News and Insights
In Memoriam: Lisa Heathman
February 6, 2026
When she joined FINN Partners in 2014, Lisa Heathman did what came naturally both personally and professionally: she hit the ground running. A communications and public relations veteran with more than 20 years of experience, Lisa took pride in her ability to spot a typo from a mile away. She had a knack for drawing on her seemingly infinite capacity to tell a compelling story while making it relatable and comprehensible. No matter how technical the subject matter, industry or crisis, Lisa would take time to listen, absorb the problem and thoughtfully guide her clients right through.
Within six years of joining FINN, Lisa advanced to senior partner with the Portland, Oregon, office, consistently demonstrating valuable expertise, perspective and insights for clients in the finance, technology and consumer industries. She was, in many ways, a “Jill of all trades.” Whether communicating brand stories or navigating complex business situations, clients and colleagues turned to Lisa for steady leadership and counsel. She advised organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies, including Washington Trust Bank, Vesta, Neustar / TransUnion, ilani Casino, Cowlitz Tribe, Qorvo, Comcast Business, Guerdon Modular Buildings, Moonstruck Chocolate and Travel Oregon.
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast and mother of two grown daughters, Lisa embraced adventures in the scenic Pacific Northwest. She had a long record of amateur competitive cycling accomplishments, including at least 59 recorded races in the Pacific Northwest. An avid alpine skier, Lisa also served on the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol team, including as a host supervisor. She loved exploring the mountains with her partner, Tom and their dog, Cooper, and seemed to always be returning from a new trail. According to her hiring manager, Wendy Lane Stevens, “Lisa was our most fit employee ever!”
It was during a 2018 Idaho mountain biking trip that Lisa’s life took a turn. As she described, she “took a corner too fast” and tumbled into a stream, dislocating her shoulder. Initially thought to be a somewhat straightforward battle wound, the injury nagged. Ultimately, a doctor visit and ultrasound disclosed a lump under her left arm. It was confirmed to be stage 3B breast cancer and the start of a seven-year journey with cancer.
Lisa approached her health with the same curious, analytical and matter-of-fact approach she applied to communications challenges, candidly sharing the ups, the downs and the baffling. She remained engaged with colleagues and clients, refusing to let cancer take control. Her slight build was deceptive, masking a well of strength fortified by her athleticism and 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwando. Her strength was so apparent, Portland colleagues installed a life-sized cutout of a superhero Lisa in her workspace — part encouragement and also awe of her sheer will.
Through Lisa’s cancer journey, she never wavered in her commitment to those she loved and her community. In addition to serving on the board of Reborn Bikes, she connected with Pink Lemonade Project and would remain a staunch supporter for the rest of her life. The Vancouver-based non-profit offered critical resources and emotional support from others facing similar diagnoses and prognoses. Lisa turned to the organization often and ultimately joined the board of directors, never letting go of her will to help a good organization extend its mission.
Lisa’s cancer would ultimately go into remission but returned in late 2020 and had metastasized to her brain. She would undergo more surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Despite her health setbacks, Lisa remained dedicated to her career and to helping people find their voice.
In 2024, Lisa scaled back her hours as she adjusted treatments for what was by then, Stage 4 cancer. She shifted to FINN’s Global Brand Marketing team, helping tell the agency’s own stories. In her new role, she became a connector – mining stories from throughout the network and imparting her own experiences to help craft narratives and strategies. She remained an active team player, leader, partner and friend to the end.
Lisa passed peacefully on January 4, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. While her loss was felt by all who knew her, her memory lives on vividly in the lessons she imparted, stories she told and experiences she shared with us.
FINN Partners extends our condolences to Lisa’s family and friends and all who are grieving her loss. The family asks that anyone who wishes to honor Lisa’s memory with a remembrance do so at pinklemonadeproject.org/donate/mbc-fund/.
Notes from those who knew her:
Wendy Lane Stevens, retired managing partner and founder of LANE PR
Lisa Heathman was a treasure both professionally and personally when she walked into our offices 11 years ago. She had a great deal of regional marketing communications experience and education. I quickly found her to be one of the most nice, thoughtful and caring people who I have had the opportunity to meet.
She was very engaging and energetic — and our most fit employee ever, riding her bike to and from work every day and winning multiple athletic awards. As a Partner and then Senior Partner, Lisa was always on the lookout for ways to assist her clients. She was enthusiastic about a new business opportunity and went out of her way to make it a success. She was very smart. Her ability to be a strong generalist working with all types of clients added to her expertise.
Lisa cared deeply about our staff, becoming a mentor to many and a valuable member of the LANE Management team. We were all very fond of her.
Cancer hit her hard, but she was always upbeat and optimistic. I will miss her a great deal.
Shannon Riggs, managing partner for the Pacific Northwest Strategic Communications Unit
Lisa was a gentle giant! She cared deeply about everyone around her, was always ready to come to their aid and was persuasive as heck when she wanted to be! Be it a client, a colleague or a community cause, Lisa brought her passion for life to everything she engaged with. She loved her family, including her dog and her cat, and she loved being part of her community. She had one of the greatest laughs and a smile that would literally light up the room. She was a passionate force forever guided by her heart and was a genuine gift to her community. I will forever remember her fondly.
Jill Williams, senior partner, Portland
It was easy to love Lisa because she cared so deeply. She was passionate about her work, her clients, her colleagues, her adventures, and her causes —and most of all, her family and friends. She was someone you could always count on; she didn’t know how to give anything less than 100%.
Lisa was a brilliant communication strategist, a steady rock for clients in the midst of crisis, a black belt, a medal-winning cyclist, a master of puns, a good friend and confidant, and so much more. I feel incredibly blessed to have known her, and I wish our time had been longer.
To borrow a phrase from one of her favorite people: Lisa, you were special. There will only ever be one of you in this world. I will miss our Zoom chats, our lunches, and our laughter.
Erica McDonald, Partner, New York
Lisa was such an inspiration, and her approach to her illness was one of resilience and grit. Where others might have retreated, she leaned in with a focus that was truly humbling. Her ability to maintain professionalism while facing the greatest challenge of her life, was a testament to her incredible mental strength and endurance. It was an honor to know and work with her, and I will remember her big smile and radiant positivity always. May she rest in eternal Peace.
Gil Bashe, Chair Global Health & Purpose, New York
Lisa was more than a colleague; she was a kindred spirit. What brought us together was her courageous journey with cancer and the grace with which she reflected on life. She carried an uplifting gratitude for the blessings of family, love and connection, and a quiet faith that her life, even in struggle, was filled with sacred purpose. When I think of Lisa now, I feel her spirit remains present, eternal and enduring. She has left a blessing upon my heart that will never fade.
Marina Stenos, Managing Partners, FINN Global Education, New York
While building up our team’s content creation engine, word came to us that one of the Marketing team, Lisa Heathman, was fired up about an education issue she had recently heard about. She really wanted to tackle the issue and get our insights on why this might be happening and what the education sector was doing about it. While it was exciting to have interest from a seasoned writer who wanted to join our education communications efforts, my heart sank a bit as I, and the team, knew the issue was much more nuanced than the headlines were letting on. We agreed to meet and talk it through. I was preparing to have an uncomfortable exchange with a colleague and thinking about ways to share deeper details and issues that were hidden beneath the click bait that got Lisa’s attention and curiosity going. After a brief series of get-to-know-you exchanges and probing questions it was clear that all Lisa really wanted was to tell a meaningful story about education. She pondered and prodded; we responded and shared, all seeking a better understanding of what the issues really were and why we were seeing certain headlines; and, she got it. We all laughed a bit about the click-bait world in which we live and commiserated about the deeper challenges confronting American teachers and students. She was open, genuinely inquisitive, respectful of our expertise and gracious throughout our conversation. She was an ally through and through and we agreed to find the right topic for her to do her good work with us. Not a surprising outcome given the caliber of folks who work at FINN, but a wonderfully illustrative example of Lisa’s genuine intellectual curiosity, thoughtfulness and passion for issues-driven communications. We ultimately did get a piece written by Lisa and it was smart and insightful. She will be dearly missed.
Taylor Trovillion, Vice President, Chicago
Lisa’s willingness to jump in to support any client in the FINN network, and her compassion, smart thinking and ability to make sure the client and FINN team always felt seen is the embodiment of “work hard, play nice.”
Alix Clyburn, Vice President, New York
There is only one good thing about a breast cancer diagnosis, and that is the women who reach out and welcome you into this terrible club. Lisa was one of those women for me. The reason we met was for a work project, but the woman who connected us—a colleague, friend, and breast cancer survivor herself—knew immediately that Lisa was someone I needed to know. They caught my breast cancer early; I’m going to be ok. But when Lisa and I became friends, I was in the midst of all the surgeries, pain, and worry. She helped me. Her positivity was ferocious. She was frank about the seriousness of her situation yet not in despair, and certainly not quitting. We didn’t get enough time; every Zoom call or email exchange had me looking for a reason to have another one. I drafted off her bright energy. Women like Lisa are rare. She was in deep intimate conversation with her own mortality and still capable of enthusiasm and curiosity, still laughing, still finding beauty in the world. I am lucky to have known her even a little bit, and I will never forget her.
Jamie Mayer, Associate Vice President, Denver
I worked with Lisa for a short time while I supported a Portland account and even though we never met in person, she left an incredible impact on me. She was steady and stoic, cheerful even in the face of extraordinary obstacles and a constant advocate for me both personally and professionally. We bonded over our love of animals. She was especially excited to update me on the adoption of Cindy Clawford and share positive updates on her health journey. I am incredibly grateful for her mentorship and her strength and spirit. She is deeply missed and forever in our hearts.