Steelhead Communications arose in 1999 when Chris Santella and Doug Levin -- old grad school chums -- surfaced in Portland, Oregon, and combined their diverse talents to form a writing services company. We deliver clear thinking and compelling copy crafted for audiences large and small.

Chris has worked in marketing communications since 1985. His experience ranges from print and radio advertising to direct mail, website creation, and feature writing. Before forming Steelhead Communications, Chris served as associate creative director for Bancroft-Whitney/West Group and as marketing director for Summation Legal Technologies. His stories have appeared in the New York Times, San Jose Mercury News, American Lawyer, Southwest Airlines Spirit, and Northwest Fly Fishing, among other publications. Chris holds a B.A. in English from Middlebury College and a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University. He likes to fly fish for steelhead whenever he can…though he's yet to miss a deadline due to fishing. Chris has written two books, Fifty Places To Fly Fish Before You Die and Fifty Places To Play Golf Before You Die, both published by Stewart Tabori & Chang in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Email Chris.

About Doug

Doug has written marketing, media, and advocacy materials for clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies, from non-profits to leading trade associations. His signed and ghostwritten work has appeared in numerous publications including the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Newsweek.com, PAC Professional, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Oregonian, and many others. Prior to founding Steelhead Communications, Doug served as senior writer at The Direct Impact Company, the grassroots arm of Burson-Marsteller. A onetime English professor, Doug received his Ph.D. in English from Yale University. He has never caught a fish, but he enjoys visiting aquariums and eating seafood of all varieties. Email Doug.