Sharp Pencil · Chattanooga, Tennessee

Marketing leadership
and creative work.

I help growing businesses decide what matters, tell their story clearly and get the work done.

See my work Let’s talk

I’m Micah.

I’m pathologically curious. I read 40 nonfiction books a year.

A couple of things about me:

I’m a journeyman carpenter.
It took me a decade and six attempts, but I qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon.

A little more background

I’ve spent more than 20 years helping businesses, churches, universities and nonprofits figure out what they want to say and get the work done.

I wrote Human Is the New Vinyl and founded VerifiedHuman. Both are part of my interest in human creativity and trust.

#1 Amazon bestselling book.
Peer-reviewed writing published by IEEE.
AI & Faith Contributing Expert.
C2PA Contributor Member.

Find me on LinkedIn

Micah at work in his Chattanooga studio — At work in Chattanooga.

Some of my work.

Three projects in more detail

Daniel Allen Coaching · Brand identity

St. Alban’s · Brand guide

Faith Academy, Philippines · Branding, messaging, PR & copywriting

Procure Advantage · Website, backend CRM & staff training

VerifiedHuman · Brand campaign

HOPE Church · Places Campaign · $9.4M pledged in six weeks

John Maxwell’s EQUIP Leadership · Website & copywriting

Boston Uncommon · Website, copywriting & storytelling

How I Can Help

Part of your team.
Or help with a project.

Ongoing

Marketing leadership

I help shoulder the marketing decisions, guide your team and see work through to completion.

What that can look like

As your fractional chief marketing officer, I can help with:

Brand positioning, marketing direction and growth planning.
Guidance for your team and outside partners.
Writing, creative direction and campaign oversight.
Regular conversations about what’s working and what needs to change.

We agree on the work, budget and how we’ll stay in touch. Larger projects can have their own scope.

Projects

Creative work

Websites, campaigns, writing and design. From the first idea to the finished piece.

The kinds of projects I take on

Brand positioning, messaging and visual identity.
Website writing, design and development.
Advertising, campaigns and sales materials.
Email, articles, scripts and internal communications.
Photography, video, customer stories and voice production.
Presentations, workshops and continuing-education course materials.
Search visibility, analytics and messaging systems your team can use.

Before we begin, we agree on what we’re making, what it will cost, what I’ll need from you and how we’ll review it together.

Not sure where to start?

I can review your marketing and give you a written recommendation.

A focused review

I look at your message, website and relevant materials, then tell you what’s working and what deserves attention first. You can take the recommendation to your own team or ask me to help.

We agree on scope and fee before starting. A review is an option, not a requirement.

Where AI fits

I help teams choose useful tools, learn how to use them and build practical tools when needed. We start with the work and the people doing it.

Your public-facing marketing is human-made. Human judgment, authorship and accountability remain with people, not with machines.

Working Together

You can expect…

You’ll work directly with me. I bring in people I trust when we need other skills.

Someone to think with.
Work that fits your team and the tools you already use.
Honest answers about what you need and what you don’t.

A few things that matter to me

I care about how the work affects your team and the people you serve.

I want your marketing to sound like your business. When I bring in other trusted team members for projects, I stay responsible for how it comes together.

Speaking &
workshops.

I give talks and lead workshops for business leaders, educators and creative people on human creativity, trust and how AI is changing our work.

Keynotes, executive briefings, panels and hands-on workshops.

Tell me about your event

A Few Places I’ve Spoken

VO AtlantaHuman creativity and the future of voice.
Calvin UniversityHuman Is the New Vinyl · Wisdom in the Age of AI.
Evangelical Press AssociationDiscernment, imagination and responsibility in the age of AI.
Lee UniversityWriting, craft and human authorship.
Southwest Virginia Community CollegeFaculty training on AI and learning assessment.

More talks and conversations

Topics we can explore

Human Is the New Vinyl

What human creativity means when content is easy to generate.

Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask About AI

A practical conversation about where AI helps, what it changes and what your team needs.

Why Trust Doesn’t Scale (And What To Do About It)

How people decide what to trust, and how transparency and certification can help them understand where work came from and who stands behind it.

One Seat at the Table

Bringing useful AI tools into a growing team without starting with a large platform or budget.

The Creator’s Dilemma

Using AI while preserving the work and the voice people come to you for.

Tell me about your audience and what you’d like them to take away. We can work out the right approach together.

For press inquiries or a press kit, send me a note.

Working with Micah has made a significant impact on BH&K. He takes the time to understand who we are. We consistently hear how polished and professional our materials look — helping us build a brand identity that stands out.
PAIGE GRAHAM
AGENT ADVOCATE, BURNS, HENRY & KIRKSEY PC

Micah is crazy smart at diagnosing issues and creating solutions to complex problems that matter.
DANIEL ALLEN
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ADVISOR

There are few principled generalists. They bring clarity that only comes from well-lived values that intersect with a variety of professions, skills, and interests. Micah is one of my favorite examples.
JON HIRST
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER, SIL

In a world where we tend to divide into dreamers and doers, we have in Micah a rare fusion of the best of both categories.
CHARLES BRIAN CONN
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR · LEE UNIVERSITY

He is a creative who cares about reasons. He is a writer who listens well. He is a founder who works well with others.
J. AARON SIMMONS, PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY · FURMAN UNIVERSITY

Sketches, notebooks, books and pencils on Micah’s desk

Let’s Talk

What are you
working on?

Tell me a little about it.

Prefer a conversation? Find 25 minutes.
hello@sharppencil.co

Chattanooga, Tennessee · US Eastern Time