CFM Turns 25

CFM Strategic Communications turns 25 this year and is celebrating with a revamped website, special events for firm alumni and clients, a special-label wine and a list of 25 stories about its client work over the past quarter century.

"Our 25 Stories cover our history as well as Oregon's history," says CFM President Gary Conkling. "Our work has paralleled some milestone activity in Oregon from pioneering workers' compensation reform to making the sharing economy part of our mainstream economy."

From its beginnings as a friendly spinout from Tektronix, CFM has grown into one of the leading Pacific Northwest public affairs and public relations firms. CFM represents clients in the corporate, nonprofit and public sectors providing services that range from crisis communications counsel to state and federal lobbying. It also provides research, marketing public relations and issues management services.

"From the start, our vision was to offer clients seamless, integrated solutions to their communications challenges," Conkling says. "Some clients take advantage of multiple CFM services, while others just use one of our services. But our staff is engaged in all of our services, so they assist clients with a panoramic view of what's possible to solve a problem."

A key aspect of CFM's 25th anniversary celebration is to emphasize that "we're not done yet," Conkling adds. "Our next generation of leaders is looking forward to another 25 years of making a difference for our clients."

"When we started CFM 25 years ago, some doubted we would survive. We had a few doubts ourselves," Conkling recalls. "What made the difference was a commitment to help clients tell their story in energetic, authentic and factual ways. We looked at every challenge as an opportunity and every communications channel as a promising avenue."

"I can't imagine not doing what we do everyday," he adds. "We come to work everyday with a chance to make a difference for clients we believe in."

Learn more about CFM Strategic Communications at www.cfm-online.com