About us
Since 2001, Cascade is a recognized boutique story agency telling the stories of startups to small enterprises in the U.S. and around the world. Our 360 story-first PR model and thoughtful strategies are innovating the industry, delivering the metrics that matter most.
After 16 years primarily as a PR agency, Cascade is now an acclaimed integrated marketing, design and PR agency with the know-how to attract customers, media, partners and more. And, we not only understand but we are experts in the secret sauce to succeeding in a digital world.
We know how and where to tell your story where it matters most.
Cascade takes into account all of your needs and builds a customized approach to making all of our clients successful. Whether you have an established business in generational transformation or breathing life into a new product, or you're preparing to launch or grow a startup, our team becomes part of yours as a long-term marketing partner and trusted advisor.
We pride ourselves on being ethical journalists and PR, and marketing professionals with a commitment to our clients. Just ask our them!
Our Vision
We innovate PR and digital marketing to introduce the world to innovative, fearless startups, small businesses and small enterprises making an impact.
Our Mission
Is to help startups, small business and small enterprises worldwide compete and grow through innovative PR, content and experiential digital marketing and campaigns that increase online invisibility and search discovery for long term growth.
Our Values
We value and celebrate partnerships, innovation, initiative, collaboration, respect and service in everything we do.
We value education and always learning to stay atop of industry trends that affect client success.
We value the commitments made to our clients to perform and consult ethically and morally daily.
Powered by Experience
As a virtual agency, we staff our accounts with veteran communications and marketing pros who really know their stuff.
Today's technology allows Cascade to offer our larger project clients a veteran team, not interns, on their account. Our awesome team affordably works to grow your business by generating positive media attention, brand strategy, responsive videos and graphics, and engaging digital marketing.
And we've built street cred honing our skills with large consumer and tech brands at big global PR, marketing and design agencies.
Our team members are handpicked for their expertise and common ethical approach to offering only the best services - media relations, graphic design, video , digital ads, and big scope brand projects with one of the top brand firms in the country.
No other agency offers what Cascade Communications does for clients.
We've got a deep bench, are truly unique and leading the way in our industry.
Our Founder
Consistently named one of the Top 25 PR agencies in Chicago, one of the Top 10 PR Firms for Startups in the world and one of the Most Influential Startup PR Professionals in the World, Jennifer Fortney is Founder of Cascade Communications, a boutique, Integrated Digital Marketing & PR Agency, and author of “Pitched: A Simple DIY Guide to Public Relations for Small Businesses”.
In her 25+ year career in PR and marketing communications, Jennifer has worked with Fortune 1000 companies consulting on, creating, executing and managing creative integrated PR campaigns for companies like Jim Beam Brands, Hammacher Schlemmer, Red Bull North America, Harley Davidson, SC Johnson, Got Milk?, Kraft, and Sprint Technologies along with a variety of small businesses/enterprises and startups across the country and globally, generating billions of media impressions.
With a foundation in PR, today, Cascade Communications is an Integrated Marketing, Design and PR Agency creating client strategies built for credibility, awareness, engagement, search and discovery.
Jennifer's expertise is in lifestyle consumer products & services, tech, B2B, food & beverage, restaurant, pets. arts, music & entertainment, local travel & tourism, eco-friendly & sustainability, nonprofit, special events/trade shows and more. "There are few industries we've played in."
A Journalism – Business Communications major from The University of Kansas, she worked in broadcast as a news writer and Director of Promotions & Marketing, sports marketing and in corporate PR agencies. She is a speaker, guest lecturer, expert contributor and expert for several business and media outlets. Jennifer was the PR instructor at SCORE Chicago for five years and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program.
She has sat on the board of several Chicago nonprofits and served as President of the Board for two social service agencies for mental health, homelessness and has long been an advocate affordable housing and victims of domestic abuse.
Allison Traynham
Branding & Website Design
With over 19 years of professional design experience, Allison is a highly skilled and thoughtful creative leader. She has collaborated with some of the world's biggest brands in the Beverage Alcohol, Manufacturing, Telecommunication, and Financial Services industries, including Diageo, Moët Hennessy, The Patrón Spirits Company, Pernod Ricard, Beam Suntory, Monogram Appliances, GE Air & Water, Bobcat, Edward Jones, Allstate, DIRECTV, and UScellular. Her exceptional blend of creativity and technical expertise enables her to produce eye-catching, impactful creative executions and user experiences that resonate with audiences and deliver results for clients.
Eric Carter
Website Design,
Digital Ads, SEO
Eric is a seasoned web and software developer who assists clients with website design, digital advertising, social media.
He has experience in consumer products and companies and musicians, music groups and ecommerce.
A tech enthusiast with a passion for SEO, social media marketing, advertising, website design and simple graphics, Eric loves helping businesses grow their online presence through creative and effective strategies.
When he's not working, you will find him out on a hike, a the beach of Lake Michigan, enjoying the outdoors, or recharging his soul at a live music event.
Rob Wheat
Public Relations
Rob is an award-winning public relations professional with 20+ years of experience in media relations, strategic communications and journalism.
Skilled in promoting products, personalities and brands resulting in media coverage in a wide range of industries including sports, big brand video gaming, toys, global and cutting-edge technology brands, consumer technology, healthcare, small business and non-profits.
Rob is a graduate of The University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science, Journalism
Darlene McCarty Cohn
Social Media
Darlene has more than 12 years experience in social media marketing with expertise in effective strategy, account management, content creation, and paid advertising. She has worked with over 50 companies across a broad spectrum of industries, helping optimize their social media marketing efforts. A self-proclaimed “data geek,” Darlene’s work is grounded in a deep analysis of account performance and meaningful projections for ongoing growth.
Darlene holds two Masters degrees in English and Education from Binghamton University in New York state.