Independent Voices. Collective Impact. Meet The NextNW Advisory Committee

Doug Zanger
Doug helped build this thing. Literally. As co-founder of the modern-day NextNW and the creative mind behind Indie Agency News, he’s one of the loudest and most loyal champions of independent agencies around. Doug has covered, coached, and challenged the industry through his editorial roles at Adweek and The Drum. He also leads the charge on the Cascadia Awards — helping us celebrate the work that matters, with the attitude to match. Currently, he runs Indie Agency News and serves as a consultant, voice talent, and emcee.

Brooks Gilley
Without Brooks, there is no NextNW. As former Executive Director of the Portland Advertising Federation, he helped lay the groundwork for what we are today. He’s the founder and president of 52 Limited, a creative staffing and recruiting firm that works with top-tier clients like Nike, Wieden+Kennedy, Intel, and Adobe. Brooks continues to focus on creative talent development and elevating the Portland creative economy.

Tim Wang
Tim’s been walking the talk for years. A multicultural marketing leader and founder of TDW+Co, he’s led campaigns for AARP, U.S. Bank, the U.S. Census, Verizon, and more — always through the lens of culture, equity, and connection. As a past NextNW board member, he’s shaped the voice and direction of this community from the inside. Tim currently serves as principal at TDW+Co, overseeing teams in Seattle, LA, and NYC.

Rebecca Armstrong
Rebecca is one of the most respected voices in Northwest advertising. As co-founder and longtime CEO of NORTH, she helped build an agency known for its creative guts and strong values — with a client roster that included Columbia Sportswear, Hydro Flask, Cover Oregon, and Clif Bar. After NORTH’s merger with Baldwin&, Rebecca now holds the title of Chairman Emeritus and is plotting her “third act” — and continues to be a force for good in our community.

Jeanne Fu
Growth strategist. Team builder. Connector of dots and people. Jeanne brings nearly two decades of experience spanning digital, brand, and performance marketing. At M&T Bank, where she currently serves as Senior Vice President, she’s led digital transformation efforts across paid, owned, and earned media. She’s also an active mentor, speaker, and advocate for inclusive leadership in marketing.

Rachel Broaddus
Rachel doesn’t just make things look good — she gives them meaning. A designer, photographer, and event creative director, she’s shaping the visual tone of our programming with style and clarity. Currently, she serves as Marketing Lead at PacificWRO and is also the Event Creative Director for NextNW. Her experience includes Catalyst Workplace Activation and a deep portfolio of freelance brand design.

Emily Stutzman
As CEO of Happylucky, Emily blends strategic vision with grassroots vibes. She’s helped drive creative work for adidas, Reebok, and other lifestyle brands — building trust through transparency and boundary-pushing work. At Happylucky, she currently leads the agency’s business operations and culture initiatives while continuing to guide client strategy with brands that share her values.

Sean Lowery
Sean makes conferences cool again. Through InnoTech, he’s built real-life spaces for marketers, tech innovators, and curious minds to connect and learn. With decades of experience running events like the ShareCloud Summit, Women in Tech, and AWE, Sean is currently President of Prospera Events, where he leads conference strategy and growth across several U.S. markets.

Steve Karakas
Steve’s been at this a while — and it shows. From co-founding Nonbox to leading PAF as president, he’s helped brands like adidas, CAT Footwear, Clinicient, and Wahoo Fitness carve out distinct identities in the market. Today, he serves as Managing Partner at Marin Brands Group and continues to bring strategic clarity to consumer brands.

Steve Gehlen
Steve’s been blending creativity and tech since Nike launched its first website. He’s held senior digital roles at OHSU, Icebreaker, Pendleton, Hollywood Video, and more — and founded Internet Strategy Forum, Keeping the Arts, and Cre8con to support the region’s creative growth. Currently, he’s Director of Digital Marketing & eCommerce at Wilco and facilitates the Digital Strategy Exchange for brand-side leaders.

Colleen Coll
Colleen is the kind of person you want running point when your event’s on fire — not metaphorically, literally. She’s built a career wrangling chaos into content, transforming on-site madness into magnetic storytelling for tech events and digital media platforms. With experience spanning The New Stack, OpenUK, Kubernetes Community Day, and There.App, she’s been part content strategist, part field reporter, part ringmaster.

Colleen’s magic is in the mix: live social coverage, media production, sponsorship strategy, and ghostwriting for tech leaders who want to sound more human. She brings creativity, quick thinking, and a deep love of the storytelling side of events. (Also: she’s a die-hard Steelers fan with a sixth sense for getting sh*t done.)