Confocal Communications is a full-service communications consulting firm offering branding, content development, campaign implementation and investor relations.
We are women-owned, headquartered in South Portland, ME, with an office in Washington, DC.
services
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Confocal is now the first Maine-based communications firm providing investor relations services. We offer specialized expertise to help startups and other enterprises with outside investors, to tell their story in a way that better engages and inspires existing or potential investors.
The effort is being led by communications veteran, Doug Poretz, recognized by the National Press Club in Washington, DC, as “Communicator Legend.”
Doug brings decades amazing of experience and success in investor relations. His clients included start-ups to multinational companies in traditional businesses, leading-edge technology companies, economic development campaigns and associations that fueled business success.
Doug is interested in working with forward-thinking Maine entrepreneurs, as he did when Northern Virginia began its efforts to attract startups, helping it launch to become one of the top three largest tech hubs in the nation. Services include guiding companies to craft their positioning and corporate communication strategies and campaigns, helping them raise hundreds of millions of capital, launching new products, and overcoming challenges such as proxy fights and Chapter 11 filings.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
We work closely with clients to identify the content and context that will reach priority audiences with the most impact.
We can quickly mobilize teams of experts to produce everything from websites and media campaigns, to public relations strategies and investor relations.
We have earned a reputation for developing and implementing impactful public health and safety campaigns for nonprofits, as well as issues-based advocacy campaigns for companies across the U.S.
““The entrepreneurial culture is growing stronger in Maine every day and it’s across industries – from technology to construction and the blue economy, Doug has an amazing amount of experience and success in this space and, quite honestly, we are lucky to have someone who is both an entrepreneur and veteran communications professional to provide support to our start-up community. ”
michelle
morel
Strategy, Design and Implementation
Michelle Morel, principal and founder, has worked to create and implement brand and communications strategies for nonprofit and for-profit clients for nearly 20 years. Her experience ranges from sales training and new business development strategies to messaging and media relations for political campaigns and issues.
Recognizing that most businesses have to engage the services of several firms to develop and implement effective public affairs, brand strategy and results-oriented marketing, Michelle started the company in 2009 to break down those silos and offer integrated solutions that utilize the best talent for each project.
The company evolved to specializing in public health communications, content developent, developing creative content, including podcasts, videos, and other forms of media, to deliver inspiring stories that change the way people perceive important topics.
The new partnership with Doug Poretz to lead investor relations, allows the company to provide the branding and communications tools entrepreneurs need so they can attract funders, become viable and remain in Maine; this not only benefits entrepreneurs, their investor and employees, but it strengthens the entire Maine economy.
doug
poretz
Investor Relations
The effort is being led by communications veteran, Doug Poretz. When the National Press Club in Washington, DC, recognized him as the sole speaker at a members-only “Communicator Legend” dinner in 2022, they described Poretz as “an accomplished communications executive and entrepreneur.”
He launched a public affairs office for Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia during the racial integration of the school system, depicted in the movie, Remember the Titans. His career now spans more than 50 years in public relations, launching his own firms and working in-house at some of the largest publicly-traded companies. Among his entrepreneurial endeavors was a one-person investor relations firm that would later become an international public relations agency.
Doug is attracted to working with Maine startups because what’s happening in Maine reminds him of when the entrepreneurial spirit started to emerge in Northern Virginia and Greater Washington, DC, where he was an active participant in making that happen. His clients included start-ups to multinational companies in traditional businesses, leading-edge technology companies, economic development campaigns and associations that fueled business success.