In 1981, very few women were leading communications firms, and even fewer were advising CEOs, elected officials, and civic leaders on matters of reputation and public trust.
Pat Fearey founded The Fearey Group anyway. She did it by developing deep relationships with journalists, business leaders, and organizations across Seattle, and by earning a reputation for calm, thoughtful counsel in moments that mattered.
The barriers she faced were often quieter and less visible than people realized.
Pat used to tell stories about the early days of her career when women weren’t expected to be part of strategic leadership conversations. There were times she was brought into executive coaching sessions or leadership meetings quietly, sometimes literally through a back door, because some executives were concerned about being seen working with a woman advisor.
Think about that.
The same woman who would go on to advise some of the most influential leaders in the Pacific Northwest sometimes had to enter the room quietly just to be allowed in it.
That experience shaped the culture she built at Fearey. One where ideas, talent, and integrity matter more than titles or backgrounds.
This year, Fearey turns 45.
Over those four and a half decades, everything around us has changed. Media, politics, technology, and the speed of information have all transformed dramatically. But the core belief Pat built the company around remains the same: reputation is earned through relationships, credibility, and trust over time.
That belief continues to guide the firm today.
The Pat Fearey Era (1981)
When Pat founded Fearey, media was dominated by newspapers and television. Press releases were faxed. Relationships with journalists were the foundation of the business. And PR itself was still evolving into the strategic discipline it is today.
Pat built the firm by becoming a trusted advisor to organizations across the Pacific Northwest. She worked with CEOs, nonprofit leaders, civic institutions, and public officials who needed guidance navigating complex moments.
But what made Pat special wasn’t simply that she broke barriers. It was how she approached the work.
She believed communication wasn’t about spin. It was about trust. She treated journalists with respect. She approached crises with calm and clarity. And she built relationships that often lasted decades.
That mindset became the DNA of the firm.
The Apprenticeship Era (2005)
My own relationship with Pat was foundational to my career, and honestly to the trajectory of my life.
I didn’t just learn PR from her. I learned how to think about people, power, and reputation.
Pat has an incredible ability to read a room, read a situation, and understand what really matters beneath the surface. She trusted me early, often before I had fully earned it. She brought me into meetings I probably shouldn’t have been sitting in yet and then debriefed with me afterward.
Instead of telling me what to think, she asked questions. Those conversations forced me to learn how to think strategically rather than simply execute the work.
One thing she used to say to me all the time was:
“The headline is already written in someone’s mind. Your job is to understand what it is before the story ever breaks.”
She was constantly thinking about perception before the rest of us were even thinking about the issue. That lesson has stayed with me ever since. PR isn’t about reacting to the news. It’s about understanding the narrative people are already forming.
The Ownership Era (2013)
In 2013, I had the privilege of purchasing the firm from Pat.
I was 33. She was 76.
That moment wasn’t just a transaction. It was a transfer of trust and responsibility. Taking over Fearey meant becoming the steward of a reputation that had been built over decades. Our focus during those years was expanding the firm’s capabilities while protecting the values Pat had established.
We grew the team, expanded the sectors we serve, and helped organizations navigate an increasingly complex communications landscape. One defined by social media, digital platforms, and real-time information.
Even as the tools changed, the core principles did not.
Relationships still matter. Credibility still matters. Trust still matters.
The Integrated Era (2021)
The communications environment continued to evolve, and so did Fearey.
In 2021, the firm expanded its capabilities by bringing creative and digital work fully in-house. That shift allowed us to move beyond traditional media relations into integrated campaigns that combine storytelling, digital strategy, social media, and visual content.
Today, the work we do spans earned media, digital platforms, brand storytelling, and strategic communications counsel. But the goal remains the same as it was when Pat started the firm: helping organizations build credibility and navigate defining moments.
The Future Era
As we look ahead, the next chapter of communications will be shaped by forces that are still unfolding. Artificial intelligence. Digital influence. Political polarization. The speed and scale of information.
The environment will continue to change, but one thing remains constant. Trust and relationships are still the most valuable currency in communications.
Our responsibility at Fearey is to continue evolving with the world around us while protecting the principles that built the firm in the first place.
Seattle has grown and transformed dramatically over the past 45 years. From aerospace to global technology hub. From a scrappy port city to one of the most influential regions in the country.
Through it all, Fearey has had the privilege of working alongside organizations helping shape that growth: advising leaders, protecting reputations, navigating crises, launching brands, and supporting institutions that define this community.
To the clients who trusted us early, to those who have stayed with us through multiple chapters, to the team members who have built careers here, and to the alumni who still consider this place home – thank you.
Forty-five years in, we don’t take that responsibility lightly, and we certainly don’t take the next chapter for granted.
Aaron Blank
CEO & President
Fearey