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Meet your future
marketing partner.

Powered by caffeine, La Croix, and our Sonos speaker system, we spend our days where strategy and creativity coalesce. We are Eris Creative, and we want to tell your story, drive engagement to your brand, and make you look damn good.

A boutique agency without the pompous fuss, Eris is a small team of diversely talented creatives who aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and do some serious heavy lifting. We treat our clients more like partners than anything else, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to provide our partners with high-quality work, stellar customer service, and a solid return on their investments.

Our core values

Eris Creative’s organizing principles are the blueprints for client-agency success. Partnership is a two-way street, and we understand that the trials and triumphs of our collaborators are directly related to our own. We’re not afraid to be our mindful and inquisitive selves, nor do we shy from our lofty goals. These are our fundamentals, and we’d be happy to show you how we back them up with our actions.

Authenticity is the essence of originality. We inhabit our unique identity in a way that makes it easy for us to get to the heart of our partners’ brands.

Ambition is the precursor to excellence. We leverage our determination to exceed our own expectations, just as we do for our clients.

Curiosity is the driving force behind discovery. We channel our thirst for knowledge into innovative approaches to producing outstanding work.

Compassion is the basis for mutual respect. We practice self-awareness and are mindful of our marketing partners’ needs.

Our Team

Dustin Gruetter

Owner / Bio

Rick Vranish

Marketing Director / Bio

Patrick McElderry

Creative Director / Bio

Justin Wiegand

Photo/Video / Bio

Zena

Director of Pawsitivity / DOP

“But what can you do for me?” you say. We’re so happy you asked.

Contact Information

A: 4017 SE Belmont St.
Portland, OR 97214

P: 503.740.0827

An Oregon native, Dustin is a serial entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of businesses to run. His two largest roles are as president of both DC Builders, an elite design and construction firm, and DC Structures, a construction materials company. With more than a decade of leadership and management experience, Dustin lends his expertise to Eris Creative as the head of business development. Dustin lives in Portland with his wife Ilanah, son Maxton, daughter Violet, and dogs Piper and Marley.
Dustin Gruetter
Owner
Dustin Gruetter
An Oregon native, Dustin is a serial entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of businesses to run. His two largest roles are as president of both DC Builders, an elite design and construction firm, and DC Structures, a construction materials company. With more than a decade of leadership and management experience, Dustin lends his expertise to Eris Creative as the head of business development. Dustin lives in Portland with his wife Ilanah, son Maxton, daughter Violet, and dogs Piper and Marley.
Owner
Rick began his professional career in Hollywood reading screenplays for executives like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sid Ganis. With a joint degree in business and cinematic arts from the University of Southern California, Rick moved back to his native Oregon to co-found international, multilingual internet yellow pages startup Cybo.com.

In 2013, Rick joined nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders to revolutionize its digital marketing strategy. Inspired by their success, Rick and DC President Dustin Gruetter decided to beef up their marketing team and turn it into Eris Creative, a boutique digital marketing agency. Rick lives in the St. Johns neighborhood and enjoys hiking, fishing, and adding to his ever-growing record collection.
Rick Vranish
Marketing Director
Rick Vranish
Rick began his professional career in Hollywood reading screenplays for executives like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sid Ganis. With a joint degree in business and cinematic arts from the University of Southern California, Rick moved back to his native Oregon to co-found international, multilingual internet yellow pages startup Cybo.com.

In 2013, Rick joined nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders to revolutionize its digital marketing strategy. Inspired by their success, Rick and DC President Dustin Gruetter decided to beef up their marketing team and turn it into Eris Creative, a boutique digital marketing agency. Rick lives in the St. Johns neighborhood and enjoys hiking, fishing, and adding to his ever-growing record collection.
Marketing Director
Pat is the creative force behind Eris. A graduate of the University of Oregon art school, Pat diversified his client portfolio by working in both the Pacific Northwest and Southern California markets. Pat’s expertise spans a range of mediums.

Whether it’s focusing his attention on user interface and web design, or building brands through strong logo design and print collateral, Pat is always happy to do what he loves most: design. Pat takes great pride in his work and the relationships he builds with his clients. If Pat isn’t at his desk designing, he’s most likely out in Portland enjoying live music or a good beer with friends.
Patrick McElderry
Creative Director
Patrick McElderry
Pat is the creative force behind Eris. A graduate of the University of Oregon art school, Pat diversified his client portfolio by working in both the Pacific Northwest and Southern California markets. Pat’s expertise spans a range of mediums.

Whether it’s focusing his attention on user interface and web design, or building brands through strong logo design and print collateral, Pat is always happy to do what he loves most: design. Pat takes great pride in his work and the relationships he builds with his clients. If Pat isn’t at his desk designing, he’s most likely out in Portland enjoying live music or a good beer with friends.
Creative Director
Whitney is a savvy wordsmith with roots in student journalism. While pursuing communication studies at Portland State, she served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper. Whitney led the editorial team to 19 state awards—including the first-place award for general excellence.

A self-proclaimed herder of kittens, Whitney applies her project management skills to keep things moving efficiently and ahead of deadline. She draws creative inspiration from a diverse resume of agency and freelance experience. Whitney loves international travel and aims to spend her free time outside whenever possible. If she isn’t hiking, biking, or striving for some zen on the yoga mat, you can probably find her wherever the good food is.
Whitney Beyer
Project Manager
Whitney Beyer
Whitney is a savvy wordsmith with roots in student journalism. While pursuing communication studies at Portland State, she served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper. Whitney led the editorial team to 19 state awards—including the first-place award for general excellence.

A self-proclaimed herder of kittens, Whitney applies her project management skills to keep things moving efficiently and ahead of deadline. She draws creative inspiration from a diverse resume of agency and freelance experience. Whitney loves international travel and aims to spend her free time outside whenever possible. If she isn’t hiking, biking, or striving for some zen on the yoga mat, you can probably find her wherever the good food is.
Project Manager
Justin is an extremely talented photographer with more than 15 years of photography and video production experience. His eye for imagery was developed and refined while working on projects within the ski and snowboard industry. Justin has taken photos of a lot of cool things, but his favorite subject to shoot is always his family.

A football fan who roots for both the Oakland Raiders and the Oregon Ducks, Justin likes to spend his free time camping or foraging for wild mushrooms.
Justin Wiegand
Photo/Video
Justin Wiegand
Justin is an extremely talented photographer with more than 15 years of photography and video production experience. His eye for imagery was developed and refined while working on projects within the ski and snowboard industry. Justin has taken photos of a lot of cool things, but his favorite subject to shoot is always his family.

A football fan who roots for both the Oakland Raiders and the Oregon Ducks, Justin likes to spend his free time camping or foraging for wild mushrooms.
Photo/Video
Born and raised in Portland, Rikki is the Eris go-to for client satisfaction. Rikki graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and public relations, and is particularly enthusiastic about social media strategy and execution. Rikki began her career in social media management at a Portland tech startup in 2015. Since joining the Eris team, she’s come to inhabit client management and business development roles.

Outside of work, Rikki enjoys going to concerts, rooting for the Oregon Ducks football team, and trying new restaurants. She is familiar with every sushi restaurant within a two-mile radius of both the Eris office and her house.
Rikki Ford
Account Coordinator
Rikki Ford
Born and raised in Portland, Rikki is the Eris go-to for client satisfaction. Rikki graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and public relations, and is particularly enthusiastic about social media strategy and execution. Rikki began her career in social media management at a Portland tech startup in 2015. Since joining the Eris team, she’s come to inhabit client management and business development roles.

Outside of work, Rikki enjoys going to concerts, rooting for the Oregon Ducks football team, and trying new restaurants. She is familiar with every sushi restaurant within a two-mile radius of both the Eris office and her house.
Account Coordinator
Spencer is a diversely talented content producer whose expertise spans a variety of mediums. Born and raised in Portland, Spencer draws inspiration from the unique people and places of the rose city to tell compelling stories for clients. Since Graduating from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2014, Spencer has continued to leverage curiosity and creative interests to follow his dream of producing influential projects for interesting people.
Spencer Knowles
Marketing Coordinator
Spencer Knowles
Spencer is a diversely talented content producer whose expertise spans a variety of mediums. Born and raised in Portland, Spencer draws inspiration from the unique people and places of the rose city to tell compelling stories for clients. Since Graduating from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2014, Spencer has continued to leverage curiosity and creative interests to follow his dream of producing influential projects for interesting people.
Marketing Coordinator
Anna’s interest in the creative field began by understanding the need for good design and seeking out how to be a part of the solution. After receiving her undergraduate degree in marketing and graphic design from the University of North Georgia, she moved to Oregon to fine-tune her skills.

With professional experience spanning both marketing and design, Anna has employed her skills to build a restaurant brand, strengthen the digital user experience for market research apps, and create collateral for startup businesses. On the weekends, Anna is looking for the best cup of coffee, a new hike to discover, and creative ways to help people build their personal brands.
Anna Harkness
Designer
Anna Harkness
Anna’s interest in the creative field began by understanding the need for good design and seeking out how to be a part of the solution. After receiving her undergraduate degree in marketing and graphic design from the University of North Georgia, she moved to Oregon to fine-tune her skills.

With professional experience spanning both marketing and design, Anna has employed her skills to build a restaurant brand, strengthen the digital user experience for market research apps, and create collateral for startup businesses. On the weekends, Anna is looking for the best cup of coffee, a new hike to discover, and creative ways to help people build their personal brands.
Designer
Jill is a versatile designer who graduated from the Art Institute of Portland with a degree in web and graphic design and a minor in photography. Inspired by the Bauhaus design movement and macro photography, Jill’s skills are evident in her diverse portfolio of freelance projects. Her favorite project was a book for the San Francisco Giants that benefitted the ALS Foundation.

A Bay Area native, Jill has lived in Oregon since 2010. Her favorite activities are all outdoors, and include rock climbing, camping, and kayaking. She appreciates all shapes and sizes of French fries and wishes to travel as often as she possibly can.
Jill Sockolov
Junior Graphic Designer
Jill Sockolov
Jill is a versatile designer who graduated from the Art Institute of Portland with a degree in web and graphic design and a minor in photography. Inspired by the Bauhaus design movement and macro photography, Jill’s skills are evident in her diverse portfolio of freelance projects. Her favorite project was a book for the San Francisco Giants that benefitted the ALS Foundation.

A Bay Area native, Jill has lived in Oregon since 2010. Her favorite activities are all outdoors, and include rock climbing, camping, and kayaking. She appreciates all shapes and sizes of French fries and wishes to travel as often as she possibly can.
Junior Graphic Designer