Laura K. Lee Dellinger
Senior Executive Vice President/Principal
Laura brings to her work more than 20 years of professional experience in all areas of communication. She is an award-winning professional, leading MG teams throughout the country in the delivery of strategic plans; communication, education, advocacy and public will building campaigns; capacity-building and training programs; and public affairs strategies-work that has lasting impact and helps clients achieve their organizational goals. Laura is the principal in charge of MG's Portland office. She has been with the firm since 1996 and leads MG's strategic communication practice.
Laura is sought after on a national basis for her deep experience in the use of community engagement to mobilize stakeholders in community-based solutions to social and civic challenges and issues (literacy, social justice, environmental, health, political, child welfare, education, etc.). She also has extensive experience in public-private partnership development, marrying social issues with private philanthropic and social marketing resources to execute public will building programs. She has developed campaigns and programs for hundreds of nonprofits, membership organizations and public agencies throughout her career, and has earned national awards for the impact of her campaigns.
Laura is the primary author of "A Values-Based Approach to Social Purpose Advocacy," a step-by-step guide to crafting advocacy strategies that are based in community values and build upon effective communication approaches. She is co-author of MG's Public Will Framework; of "Building Public Will: A five-phase strategy goes beyond marketing to foster ongoing community support for libraries" (Library Journal, February 2006); and of "Increasing Relevance, Relationships and Results: Principles and practices for effective multicultural communication."
Laura is a member of the adjunct faculty at the Hatfield School of Government's Institute for Nonprofit Management in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University. Prior to joining the MG team, Laura served as associate executive director for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and as a communication instructor at Oregon State University and Linn-Benton Community College.
Laura's work on behalf of the King County (Washington) Library System and NYAC (National Youth Advocacy Coalition) has won national Silver Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America. Active in her community, she is currently serving as co-chair of Basic Rights Oregon, and was also honored by Basic Rights Oregon in 2006 with the Hero Award for 10 years of service to the organization; she is also currently serving on the Trillium Family Services Board of Trustees, where she is Board Secretary. She has served on a number of other nonprofit boards, and was a founding board member of Live OnStage Concert Theatre Productions and the Children's Cancer Association. Laura is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Laura enjoys the company of extraordinary people and engaging in lively conversation with friends and family. Her sanity is maintained by a patient husband, two fabulous felines and an obsession with golf.
I wake up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day a little difficult. —E.B. White
