ABOUT

Think. Act. Inspire.

Verb Marketing + PR was formed in 2003, spending its first two years as Verb Creative. It has served clients in nearly every industry and now specializes in government, NGO and not-for-profits and health and human services.

Our work gets results. Clients keep coming back for more, and they send their colleagues and friends to Verb. Most new clients come to us when they’re starting a business or when they are at a critical point in their organization’s development – before an expansion, or after a re-organization. Others simply realize that an outside marketing program would increase sales or take a burden off staff.

Initial projects for clients often include logos, taglines, websites and marketing plans. From there we create sales presentations and campaigns in all media, from e-newsletters and social media to more traditional printed materials. Verb helps new clients find their way in a confusing marketing world. We help identify exactly what you want to accomplish and then recommend the most effective ways to go about it.

Full Services for Success

Verb’s services are fully integrated for maximum impact. We provide all of the services listed below, but typically offer them in combination, based on client goals. That allows for full alignment and complete leverage of each component.

· Advertising

· Branding + Logos/ID

· Strategic Consulting

· Marketing Planning

· Public Affairs

· Research

· Web Development

· Direct Marketing

· Digital Campaigns

· Social Media

· Graphic Design

· Copywriting

· Community Outreach

The Verb Team

Cathy Hamilton and Doug Ferguson have worked together since 2007, combining their strategic and creative minds with decades of experience working with a broad set of clients. Over the years the firm grew from the two of them to a larger team, and in 2023 it restructured to allow for a more balanced quality of life and focus on a handful of clients.

The two work in tandem on concept development, campaign concepts and implementation. Over the years they have worked on hundreds of projects for dozens of clients. They pride themselves on long-lasting client relationships and devotion to quality, effective work.

Cathy Hamilton

Besides managing Verb and supporting clients, Cathy guides the high-level concepts and strategies and ensures that all the components of clients’ branding and marketing efforts are implemented wisely, efficiently and on time. She is the lead copywriter and content developer.

One client described her this way: “Her brain picks up on all the human nuances that others overlook or don’t give enough weight to. That extra ‘human sonar’ gets layered onto our communications and they resonate differently – they are authentic in a way that breaks through the clutter. She works that way for strategic sessions too. What’s not otherwise being said surfaces, and then it’s addressed, and we can keep moving.”

Formally schooled in Journalism and Public Relations, she has more than 25 years of experience in the field and a deep grounding in sales and business. She began Verb in 2003 after working in the financial and utility industries for a decade.

Over the years, Cathy has contributed time to many groups, including the University of Oregon Alumni Association Board of Directors, Oregon Quarterly Magazine Editorial Board, Mount Pisgah Arboretum Board, Relief Nursery Leadership Board, Wordcrafters, Ophelia’s Place and Fishtrap. Long ago, she was named one of the community’s “20 Under 40” rising stars.

She is a trail runner; downhill, x-country and skate skier; and paddler with a passion for the mountains. Finding her inside is uncommon, but if you do, she loves to read, write and paint. She and her husband have two children and a dog named Max.

Doug Ferguson

Doug leads Verb’s creative visual work, including brand development and graphic design in all media. His sharp eye and decades of expertise result in fresh, clean designs that extend across media. He also leads our website development projects, keeping user experience at the forefront.

One client described him this way, “They told me that all the logos Verb has done were Doug’s creation. At first, that didn’t seem possible – they’re each so unique. At the same time, we’ve worked together for years and he holds my brand together, projecting who we are consistently but freshly. His work is dependably inspired and clean.”

Doug’s training in graphic design reaches back to 1990s, where he studied at Lane Community College after a career in culinary arts. Doug has been with Verb since before 2008. He worked for another Eugene firm for seven years, and then launched a successful graphic design business before joining Verb.

Doug grew up around the world, including Africa, before returning to the US to live in Los Angeles, Corvallis and Portland. Doug enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, biking and making art. He and his wife have two adult children and two cats who think they are children.