Coleen’s career in marketing, advertising and public relations has spanned more than three decades. She began at the prestigious national rep firm Avery Knodel in Chicago as media buyer, then continued as a National and Regional Sales Manager for Lansing’s NBC and CBS affiliates. Coleen took this experience and fierce commitment to the success of her clients’ business objectives with her when she founded King in 1999. The agency has since grown to provide full-service advertising, marketing, public relations and digital media services to clients across the country through its three offices in East Lansing, Grand Rapids and St. Joseph, Michigan.

As president and founder, Coleen is the lead researcher and strategist for every client. Her research yields successful campaigns and uncovers critical business issues. She also identifies emerging markets and drives vital changes in business practices. This combination of marketing knowledge and business savvy makes Coleen a valuable partner for King’s clients. 

Coleen also serves as the lead on King’s branding and rebranding projects, using her expertise with local, regional and national brands to bring a fresh look to iconic companies and organizations of every size. She is fond of saying, “Strong brands make you money.” Her knack for brand-building has paid dividends for clients in sectors like finance, banking, professional services, hospitality, retail and more. 

She has a soft spot for kids, which means the education industry is a particular passion. Whether the challenge is passing a district bond proposal, increasing enrollment, improving donor relations, managing communication in a crisis or telling important stories, Coleen is a true leader in K-12 education marketing.

Coleen King was recently named the 2020 Outstanding Alumni of the Year by the Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences. This award recognizes alumni who have obtained the highest level of professional or academic accomplishment. Recipients also demonstrate service to the College of ComArtsSci and the community. Only 223 out of more than 56,000 of the most accomplished ComArtSci alumni have received this award since its inception almost 48 years ago.

With a BA in Communications from Michigan State University, Coleen is a frequent guest speaker at her alma mater, opening the minds of students to always dream big.