Mike Lee Email & Phone Number

Denver, Colorado, United States

Arvada, Colorado, United States

As a Strategy Director at VSA Partners I wear a few hats, but it's all about driving the strategic game plan for our clients while also helping to grow the agency. With a talented group of strategists on my team, we join forces with the Creative and Digital Experience teams to not only boost business for our clients and VSA, but also to build some pretty solid relationships along the way. I am always on the hunt for those deep, human truths – you know, the kind that not only spark those “aha” creative moments but also help our clients’ brands nestle comfortably into people’s lives. I’m always soaking up what’s going on in the world, using these cultural insights to craft strategies that don’t just fall into categories; they define them – and raise the bar for creativity while we’re at it.With a couple of decades under my belt, I’ve got this leadership thing down, creating a space where my team can not only shine but also cook up those innovative insights and form bonds with our creative and client partners. It’s this kind of leadership that has turned our Strategy department into a go-to, trusted resource for our clients, playing a big part in their road to success.

Denver, Co

As the VP of Brand Strategy for Cactus, I oversee all brand strategy, brand architecture and positioning, marketing planning and consumer and competitive insights for our clients in financial services, healthcare, CPG, travel & tourism, gaming, behavioral health, cause marketing and education. As the creator of Belief & Behavior Design™, I lead a team of strategists in applying a blend of proven behavior change models and good old fashioned agency creativity to solve client’s business challenges. As part of the executive leadership team, I play a critical role on all new business efforts at the agency. You might think of me as the big idea guy. My role is to work with our consumer insights and brand strategy teams to first discover how a target audience thinks, feels and acts throughout the consumer journey, the trends and technology that are shaping and reshaping our experiences in this world, and the business realities and objectives of our clients. I then synthesize all of these insights into powerful strategies that our creative and communications teams can take and turn into work that breaks through and gets results.

Denver, Co

As the Strategic Director my role was to lead the strategy discipline at Cactus. My responsibilities included building and leading brand architecture workshops, gathering consumer insights through quantitative, qualitative, and big data, developing personas and consumer journeys, and synthesizing all insights into powerful strategies that formed the foundation for our creative and integrated communications executions.As the New Business Director, I oversaw the outbound and inbound marketing efforts for the agency, including lead cultivation and nurturing, relationship development, and leading all agency RFP responses and pitches.

Denver, Co

As Director of Digital Strategy, I am responsible for the development and communication of overarching digital strategies as they relate to all client objectives. As an innovator and progressive thinker, my role is to craft how brands and businesses create meaningful consumer engagement through digital interactions, and how those interactions fit into a broader customer experience. In addition, I am responsible for advocating digital experience at every stage of the strategic, tactical and creative development process.

Denver, Co

As public relations and social media director, I drive Cactus’ earned media efforts, working hand-in-hand with the account services, creative, media and production teams to seamlessly integrate strategic communications efforts on behalf of the agency and its clients. Keeping my finger on the pulse of the rapidly evolving social media landscape, I ensure that Cactus and our clients can leverage the latest trends and technologies to grow brand relationships with consumers. With more than 8 years as a public relations and marketing professional for a variety of companies including Vail Resorts, the Outdoor Industry Association, Colorado AIDS Project and the American Humane Association, and 5 years as a broadcast journalist, I know exactly what it takes for content to break through, drive engagement and get results.

Denver, Co

Bicycle Colorado is the nonprofit organization dedicated to building a bicycle-friendly Colorado.Our mission statement: to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, improve conditions and provide a voice for cyclists in Colorado.Established in 1992, we are supported by thousands of members who realize that we need to work together to protect the rights of bicyclists – or risk losing them. We work for more bike lanes and paths, better trails, education outreach and bicycle-friendly laws. Our efforts are primarily focused at the state and regional level since that’s where so many of the policy decisions that affect bicyclists are made.

Greater Denver Area

Founded in 2004, Wish for Wheels is determined to make a difference by providing new bikes and helmets to elementary school kids. At the first giveaway, it became clear that the bikes bring health and happiness into these kids’ lives. Wish for Wheels is successful thanks to the generosity of partners and volunteers in the community.Wish for Wheels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving schools in the Denver area. All contributions are tax-deductible and make a difference in a child’s life.

Oversee Marketing and Communications Department including all marketing, media relations, customer service, education, and advocacy efforts for the largest community based AIDS service and education organization in Colorado. Responsibilities include the creation and implementation of a comprehensive media relations, public education, and marketing strategy to position the agency as the expert on HIV and AIDS, and reintroduce HIV/AIDS to the public discussion. Achievements include redesigning and launching six new websites, development and execution of an award winning grass-roots advocacy campaign surrounding housing for homeless HIV clients, and a proven track record of securing positive media coverage for agency efforts and events.

Managed marketing, media relations, and member communications for national trade association representing over 1000 outdoor industry businesses. Responsibilities included all media relations efforts for the association including support of public policy initiatives, proactive consumer and trade press campaigns, rollout of Youth and Women’s initiatives, crisis communications, trade show booth, and the development of the Outdoor Industry PR Coalition. Managed the development and distribution of all association collateral including ad campaigns, research reports, website, and member communications.

Managed marketing and public relations for national nonprofit association. Responsibilities included directing media relations, advertising, crisis communications, brand stewardship, and public affairs efforts.

Wrote copy and consulted on projects ranging from public relations strategy, corporate branding, brochures, catalogs, and websites to direct mail and ad campaigns for a wide array of companies.

Directed all public relations, media relations, and public affairs efforts for Keystone Resort. Managed crisis communications for the resort. Developed and managed Keystone’s pro team.

Determined daily news content, developed and planed stories, tracked court cases, ensured the accuracy of information, coordinated nationwide news efforts, and managed the daily activities of reporters, photographers and field engineers.

Enterprised and planned stories, issued assignments to reporters and photographers, monitored breaking news, maintained a network of contacts, and coordinated satellite feeds and live shots.

Bachelor Of Arts, History

Activities and Societies: Varsity Crew 1994-1998, Team Capitan 1998

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), History, English, Politics

Activities and Societies: Rowing