Relentless. Insightful. Creative.

Melissa Humbert

SVP, OPERATIONS

Melissa is often the one in the room asking the hard questions. She holds her team (and her clients, let’s be real) to high standards, and she knows how to help them think around problems. The result? Better work.

She brings Burns more than 25 years of experience in account management, digital marketing strategy, business development, and executive leadership. She knows agency operations and client partnerships better than anyone you’ll meet.

Melissa has orchestrated creative, media, and digital teams for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ball Corporation, Colorado Lottery, the Globus family of brands, and many others. Neither Burns nor our clients would be the same without her.

“Melissa’s measure of success is always results, and she is relentless in making sure they are achieved. Moreover, she over delivers time and again, and is a real pleasure to work with. Put simply, Melissa is a rock star.”

Laurie Steele

SVP, CLIENT SERVICES

A fixture in the Colorado business community since the early 1980s, Laurie is a steadfast ally to clients big and small. She joined Burns in 1987, and has been instrumental in managing all aspects of marketing strategy, campaigns, content development, and event management.

She seems to know everyone. She currently sits on the boards of University of Colorado Health System, UCH Medical Group, and the Longs Peak Boy Scouts Council. She’s a former elected official for the Health District of Northern Larimer County, and a former member of the boards of Poudre Valley Health System, Medical Center of the Rockies, and the United Way. She also chairs the annual BBB Torch Awards for Ethics judging panel. Laurie contributes her marketing expertise to leading technology companies like HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology, and Fortinet, among many others

“Laurie is a trusted partner who I can always count on to come up with a quick-turnaround solution for us. We tend to come to her with impossible assignments, and she and her team always come through.”

Joellen Sarmast

DIRECTOR OF BRAND STRATEGY

Joellen is that rare breed of marketer who can turn on her wildly creative brain and her ruthlessly practical brain at the same time. She insists on it, actually.

For her, the strength of a brand (or any other project) is in the details. She’s a Burns veteran who won’t let you out of a meeting until the path to victory is clear. Which is probably why she produces so many of them.

As our director of brand strategy, Joellen develops messaging architectures, personas, and campaigns that dazzle and deliver results. Companies and brands she’s helped include Coalfire, Colorado Hospital Association, Trimble, and Cognizant.

She currently serves on the board of directors for Animal House Rescue & Grooming, where she helps deserving dogs get a second chance at finding their forever homes.

“Joellen was critical in helping us understand our personas. She made our customers and influencers feel valued and heard and empowered our team with a clear, objective understanding of how to best serve our key audiences. Our persona research document is a well-loved resource that informs every tactical decision that we make – thanks to Joellen’s creativity and smart counsel.”

Don Poole

THE DUDE

Melissa is often the one in the room asking the hard questions. She holds her team (and her clients, let’s be real) to high standards, and she knows how to help them think around problems. The result? Better work.

She brings Burns more than 25 years of experience in account management, digital marketing strategy, business development, and executive leadership. She knows agency operations and client partnerships better than anyone you’ll meet.

Melissa has orchestrated creative, media, and digital teams for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ball Corporation, Colorado Lottery, the Globus family of brands, and many others. Neither Burns nor our clients would be the same without her.

“Melissa’s measure of success is always results, and she is relentless in making sure they are achieved. Moreover, she over delivers time and again, and is a real pleasure to work with. Put simply, Melissa is a rock star.”