Reach your audience. Tell your story. Win.

A women-owned, diverse, full-service digital advertising and strategic communications firm serving campaigns and advocacy organizations.

“For years I looked to Helen and Marina for communications and digital strategies that reflected my voice, values, and legislative priorities. They’re tested and proven campaign experts who are passionate about understanding how, and where, to tell a story so it breaks through and makes a difference. They have my highest recommendation.”

Senator Patty Murray

"Watershed’s leadership team has been on the front lines of the toughest races, constantly innovating to figure out how to reach voters with stories that resonate. Their on-the-ground experience and strategic expertise will make a difference for campaigns across the country. I can’t recommend them highly enough."

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

Our leadership

Marina Orcutt, Partner

Marina has been shaping Democratic digital strategy at the highest levels for nearly a decade. In 2020 she was the digital director at the DSCC where she overhauled the committee's digital program and helped Democrats flip the U.S. Senate. Most recently, Marina was the first Latina to serve as deputy director of the DSCC IE. There, she ran the IE’s digital persuasion program and oversaw the largest increase in digital ad spend in DSCC history, resulting in wins in states like Nevada, Arizona, and New Hampshire.

Helen Hare, Partner

Over fifteen years of political communications experience, Helen has advised Democratic candidates and high-ranking elected officials from coast to coast. Helen most recently managed Senator Patty Murray’s re-election campaign, securing a 14-point victory against one of the GOP’s top recruits of the cycle in the most expensive U.S. Senate race in Washington state history. She has served as Senator Patty Murray’s communications director and led communications teams on U.S. Senate campaigns in Arizona and North Carolina.

Ben Seltzer, Managing Director

Ben most recently served as deputy digital director for Senator Cortez Masto’s reelection campaign in Nevada, leading content and creative efforts and overseeing millions in spending to help win the closest Senate race of 2022. An experienced digital strategist, Ben spent two cycles at the DSCC developing and implementing innovative best practices to reach and engage target audiences. A proud Latino raised in a bilingual family, Ben now lives in DC with his wife Eleanor.

Margaret Smith, Paid Media Director

Margaret is a digital strategist who has managed and led paid media for political campaigns up and down the ballot. Most recently, she helped Democrats hold and gain seats in 2022, including campaigns for Governor JB Pritzker, Governor Ned Lamont, Rep. Angie Craig, and Rep. Jeff Jackson, planning paid digital advertising campaigns to lead clients to victory. In 2020, she worked with Biden for President in the largest Democratic digital ads program to date, along with organizations including Environmental Defense Fund, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Planned Parenthood Vermont.

What we do

Our expertise allows us to seamlessly align messaging, creative, and digital strategy to tell stories that resonate with the specific audiences you need to reach. We are team players who’ve been on the ground in every campaign job there is, from organizing to managing. We use that firsthand knowledge to help you fully integrate digital into your campaign, and make sure you’re reaching and mobilizing the voters you need to win.