About us

Carlson Communications was founded to help organizations communicate better. We believe that good communications can make the difference between being success or failure, whether you are selling a product or trying to change the world (or doing both).

All of our clients are interested in success, but not at the cost of people or the planet. Many of them regard sustainability as a key part of doing business, whether it’s producing an environmentally-friendly product, changing behavior or helping people lead happier, more productive lives.

Prior to establishing her own company, company founder Leslie Carlson worked as an advisor to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, as member of the communications staff at PacifiCorp and as the Oregon Press Secretary on a presidential campaign. She even has experience working for two provincial governments in Canada.

Carlson's  experience includes working with the City of Portland's effort to end homelessness, creating visibility for two “green” Hilton hotels and public relations and marketing efforts for the three-day festival celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 2001 visit to Portland.

She has worked with a variety of local, regional, national and international media throughout her career. Her writing experience includes all kinds of marketing and media materials, speechwriting, annual reports and articles for consumer and academic publications. Carlson’s written work has appeared in Oregon’s Future magazine, The Oregonian, the Eugene Register Guard, and the Salem Statesman Journal.

Carlson is the co-chair of the City of Portland-Multnomah County Sustainable Development Commission and a regular contributor to the blog BlueOregon.