Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Ellis.
Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a born storyteller. I began writing for my school newspaper in fifth grade and remained on the journalism track through my formative years growing up in Littleton.
I received my bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Technical Communications from Colorado State University, where I anchored and reported for our campus TV station and interned for 9News. Upon graduation, I moved to Oregon where I began my career as an anchor and reporter for a CBS affiliate. After a couple of years, my home state of Colorado and an opportunity to be a publicist for the Starz cable network beckoned me back to Denver. That is when my love for brand storytelling began.
At Starz, I was exposed to many aspects of communications – from corporate communications to entertainment publicity, employee communications, and investor relations. I worked to promote a variety of original programs and developed the company’s first social media presence. My favorite part of the job was getting out of the office and connecting the talent we worked with our partners and media across the country.
I left my job at Starz after I had my youngest son to focus more time on raising my three boys. As passionate as I am about what I do, it wasn’t long before I began working “during nap time and nighttime,” helping small businesses tell their stories and better connect and engage their customers, partners and influencers.
When my youngest entered elementary school, I began expanding my work with Colorado-based businesses. It was during this time that the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Colorado) named me the 2015 PR Person of the Year and I was selected as one of Denver’s 2016 top 40 Under 40 business leaders by the Denver Business Journal.
In 2017 I formed Ellis Communications Marketing. I work with a team of subcontractors who are skilled communicators and connectors that share my passion for the work we do and clients we serve.
I have a heart for giving back and have volunteered for a wide variety of community and industry organizations throughout the years. I currently serve as the President-Elect of PRSA Colorado and am an active member of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver and its Professional Women in Building and Sales and Marketing Councils. I also provide pro bono work for the Denver-based bullying prevention nonprofit Don’t Be A Monster.
In response to small businesses being impacted by COVID-19, I recently partnered with Denver digital agency Volume Nine to start the Adopt-A-Shop Colorado movement. We’re bringing together some of Colorado’s top agencies to adopt businesses around Denver in order to provide pro-bono marketing and communications assistance to help them as they’re getting back on their feet. Adopt-A-Shop CO is just one small way we hope the local business community can support one-another during these difficult times.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s the bumps in the road and detours that add the spice to life. At least that’s what I remind myself when faced with obstacles in life – both personal and professional. And as for life during the pandemic, this is often a daily reminder!
My latest challenge has been seeing COVID-19 impact so many of the businesses and professionals I work with and consider my friends. The impact on my own business has been significant as our client roster is heavily focused on local attractions, events, and entertainment. The future is uncertain, particularly for these industries which are still affected significantly by closures.
Always one for creating bridges where life gives us dams, I am doing what I can to help the business community by running the Adopt-A-Shop Colorado program. Now more than ever, the connections we make and the services we provide others in the business community are important. This isn’t about getting back, it’s about lifting up others and supporting one another as we navigate this storm.
Personally, I have coined this as the “cosmic pause.” It has given me time to step back and look at the inner-workings of my business and my life as a whole. I have my rough days as everyone does, but this time has been very beneficial for me personally and professionally. I hope that when life gets back to some semblance of “normal” I can hang onto what I’ve learned and realized are the true priorities of my life.
Ellis Communications Marketing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Ellis Communications Marketing is an award-winning boutique agency that helps brands with a Colorado connection stand out in a crowded marketplace through strategic storytelling and memorable marketing. We take a multiplatform communications approach to generate brand awareness, engage audiences, and develop influencer relationships.
Through our personal, hands-on approach, we work in tandem with our clients to develop strategic and creative tools designed to impact their specific business goals and objectives. We execute using highly experienced and skilled PR professionals with a track record of success.
We dedicate our time to advancing client objectives, with the goal of doing good work. Great work. Great work that produces powerful results. Being recognized locally and nationally for that work is even better. In addition to recognition for its work, ECM was named as a runner-up for Best Public Relations Agency in ColoradoBiz Magazine’s 2020 Best of Colorado and received the 2019 Small Practice Award from the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA Colorado).
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My definition of success has fluctuated throughout different stages of my life. Earlier on, it was all very focused on achieving personal and career goals. But it doesn’t take long to realize that the sense of accomplishment you receive from a job promotion, award, or personal achievement is short-lived.
As I have matured, my definition of success has evolved and isn’t as tied to tangible accomplishments anymore. I have learned that success to me happens when I am living out my “big why” and feeling fulfilled as a result. For me, my “big why” or purpose in life is to connect with others, learn and share their stories, and have a meaningful impact on the lives of the people around me. I am very fortunate to do this in my work and in my personal life.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9183 Sugarstone Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
- Website: www.ellis-comms.com
- Phone: 720.432.8130
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/ellis_comms
- Facebook: facebook.com/EllisComms
- Twitter: twitter.com/ellis_comms
- Other: adoptashop.co
Image Credit:
All photos credited to Ellis Communications Marketing.
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