabeth Marsten – Director of Search Marketing
Elizabeth started out as a PPC specialist and climbed up to Guru and then Manager before hitting Director in late 2009. Co Author of the All in One Web Marketing for Dummies, SMX Advanced presenter and author of the blogs Glue Gun Crafts and Cocoa-Heaven, she leads the SEO, PPC, Copy and Link Building teams in their daily trials and triumphs.
Most Likely To: Reunite Steve Perry with Journey (sorry Arnel).

Matthew Henry – Search Engine Optimization Guru
Matthew Henry has helped steer Portent’s search engine optimization practice since 2001. His keyword ranking methodology and SEO toolset back up every search engine optimization client.

Thomas Schmitz – Search Engine Optimization & Social Media Analyst
Tom began promoting companies on the Internet in 1996 when BBS boards and CompuServe were still popular. He is an active member of the search marketing industry and speaks at both locally and nationally at conferences. His deep marketing expertise perfectly complements Matthew’s technical acumen.

Michael Wiegand – PPC Guru
Michael’s claim to fame includes slashing a client’s lead acquisition costs by 66% in less than 3 months, while septupling their monthly lead volumes. He also increased another client’s year-over-year paid search revenues in 2008 by 4% (in a down economy), and then by 31% in 2009.
Most Likely to: Die from raw cilantro consumption.

Ariana Burgess- Senior Project Manager/Traffic Coordinator
Ariana started as Ian’s Business Coordinator to help streamline communications to the teams. She quickly moved up to Project Manager as Portent grew. She builds relationships with clients and makes sure projects are delivered on time.
Quote: “Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.” Leo Burnett

Mike Fitterer – Account Strategist
Mike has worked on strategy and account planning for clients from an expansive spectrum of fields –from iPhone apps to vacation getaways and even heavy lifting devices. Creating and following a favorable strategy for every client and pushing the Portent team towards achieving both client and internal goals are his primary focuses.
Most Likely To: ….be a real American hero!

Aviva Jorstad – Account Strategist
Aviva has an MBA from the University of Oregon and brings a wealth of product and brand strategy experience to Portent. She ensures that our clients’ Internet marketing objectives are met efficiently and effectively, by coordinating with our internal teams to develop the optimal strategic mix of web design, SEO, PPC, link building, content development, and social media.
Quote: “It’s all happening.”

Andy Schaff – Developer
Andy has been a developer at Portent since 2004. He’s our CMS Guru and skilled in implementing content management systems. He has experience in Java, ColdFusion, PHP, ASP, and database management and is the main developer on the new GOIAM site. He also played a large part in Pythia Analytics.
Most Likely To: Tour the country as a rock star

Anna Abraham – Senior Designer & Producer
Anna came here fresh out of school (as an intern) and liked it too much to leave. Her goal in designing websites is always the same: make sure every pixel has a purpose, and KISS (keep it simple, stupid).
Most Likely To: Write a vegan cookbook.

Jaelithe Guillette – Senior Copywriter
Jaelithe started her copy career in the outdoor industry and has written about everything from concrete to cloud computing. She heads up the copy team and assists in creative campaigns, content strategy and driving traffic to client sites with out-of-the-box brainstorming and sharp SEO.
Most Likely To: Have a dance-off with a squirrel.