Senior Communication Director

John Donovan has nearly 20 years of experience in public affairs, communication and association management roles. He has provided outreach and advocacy services for public, private and nonprofit entities both as an employee and as a consultant. John was one of the original founders and a partner of Metropolitan Group from 1989 to 1994. His current work focuses on heritage, arts, culture, literacy, education, child welfare and children’s mental health.  

In 1995, John worked as a lobbyist in the Oregon Legislature, representing clients such as the Oregon Library Association, the Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology and the Oregon Rehabilitation Association. From 1996 to 2003, he provided strategic communication, public involvement and media relations for Metro, the regional government in the Portland metropolitan area. This work included outreach and communication support for Metro’s affordable housing program and culminated in the adoption of a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy in 2000. Prior to rejoining MG in 2005, John led a community relations effort at the city of Portland’s Water Bureau and managed the development of public outreach and communication for its $261 million capital improvement program.

Since returning to MG, John has provided strategic communication and outreach consulting to clients across the country. He coordinated a national shared agenda-setting process for Enterprise Community Partners that engaged more than 25 national environmental and community development organizations. He also provided strategic communication, resource development and positioning services for Lewis & Clark College; Oregon Health & Science University; and Sustainable Northwest, a rural economic development nonprofit helping small communities integrate environmental and economic strategies.

More recently, John has served as project manager for a strategic positioning effort for Trillium Family Services, Oregon’s largest provider of children’s mental health services. He has also been providing strategic communication and outreach for Kitsap Regional Library System in Southwest Washington; for Metro’s Regional Transportation Plan program; and Metro’s effort to gain support for a headquarters hotel for the Oregon Convention Center.

John has served as a board member of numerous nonprofits and neighborhood organizations. He currently serves on the Willamette University Alumni Board.

Whatever you are, be a good one. —Abraham Lincoln