Michael Stice
Author · Wolfgang Bloch: The Colors of Coincidence
Saint Augustine, FL
In My Own Words
I am a seasoned creative leader and strategic marketing professional with decades of brand building experience across a broad range of industries. I take pride in my long record of directing and managing talented marketing and communications staff with compassion, guidance, and good humor. I am fortunate to have had the pleasure of collaborating with some of the world's most celebrated creative professionals on high-profile, award-winning projects. Additionally, as a Chronicle Books author, and a former Linguist and English professor who founded and directed a college writing lab for 20 years, I also am an excellent copywriter and editor, as evidenced by my extensive portfolio of high-impact collateral.
Work Experience
Author
Wolfgang Bloch: The Colors of Coincidence2008 – Present
I am the Chronicle Books Author of this book designed by David Carson.
Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Public Programs
Museum of Science & History (MOSH)2022 – Present
I lead a 5-person team that guides all marketing and communication strategies during a time of unprecedented change and growth as MOSH entered the live phase of its $100 million+ MOSH Genesis capital campaign. I am instrumental in building and refining the organization’s marketing and communications capabilities. I cultivate best-in-class Marketing capability by hiring, training, motivating, and setting leadership direction for all Marketing and Communications staff. I manage external consultants and integrated marketing/communications agencies. My team and I monitor and analyze current marketing and communications practices, systems and performance metrics, project future needs, and initiate best practices to meet those needs, while monitoring and evaluating news trends in the museum/science center field. Further, my team and I originate, plan, direct, implement, and evaluate all aspects of MOSH’s Marketing and Communications Plan including policies, objectives and initiatives designed to achieve the goals of MOSH’s Strategic Plan. With the dual objective of promotion and reputation management, my team and I are responsible for: public relations, media relations, launches of exhibits, planetarium movies and capital project launches, as well as cultural tourism. My team and I are also responsible for directing and producing promotional videos and other video and audio productions to highlight MOSH campaigns, events, exhibits and programs. Additionally, I provide executive leadership for crisis communications planning and implementation.
Director of Growth & Marketing
Engel & Völkers2021 – 2022
I led a team of 20+ in executing strategic initiatives and strategies across brand identity and messaging, website (UI/UX, analytics, etc.), public relations, social media, video production & business growth and development. In my role, I Implemented marketing strategies which resulted in #1 Growth in Florida.
Director of Marketing & Communications
ValuTeachers, Inc.2020 – 2021
I led a 5-person team in executing strategic marketing initiatives and strategies across brand identity and messaging, website (UI/UX, analytics, etc.), public relations, social media, video production and business development. In my role, I maximized branding initiatives by strengthening program outreach and increasing communication between marketing and public relations. I also mentored local personnel on best practices and protocols to maximize productivity, recruited and hired experienced contractors to complete projects on time and within budget requirements, and established, initiated, and optimized business development strategies based on company targets, product specifications.
Director of Marketing & Communications
Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD)2012 – 2020
Built and led a 5-person communications team to execute strategic marketing initiatives across event coordination, branding, public relations, and business development. In my role, I oversaw initiatives that elevated the division’s profile as a stand-alone brand. I partnered with internal teams to ensure marketing deliverables meet timeline and compliance requirements. Over my tenure, I strategically doubled enrollment over the course of 7 years. I also worked directly with the Vice President of Advancement and the college President as an advisor on all fundraising initiatives and events. I represented the brand in all press interviews, industry panels, and corporate communications initiatives.
Adjunct Liberal Arts Faculty + Writing Lab Founder and Director
Laguna College of Art and Design2000 – 2020
In addition to having created new curricula, grading rubrics, and reading comprehension and writing diagnostic exams, I instructed extant Liberal Arts coursework such as MFA Thesis, Senior Capstone 1 and 2, An Introduction to Linguistics, Critical Reasoning, English Composition, Interpersonal Communications, College Preparatory Writing 1 and 2, and College Skills. I also was the architect and instructor of a first-of-its-kind, three-unit, Liberal Arts survey course entitled "Project Green: Surf Culture.” I founded the Writing Lab at Laguna College of Art and Design. As Director of the Writing Lab, I oversaw and staffed a small stable of Liberal Arts faculty and Senior BFA and MFA student Writing Lab Technicians and Teachers' Assistants as well as met with students on a one-on-one basis in an effort to improve their writing skills in classes as diverse as Aesthetics, College Preparatory Writing, Master’s Thesis, Poetry, Art History, and Film as Literature.
Executive Director of Operations
Laguna Art Museum1990 – 2012
I was in charge of all aspects of the Museum's daily operations, from spearheading and managing the Museum’s successful Facility Rental program, to managing the Security and Maintenance staffs, to overseeing building concerns. I reported directly to the Director and to the Board of Trustees. As the Museum's first-ever Facility Rental + Events Program Manager, I coordinated with clients, vendors, and key museum personnel on both renting the museum's facilities for special events--like weddings, symposiums, etc.--and on all museum- specific events, like auctions, lectures, screenings, etc. Over the course of my direction, the Facility Rental Program alone contributed more than $4,000,000 to the Museum's endowment. As Museum Store Manager, I developed exhibition-specific merchandise, curated Museum Store exhibitions with such influential artists as Rick Griffin, Shepard Fairey, Robert Williams, Wolfgang Bloch, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Shag, etc. Under my management, Laguna Art Museum Store went from an annual deficit of $50,000 to an annual profit of up to $150,000 after only two years. I reported directly to the Director and to the Board of Trustees.
Art Assistant
SURFING Magazine1988 – 1991
I assisted in the production, paste-up, stat camera operation, advertising design, photo shoots, and darkroom
