Overview

Company Summary

Cactus is a strategically-driven creative agency specializing in consumer behavior change. For over 30 years, we’ve existed to grow the brands that help people thrive in their lives - the ones that make the world a better place to live, work and play. Cactus is a full-service agency with end-to-end capabilities spanning brand strategy, research, creative, design, comms planning, performance media, analytics, and digital experience. Driving behavior change is at the heart of everything we do at Cactus. Our Belief & Behavior Design® process is built on decades of experience blending behavior change models with breakthrough creativity to achieve our client’s desired business outcomes.

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Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 51-100
Total US: 51-100
Total Worldwide: 51-100

Joe Conrad
Founder and CEO
Joe guides the ship at Cactus. Sometimes it’s a sail boat and sometimes it’s a battleship. In 1990, Joe was inspired to put his time, talent and passion to work building brands and causes he believed in, so he founded Cactus. He’s worked on just about every brand in the agency over the years and his job is to make sure the agency is always pointed in the right direction and we have the right team in place. Joe brings an earnest desire to have real impact with our work, a respect for critical thought and the ability to always find the path forward. He sets high standards for the Cacti and has created a culture of autonomy, mastery and purpose. You want Joe on your team.

Norm Shearer
Partner and Chief Creative Officer
Norm leads all the creative at Cactus, where he actively and enthusiastically reminds us that people hate ads, so we’re not going to make them. Instead, we’re going to befriend people, make their day a little easier and be useful to them. Prior to Cactus, Norm worked at Sukle, McClain Finlon and Rhino Records. He also freelanced a bit and once had his own agency, Twig. Norm’s portfolio includes: Smashburger, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Colorado Lottery, Vail, Odell Brewing, Jackson Hole, Whole Foods, and Man Therapy. Cactus wouldn’t be Cactus without his eternal optimism, encouragement and direction to play well with clients and produce the best creative solutions that blow through walls, knock down challenges and deliver exponentially on objectives. You cannot help but do your best work around Norm.

Jeff Graham
President and Chief Marketing Officer
Jeff guides account leadership, brand strategy, agency operations, and business development. Prior to Cactus, he served as SVP/Managing Director of Barkley, and was co-founder of Boulder-based creative boutique Grenadier. He brings more than 25 years of guiding account leadership teams in some of the country’s most creatively-driven agencies like CP+B, Arnold, CORE and TBWA\Chiat\Day. Jeff’s experience spans some of the world's most iconic brands — Microsoft, Volkswagen, Jack Daniel’s, Best Buy, the NFL, Gibson, Virgin Mobile, Bass Pro Shops, Indian Motorcycle, Under Armour, and Old Navy (where he served as interim CMO). He's been an adjunct professor of advertising at both the University of Colorado-Boulder and the University of Missouri-Columbia, a frequent guest speaker for Ad Clubs nationwide, and a past-president of Ad Club CO (AAF).

Ainslie Fortune
VP, Client Services
Ainslie is a proud member of the Cactus boomerang club. This time around, she is a VP bringing her leadership skills to managing the account team. Her industry experience includes: The North Face, Sports Authority, Colorado Lottery, Globus and Cosmos, Steamboat Ski Resort, Vail Ski Resort, Vail Summer Tourism, Jackson Hole, Steamboat Sheraton, UCHealth, Lovelace Health System, Renown Health, Edward-Elmhurst Health and Colorado Crisis Services. Prior to advertising, Ainslie worked in retail, serving up popcorn at the mall. Her industry experience includes working with Mullen Lowe, Karsh \ Hagan, and Factory. Ainslie knows how to problem solve and get things done. She is adept at guiding her team to solutions and maintaining momentum from start to finish. She brings an idealistic realism to her work, which is a bit of an oxymoron, but we rely on her to bring a healthy dose of both to all she does at Cactus.

Chris Shewmake
VP, Comms Strategy & Media
Chris joined Cactus to lead the agency's communications strategy and planning discipline. With over a decade of experience as a media-misfit inside some of the world's most famous creative agencies, Chris has an insatiable appetite for decoding consumer behaviors, uncovering unconventional insights and finding creative magic where media and message overlap. He brings experience running comms and media planning across a range of iconic brands including Domino's, Oakley, Jose Cuervo, The North Face, 1800 Tequila, Aspen Ski Co, American Airlines, Hotels.com, Vrbo and INFINITI. Before advertising, Chris was a professional cyclist - racing at the sport's highest level for Santa Cruz Bicycles.

Stacey Trunnell
Brand Strategy Director
As brand strategy director at Cactus, Stacey is on a mission to energize people and ideas. Known for her openness, enthusiasm, and great questions, Stacey loves making businesses better through curiosity, imagination, and a positive outlook. Bringing years of strategy experience from a wide range of agencies and clients that include Shiner Beer, Jack Daniel’s, Chevy, Target, Walgreens, and Popeyes, Stacey delights in inspiring creative campaigns that engage audiences and grow businesses.

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Clients and Brands

Client & Brands	Start Date
Colorado Lottery Colorado Lottery	N/A
Umpqua Bank	N/A
Man Therapy Man Therapy	N/A
North Carolina Education Lottery North Carolina Education Lottery	N/A
Hoosier Lottery Hoosier Lottery	N/A
Cochlear Americas	N/A
Fjallraven	N/A
Hart House	N/A
Arapahoe Basin Arapahoe Basin	N/A
University of Miami Herbert Business School	N/A
Mental Health Partners	N/A
Westerra Credit Union	N/A
Plano Moulding	N/A

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Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges	Number of Clients
Billing > $3M and < $5M	12
Billing > $5M and < $10M	2
Billing < $10M and < $25M	2

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office
National Broadcast: 35%
Digital: 40%
Print: 5%
Out of Home: 5%
Other: 15%

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Types of Services

Service Offering	Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional	100

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Industry Experience

Media | publishing
Technology | electronics
Restaurants
Retail
Gambling | lotteries
Recreation & Sports | hobbies
Healthcare | pharmaceutical
Travel | tourism
Non-profit, associations & public services
Financial services | investments
Food & Beverage | alcoholic beverages
Financial services | Banking - Consumer
Government | economic development
Food & Beverage | food
Media | broadcasting
Media | other
Social Media
Healthcare | Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities, Medical Services
Recreation & Sports | sporting goods
Travel | hotels & resorts
Healthcare | direct to consumer (DTC)
Healthcare | medical products
Education

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