Written by Jana Shepherd for the Gorge Leadership Institute

For Julie Burgmeier, marketing has always been more than a profession—it’s been a lifelong calling. “I always loved marketing,” Julie says. “From 8 years old promoting plays to the neighborhood parents, to majoring in marketing in college, to a successful career in higher ed technology, to starting my own marketing company in 2009.” That childhood spark never faded—it only grew into a mission-driven career dedicated to lifting up communities through collaboration, strategy, and heart.

Julie is the founder of Pacific Northwest Marketing (formerly Skagit Marketing), a company known for its impactful work in destination marketing, community development, and creative brand building. But her success isn’t defined solely by marketing metrics—it’s rooted in a deep commitment to service.

Her passion for community-building began in 2000 when she moved to La Conner, Washington—a small town where tourism is the backbone of the local economy. It was there, while serving as President of Soroptimist International of La Conner, that she saw how grassroots action could create real change. “Seeing changes in women’s lives who were facing significant obstacles and knowing I was a part of that, sparked my passion for volunteering and lifting others up,” Julie shares. She co-founded a non-profit thrift shop that continues to fund local scholarships and initiatives to this day.

Julie’s leadership expanded as she served several years as President of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce. She offered free workshops to help local businesses adapt to a changing digital landscape and noticed that many rural communities lacked the tourism infrastructure needed to thrive. In response, she worked with six Chambers of Commerce to build a unified Skagit County tourism website and campaign—efforts she sustained for 15 years on a shoestring budget. Her work laid the foundation for today’s newly funded Skagit County Tourism Bureau, which now supports a $14.8 million tourism economy and over 2 million annual visitors.

In 2016, Julie once again united a community—this time, the growing craft beer scene in Skagit Valley. She brought together local breweries to form the Skagit Farm to Pint Ale Trail, a collaborative marketing effort to spotlight Skagit’s unique connection between agriculture and brewing. She also founded the Skagit Farm to Pint FEST, which is celebrating its 8th year in 2025. To date, the festival has raised over $159,000 for non-profits supporting small farmers in Skagit County, including Viva Farms and Genuine Skagit Valley.

After moving to White Salmon in 2017, Julie once again recognized a need. “There was no branding, no website, no cohesive leadership connecting the community,” she explains. That realization led to the creation of ExploreWhiteSalmon.com, the formation of the White Salmon Business Alliance, and a series of community-first events including the White Salmon Wildflower Festival, White Salmon Wine Walks, and Nights in White Salmon. The White Salmon Wine Walks have raised over $60,000 for beautification projects like murals, sculptures, and sidewalk gardens—strengthening not just tourism, but local pride and livability.

Most recently, Julie expanded her impact to the neighboring town of Bingen. She created a community website, logo, and branding guidelines for the city. Now, she’s spearheading a long-term strategy for building sustainable, successful events in Bingen that will bring millions into the local economy—while fostering a stronger, more connected community.

Julie sees her marketing work as a way to align people, purpose, and place. “I can’t wait to bring more people and organizations together to raise up our community in a way that is sustainable and not only makes for a great visitor experience, but also makes for a great place to live, work and play,” she says.

With each project, Julie Burgmeier continues to model what authentic, values-driven leadership looks like—one event, campaign, and community at a time.