Steve Karakas

Steve has a long history in brand strategy and development. Steve co-founded the marketing communications firm, Nonbox in Portland, OR where he has provided strategic direction for clients in consumer products, technology and sports marketing companies. His clients have included adidas, Nike, Wenger Swiss Army, Stages Indoor Cycling, Peter Jacobsen Sports, Devine Sports, BILT by Agassi and Reyes, Power Plate, Zepp Labs and the Professional Bowlers Association.

At Nonbox he has provided strategic and brand counsel to Nonbox clients. He developed a unique brand development methodology for the agency successfully helping large and small companies find strategic differentiation. Steve teaches his methodology as a guest lecturer in the University of Oregon’s sports marketing program.

Prior to founding Nonbox, Karakas spent 16 years as a partner in Karakas VanSickle Ouellette (KVO) Advertising and Public Relations.  KVO started in 1983 and by 1999 grew to be the second largest advertising and PR firm in Portland with capitalized billings of $78 million and with 130 employees. The firm specialized in high technology advertising and public relations and expanded into consumer products through an acquisition. Before KVO, Karakas was an advertising manager for Tektronix.