About | Fertile Ground Communications

"Marie communicates clear, tailored messages that cultivate individual understanding of big issues with compassionate empathy. Her ability to understand and connect with her audience is unparalleled.

-Brandy Wilson, Sustainability Director, Simplot

Business Doing Good: Five Takeaways from BLD NW 2024

Five takeaways from BLD NW 2024, where attendees discussed doing business for good.

Eight ways white people can avoid being jerks on Juneteenth

This task, not being a jerk, does not come easily to us white folks. Learn how to celebrate Juneteenth in culturally appropriate ways.

In praise of stay-at-home dads (and one in particular)

Several things I'm grateful for with a stay-at-home dad for a husband

Celebrating Five Years: The Highs and Lows of Running My Own Business

Five years into owning my own business, I reflect on the things I love and don't like as much

Company Awards

World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development

American Consulting Engineers Council Oregon, Washington, and national awards

Environmental Business Journal/Climate Change Business Journal awards

American Public Works Association awards

APEX (communications) awards

Awards for Colleagues

Corporate Eco Forum Amazon Leadership Program (wrote applications)

Daily Journal of Commerce Women of Vision Awards

Daily Journal of Commerce Phenoms Under 40 Awards

CH2M HILL CEO Excellence Awards

Awards I've Won

Two APEX Grand Awards

Three Awards for Publications Excellence

International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Bronze Beacon Awards of Excellence

IABC Bronze Beacon Awards of Merit

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

“At a time when rapid and crisis communications were critical, Marie jumped right in and immediately embraced the support we needed for our communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marie quickly understood the daily operations and tight deadlines our team needed. She understands the big picture. Her writing, business sense, responsiveness, positivity, and professionalism are outstanding. I trusted her to provide us the support we needed every step of the way. I highly recommend Marie. She is amazing. I will work with her any chance I can in the future.”

— Dee Hidalgo, former senior communications specialist at Clackamas County