A.wordsmith

OR 97223, oregon · Marketing agency

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A.wordsmith is a boutique communications firm based in Tigard, Oregon (Portland metro area), founded in 2009 by President Ann Smith. The agency positions itself around writing-led communications — using writing, branding, and public relations to grow clients' reputation, influence, and bottom line — for both B2B and consumer clients across industries. Its named leadership team includes Vice President and Head of Strategy Lisa Hildebrandt Runquist, Director of Writing Services Gretchen Hoffman, plus a bench of senior writers, PR specialists, an influencer specialist, a social media strategist, a copy editor, and a brand manager, totaling roughly a dozen named staff. The agency has been recognized by Expertise.com as a top Portland public relations firm, is a PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) member, has won a Stevie Award (American Business Awards, gold) and a Summit Creative Award, and maintains a Clutch.co profile. Its published client roster includes Levy Restaurants, Portland State University, Tektronix, SurveyMonkey, DoveLewis, and Skamania Lodge, and it publishes named case studies under a "Successes" section covering clients like AnswerConnect, ProtoCall Services, and Black Walnut Inn. A named client testimonial from Concentrix's VP of Marketing praises the firm's thought-leadership and case-study writing output.

Our take

A.wordsmith is an award-recognized Portland, Oregon boutique communications firm founded in 2009, specializing in writing, PR, and branding for B2B and consumer clients, with a named dozen-person team and a published client roster including Levy Restaurants, Portland State University, and Tektronix.

Strengths

Risk factors

Best fit for

Who should look elsewhere

Hiring advice

Confirm whether your project needs are purely writing/PR/branding or whether you'll also need paid media, SEO, or web development handled by a separate vendor, since A.wordsmith does not offer those services directly. Ask to see full case studies beyond the homepage teasers via the 'Successes' page.

How it compares

Unlike full-service digital agencies that bundle paid media, SEO, and web development, A.wordsmith concentrates specifically on writing, PR, and branding — a narrower but deeper specialization backed by more third-party recognition (Stevie, Summit, PRSA, Clutch) than many general-purpose competitors of similar size.

Conclusion

A.wordsmith is a well-established, award-recognized Portland communications boutique best suited to B2B and consumer brands that want specialist writing, PR, and branding work — paired with a separate vendor for paid media or web development if those are also needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does A.wordsmith specialize in?

Writing services, public relations, branding, and communications strategy for B2B and consumer clients — the agency positions writing as its core differentiator rather than offering full-service paid media.

Where is A.wordsmith based?

Tigard, Oregon, in the Portland metro area, founded in 2009 by President Ann Smith.

Has A.wordsmith won any awards?

Yes — a Stevie Award (American Business Awards, gold), a Summit Creative Award, and recognition from Expertise.com as a top Portland PR firm, alongside PRSA membership.

Who are some of A.wordsmith's clients?

Named clients include Levy Restaurants, Portland State University, Tektronix, SurveyMonkey, DoveLewis, and Skamania Lodge.

Does A.wordsmith publish pricing?

No, pricing is not published; prospective clients contact the firm directly to discuss a project.