Jennifer Fortney started Cascade Communications in 2001 after a strong desire to combine her passions and diverse marketing background into a career.   

With 20 years as a performer in the arts, Jennifer worked in entertainment, arts, sports, radio, television, restaurants and nightclubs as a marketing professional.  She also has a strong background in hi tech, Internet, consumer products, promotions, copywriting, crisis communications, fundraising and special events totaling nearly 15 years in the marketing industry.  
 

Over the last 10 years, Jennifer has worked with Jim Beam Brands, Milk, Kraft, Motorola, Maytag, The Hershey Company, SC Johnson and The US Army. 
 

Today, she uses her Fortune 500 experience to show small businesses how they can achieve the kind of PR that can grow a burgeoning business.  Over the last five years, Jennifer has committed her business to helping small business owners become successful entrepreneurs, in some cases tripling their business within one year through educating them on a traditional public relations campaign. 

In 2005, Jennifer started "The Cascade Effect" a blog focusing on educating individuals and businesses on the process of PR.  Three years later, she launched “Small Business Daily” with several other experts to provide information, tips and advice to small businesses.  Next, came Small Biz PR Made Easy, giving members all of her knowledge and expertise on understanding and implementing PR for their business. 
 

Jennifer is known for her “nose for news”, media relations experience and strong reputation with journalists across the country.  Cascade’s clientele includes lifestyle consumer products and services, events, arts and entertainment, startups and it has recently directed a portion of business to focus on woman-owned businesses.  
 

Jennifer has received placements for clients in the Associated Press, UPI, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, “Shape”, “American Spa”, “Today’s Chicago Woman”, “Chicago”, “Chicago Social”, Boston Globe, “Bon Appetit”, “Fast Company”, “Esquire”, the “Today” show, Food Network, DailyCandy.com, MotleyFool.com, Digitalcity.com, Metromix.com and ABC.com amongst hundreds of radio, TV, print and online hits across the country.   
 

Before starting her own boutique firm, Jennifer was with BSMG Worldwide, now Weber Shandwick, and Knoll Communications.  A native of Kansas, Jennifer held the post of Director of Promotions and Marketing at KTPK-FM.  While in radio, she managed concert and station promotions, all station advertising and publicity, and assisted the station’s small business clients in generating awareness and building a brand.  She also worked with the Kansas City Royals Baseball Company, KNSS-AM, and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. 
 

Jennifer has a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism, Business Communications from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas.  She also holds a minor in Music – Vocal Performance.   
 

She served as Chair of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce Marketing Committee and Auction with A Vision Committee Chair, and sat on the Board of Directors for three years.  Jennifer is now on the Board of Directors for the Counseling Center of Lakeview and sits on the PR committee for American Diabetes Association’s Care-to-Cure benefit.  She has deigned a roundtable panel for the Gleacher School of Business – University of Chicago on small business and branding, contributes to small business media and tele-classes on PR for small business.