S.MICHAEL Creative Branding is a boutique branding agency serving clients nationwide from Raleigh, NC. Founded in 2015 by owner and principal Steven Michael Fies, the agency has served over 100 clients since its inception.As a branding agency, S.MICHAEL Creative Branding helps businesses build and promote their brands both online and offline. Primary services include brand and marketing strategy, web design, and branded merchandise and apparel. Steve also brings significant expertise in marketing and technology, and will ensure your branding and marketing efforts are aligned for maximum impact.S.MICHAEL Creative Branding has grown almost every year since inception, breaking a record $1 million in annual revenue for the first time in 2022. This includes the successful completion of more than 350 branding and marketing projects, 80 websites, and over 1,500 orders for branded merchandise and apparel.Clients include businesses and entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes: law firms, accounting firms, insurance agencies, clinical research companies, 3PL freight brokerages, global tool companies, solo entrepreneurs and consultants, authors and TED speakers, professional sports players, prominent chess masters, online influencers, venture capitalists, startups, non-profit organizations, and more. Steve’s portfolio spans the entire spectrum from brick-and-mortar to ecommerce.Armed with a strong passion for helping businesses grow, Steve helps his clients by laying a solid foundation for branding and marketing success. Many clients have achieved significant revenue growth, and some have gone onto achieve successful exits, become TED speakers, and get featured on TV shows like the Dallas Housewives.Learn more about Steve and S.MICHAEL Creative Branding at smichael.com. You can book a free discovery call anytime if you have a project in mind or want to say hello.

Achieve maximum individual and team performance with a proven system developed by a dedicated team of Ph.D. researchers in conjunction with TTI Success Insights over the past 40 years. Our methodologies have been featured in Fortune, Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and many other notable publications. Primary services include Executive Coaching, New Hire Screening, and Team Building.Note: This business remains active, though my primary focus has been S.MICHAEL Creative Branding for many years. I continue to serve select clients, often those from my branding and marketing business who seek these services. For larger projects or inquiries requiring a higher level of attention, I can refer you to experienced partners within my network who are TTI-certified and specialize in this work full-time.

After moving out of state in 2014 to support my wife attending graduate school, I was retained as an independent consultant. In this role, I trained and mentored the new project manager and continued managing key client accounts during the transition. I also provided guidance and support on key sales objectives, systems integration, development, and financial reporting matters.

Increased annual ecommerce revenue by over 150% within two years and improved gross profit margin by 7% through strategic pricing and supply chain initiatives. Directed a team of five staff members and managed an overseas team on a complex API integration project for our internal software systems. Cultivated relationships with local and national SMBs through networking and trade shows, generating multiple six-figures in new annual revenue for branded merchandise and apparel.

Designed and developed the civil department’s training program and online training portal; personally on-boarded and trained dozens of attorneys and paralegals; and directly managed hundreds of cases to resolve legal disputes in key western states for major financial institutions including Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others.