Communications can make or break an organization—especially when you're leading through growth, change, or uncertainty.

I'm Marla Pugh, a strategic communications consultant and Certified Change Manager with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations communicate with clarity, inspire confidence, and bring people along through change. Throughout my career, I've advised executive leaders at Fortune 500 companies, high-growth biotechnology organizations, healthcare systems, and mission-driven nonprofits on everything from internal communications and executive messaging to organizational transformation and employee engagement.

What makes my perspective different is that I don't just advise nonprofit leaders—I am one.

In 2022, I founded Josie's Misfit Ranch, a nonprofit animal rescue dedicated to giving medically and behaviorally challenged animals a second chance. Since then, I've built the organization from the ground up—developing its brand, fundraising strategy, volunteer program, board communications, community partnerships, marketing, and public presence. Along the way, we've grown into an award-winning organization recognized as Kittitas County's Best Non-Profit for multiple consecutive years while significantly increasing revenue to support our mission.

That experience fundamentally changed the way I approach communications.

I understand what it's like to balance an ambitious mission with limited resources. I know how difficult it can be to explain change to staff and volunteers, inspire donors to invest, communicate effectively with boards, navigate sensitive situations, and tell stories that move people to action.

As a Certified Change Manager, I combine proven change management methodologies with practical communications strategies that help organizations successfully navigate transitions. Whether your organization is implementing a new strategy, restructuring teams, introducing new technology, or evolving its culture, I help leaders communicate in ways that build trust, reduce uncertainty, and create buy-in.

Whether I'm helping a nonprofit strengthen its communications strategy, preparing leadership for a major organizational change, improving internal communications, developing fundraising messaging, or building communication systems from the ground up, my goal is always the same: make communications simpler, more strategic, and more effective.

Before launching my consulting practice, I held communications leadership positions with organizations including Immunome, Novartis, Applied Materials, and Copart, where I led enterprise communications, executive messaging, large-scale transformation initiatives, AI communications, mergers and acquisitions, culture change, and employee engagement programs. My work has supported organizations through periods of rapid growth, acquisitions, restructuring, public offerings, and organizational transformation.

Today, I bring together the strategic discipline of corporate communications with the practical realities of nonprofit leadership.

Because every mission deserves communications that are as powerful as the work behind it.

If your organization is preparing for change, refining its messaging, strengthening internal communications, or simply looking for a trusted communications partner, I'd love to help.