Portland, OR. SEMpdx held its annual Rooftop Party in Portland’s Pearl District at the On Deck Sports Bar & Grill. It’s the eleventh year for the networking event. The SEMpdx Board of Directors took time for a photo. Leaders include: Ryan Campbell, Scott Hendison, Kevin Getch, Anna Madill (back row) Tony Svoboda, Trish Carey, Garrett Browne, Robert Frost, Todd Mintz, Sarah Hinds, and Ashley Kennedy. Every year, the nonprofit Search Engine Marketing Organization selects a charity to support and this year, it’s Girls Inc., an organization encouraging girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.” The benefits of becoming a SEMpdx Charity of Choice include: recognition at events, pro-bono digital marketing services, and up to a $5,000 donation.
During the Rooftop Party on August 1st, members try their hand at the giant Connect 4 game.
One of the founders of SEMpdx, Kent Lewis, talks with members. Lewis is also the President of Anvil Media.
SEMpdx was founded in 2006, because we felt that there was a lot of veteran talent here in PDX, but we weren’t really recognized for it because we were all so busy working that we weren’t self-promoting. We also knew that the business community in Portland was coming around to SEM, but didn’t really know about the level of talent here in PDX. This led to our rather simple mission “put search on the map in Portland, and Portland on the map in search”. In other words – to get PDX recognized in the national SEM community, and raise awareness for search marketing in PDX. We got the group together when Scott Orth & Blu Drobushevich approached me (Kent Lewis) after SMX Seattle in 2006 and suggested we create our own industry association in Portland. Initially, I (Ben Lloyd) was hesitant, and wasn’t sure we had critical mass in the area. That said, after a brief debate, we agreed to run it by folks we knew and trusted in the industry. A month or two later, we scheduled a meeting with a dozen or so local SEM professionals. Everyone at that meeting was on board (literally, everyone become an initial board member). I sold the initial sponsorship (Site9) that gave us the funding and moved SearchFest from IPN (Stan Davis & I created the initial events in 2005) to SEMpdx and we were on our way. Ben Lloyd helped us incorporate through his father’s firm and we started formalizing articles, bylaws, processes, mission, vision, and so on. Scott Hendison worked on the blog and website, Tracy Chapman started organizing, and Todd Mintz started blogging. The rest is history! There was a great deal of hard work & details by the board, which was critical and appreciated. The group then started putting on monthly educational events.
Portland, August 11th, 2015. SEMpdx‘s seventh annual Rooftop Networking Party drew over 550 professionals. Members of the local nonprofit search engine marketing group kicked up their heels, including Founder and former CEO of Moz, Rand Fishkin, SEMpdx advisory board member, Anne Kennedy, and Geraldine DeRuiter.
Members gathered on the rooftop of the Embassy Suites downtown to enjoy the city view, music, food and giveaways (including a chance to win free tickets to SearchFest 2016).
Ten percent of the proceeds from the sellout event will benefit SEMpdx’s new charity of choice, the Brody Borlaug Foundation, which aims to help establish a world-class Pediatric Immunology Program at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Moreover, SEMpdx will provide in-kind digital marketing expertise, such as advice on social media campaigns and SEO strategy, along with ten percent of its proceeds made throughout the year, to the Brody Borlaug Foundation.
Jeff and Tracy Borlaug, founders of the Brody Borlaug Foundation, pose with Alan George, SEMpdx President, and Cassidy Quinn, entertainment reporter at KGW.
SEMpdx President, Alan George, and Events Chair, Robert Frost, announce the winner of one of the many drawings guests were able to enter at the Rooftop Networking Party including a chance to win free tickets to SearchFest 2016. (photo credit, Nina Johnson)
John Alden, Lindsey Stier, Hannah Vincent and Eric Scriven from sponsor Logical Position hang out during the SEMpdx rooftop party.
John McPhee and Kevin Bekker from event sponsor, Oregonian Media Group, enjoyed some great brews provided by the Growler Guys during the SEMpdx Rooftop Party.
The event was sponsored by Moz, The Oregonian, the Growler Guys and Logical Position.
From SEMpdx:
SEMpdx was founded in 2006, because we felt that there was a lot of veteran talent here in PDX, but we weren’t really recognized for it because we were all so busy working that we weren’t self-promoting.
We also knew that the business community in Portland was coming around to SEM, but didn’t really know about the level of talent here in PDX. This led to our rather simple mission “put search on the map in Portland, and Portland on the map in search”. In other words – to get PDX recognized in the national SEM community, and raise awareness for search marketing in PDX.
We’re glad you’re here and we welcome you to become a member. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, check out our benefits and sign up information for Portland Oregon’s premier Search Engine Marketing Organization.”
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