
Brand Strategy Experts
Guided by Integrity. Driven by Vitality.
We convene at the intersection of strategy and humanity. Our team provides the insight and deliberation necessary to guide organizations through their most complex challenges. By blending innovative research with actionable processes, we drive the kind of positive change that lasts.
Our collective expertise is intentionally diverse. We bring together academicians, artists, public servants, organizational development experts, and communications professionals with seasoned strategists and creatives. This allows us to build brand reputations and organizational cultures that are as sharp as they are soulful.
Meet Our Leadership Council

Rex Whisman
Founder and Chief Strategist
Rex Whisman is a master of weaving together creativity, data analysis, and storytelling. He acts as the architect of brand strategy, conducting market research to understand the target audience and competitive landscape. He translates this knowledge into a compelling brand strategy that resonates emotionally, while using data to measure success and ensure strategic alignment with organization mission, vision, values, and priorities. Rex cultivates a unique brand experience that fosters trust, loyalty, and well-being.
Rex is the founder of the BrandED Consultants Group and former Assistant Vice Chancellor for the University of Denver, Administrator and Strategist for County agencies, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and President of the Colorado Art Education Association.
Rex holds a Master of Science in Communications Management and a Bachelor of Arts in History, both from Colorado State University.

Erik Jeffries
Operations Strategist
Erik Jeffries is the backbone of the organization. He strategically optimizes internal processes to ensure smooth project delivery and client satisfaction. He oversees project management, and safeguard the right people are assigned to the right areas of expertise. Additionally, he possesses a keen understanding of the brand strategy landscape, anticipating client needs, and translating them into operational excellence, ultimately driving the client’s growth and profitability.
Erik is a marketing director for a public research university, and he brings over two decades of expertise in leading communications and marketing campaigns for large agencies, print companies, and educational institutions. Collaborating with senior leadership and other stakeholder groups, Erik oversees the strategy support for branding, marketing, reputation building, image enhancement, and media relations efforts across all touch points and technology platforms. Erik graduated with a Master's in Communications from Regis University with Alpha Sigma Nu honors.

Ron Gallardo
Academic Strategist
As a passionate champion for equity in education, Ron Gallardo wears two hats. Ron is an experienced school administrator, who fosters a thriving learning environment for all students. But his expertise extends beyond day-to-day operations.
Ron is also a renowned expert for diverse communities, crafting and implementing innovative programs that ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Ron is an education strategy and school safety expert who plans and implements ways to improve learning experiences for students. On a school-wide level, developing curriculum and assessment methods, or focusing on individual student needs, creating personalized learning strategies, and supporting teachers and parents.
Ron holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder, an MA in Education and BA in Music Education. Ron is certified as a School Administrator in the State of Colorado.

Sandie Coutts
Human Resources and Behavioral Health Strategest
Sandie Coutts is a change management and mental health expert with a unique background that bridges the gap between organizational transformation and individual well-being.
Drawing on experience in both change management consulting and mental health counseling, Sandie helps organizations navigate transitions while fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes employee mental health and reduces stress during periods of change.
Sandie has been a senior HR professional in community behavioral health with a 30-year career in non-profit, local government, and public education settings.
Sandie is a certified change manager and Enneagram coach who holds graduate degrees in Education and Child Development from the Universities of Newcastle and Teesside in the UK.

James Lucero
Public Safety Strategist
A guardian of community well-being, James is a public safety expert with a proven track record of keeping people safe. He is an adamant believer in community and relational policing.
His expertise spans various areas within public safety, from emergency preparedness and response to crime prevention and community engagement. He works tirelessly to create a safer and more secure environment.
James was recently sworn in as the Chief of Police for a community in Nebraska. He started his law enforcement career with a local police department in the Denver metropolitan area in 1998. He was assigned to the Homeless Outreach Unit, providing services to the unhoused population, the majority of whom experienced a variety of circumstances, including drug and alcohol dependency, histories of abuse, and severe mental health challenges.
He possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice.

Shaela Ingham
Well-Being and Healing Strategist
Combining care and efficiency, Shaela Ingham thrives as both an administrator, and a wellness and healing expert. Her organizational skills keep things running smoothly, while her deep understanding of holistic well-being allows her to cultivate a supportive environment that promotes health and resilience for herself and those around her.
Shaela is co-director for an integrative medicine non-profit organization. The integration of effective healing modalities has inspired her career working with healing practices for the mind, body, and emotions.
Shaela promotes healing modalities through public education and support groups, and has participated in presentations at many educational and cultural institutions. She has served in marketing roles for universities, architectural firms, and acupuncture and herbal medicine clinics.
She holds an MS in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization, and a MA in Liberal Studies.
Clients and Affiliations
Below is a sampling of organizations our team has consulted with or worked for to advance brands + well-being.
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Adams County 14 School District
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Adams County Sheriff's Office
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American Marketing Association
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Ann Homes & Associates
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Bethlehem University
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Catholic Schools of Denver and San Antonio
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Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce
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City of Golden
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Colorado Art Education Association
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Colorado Division of Banking
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Colorado State University System
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Consortium of Schools of Art + Design
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Continental Airlines
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Corcoran Art Studio
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Cretin-Derham Hall High School
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De La Salle High School
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Denver Art Museum
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Denver Police Department
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Department of Regulatory Agencies
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Flagstaff Academy Charter School
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Idalia Public School District
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Jefferson Center for Mental Health
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Jefferson County Public Library
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Junior Achievement
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Kent Denver School
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La Salle University
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Lasallian Schools of North America
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Lewis University
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Manhattan University
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Metropolitan State University of Denver
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Public Utilities Commission
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Randolph Community College
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Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
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Simmons University
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Society for Social Work and Research
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St. Mary’s College of California
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St. Mary's Lynn College Prep
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The Global Refuge Project
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Town of Breckenridge
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UC Health
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Dallas
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University of Denver
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University of Maryland Global Campus
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Wellbeing & Equity Innovations
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Youth on Record
In addition to our work with organizations and communities, BrandED consults with individuals and groups to develop sustainable personal brand strategies. We have helped transform the lives and careers of academicians, authors, elected officials, entrepreneurs, executives, founders, musicians, real estate brokers, scientists, tech experts, and visual artists.
Brandcestral Journey is our holistic approach to personal branding, integrating strategic purpose, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual path.

