Owner/Principal Designer + Strategist
Marlynn is a design-obsessed, strategy-minded serial entrepreneur who runs on coffee, more coffee, and the Beastie Boys. She founded Urban Bliss in 2005 and offers more than 15 years experience in corporate communications, graphic & web design, social media strategy, event planning & promotions, business strategy, organizational management, and writing and editing. She's also the proud mother of two young kids, a serial blogger (entrepreneurial life/strategy/social media | design/fashion/food | mom entrepreneur tips), and may be allergic to sleep.

Marlynn is an intuitive designer, social media junkie and innovative creative strategist whose combined modern graphics skills and communications savvy delivers clients the best of both worlds in one cohesive package. She brings creativity and focused project management into all of her work, resulting in strong branding, solid design, and fresh, effective strategy.

With a lifelong interest in the evolution of communication and technology, Marlynn is an early adopter of social media. She's been blogging prolifically for more than six years, been on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook since their inception, and has a deep understanding and appreciation of integrating other social media platforms such as YouTube, Quora, Yelp, Blip.fm, Flickr, BizNik and more into successful marketing moves for businesses in all industries.

An energetic, dynamic speaker who believes strongly in empowering fellow entrepreneurs, Marlynn enjoys facilitating the Urban Bliss social media and small business strategy workshops. She has also been a presenter at national conferences such as SXSW Interactive Festival, EVO - The Evolution of Women in Social Media Conference, Bloggy Boot Camp, and at past events for CRAVE, Ladies Who Launch, Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon, Womens Business Center, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, and more.

Marlynn is the Founder & President of The Power MOB (Mom-Owned Businesses), member of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC), currently serves on the Advisory Board of Mercy Corps NW's Womens Business Center, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Pearl District Business Association, Oregon Columbia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, and is a founding Board of Directors member for the local SIGGRAPH chapter. She has been a Portland Business Journal 40 Under 40 Nominee and an Orchid Award Nominee.

You can read Marlynn's full bio on her website, MarlynnSchotland.com. Follow her on Twitter @designmama and she also co-tweets at @ThePowerMOB. The best way to reach her is via email.

Bliss is...
getting lost in music, afternoon baking sessions, my daughter's bellowing laugh, my son's sweet smile, coffee or cocktails with good friends, strangers who smile back, last minute adventures

Anti-bliss is...
eggplant anything, Debbie Downers, slow talkers, lengthy emails, Twitter spam, having to sleep

My superpower is...
getting things done at lightning speed. I am also freakishly strong (or so my friend Amy says).

On my bliss playlist...
Beastie Boys, The Cure, The Black Keys, Florence & The Machine, Sleater-Kinney, Jay-Z, Adam Sandler & Dennis Leary