# Michelle Hege

> Michelle Hege is the CEO and majority owner of DH, the Spokane-rooted communications agency she joined as its first employee in 1998. Her career has moved from nonprofit and insurance work to agency leadership, statewide social-change campaigns, regional civic service, and DH's expansion into Seattle. Across that work, her recurring method is unusually plain for the persuasion business: listen to the people affected, make complicated things usable, and take the long view.

- **Role:** CEO and majority owner at DH
- **Organizations:** DH, Greater Spokane Incorporated, Association of Washington Business, United Heritage Financial Group
- **From:** San Diego, United States
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in English literature and politics, Whitman College, Master of Science in organizational communications, Eastern Washington University
- **Known for:** Co-developed Washington's first statewide opioid-misuse prevention campaign, Starts with One., Co-managed community engagement and advocacy supporting creation of the WSU Spokane Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, including the successful effort to change state law., Led Greater Spokane Incorporated's board during 2020.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1998** — Worked in the nonprofit and insurance sectors; nonprofit duties included marketing, ticket sales, event coordination and bookkeeping.
- **1998** — Joined the young Desautel communications agency as Jim and Cher Desautel's first employee.
- **2000** — Became a partner in the firm.
- **2013** — Succeeded Cher Desautel as president and CEO after a planned leadership transition.
- **2020** — Chaired Greater Spokane Incorporated's board and co-chaired the Association of Washington Business Rebound & Recovery Task Force.
- **2021** — Elected to the board of United Heritage Financial Group.
- **2022** — Led DH's acquisition of Seattle-based Nyhus Communications, giving the combined firm offices in Spokane and Seattle.
- **2023** — Named one of the Spokane Journal of Business's 23 People of Influence.
- **2025** — Spoke at Eastern Washington University's Business Leadership Speaker Series about careers, values and communication in uncertain times.

## Achievements

- Co-developed Washington's first statewide opioid-misuse prevention campaign, Starts with One.
- Co-managed community engagement and advocacy supporting creation of the WSU Spokane Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, including the successful effort to change state law.
- Led Greater Spokane Incorporated's board during 2020.
- Co-chaired the Association of Washington Business Rebound & Recovery Task Force during the pandemic.
- Led DH through its 2022 acquisition of Nyhus Communications and expansion into Seattle.
- Named among the Spokane Journal of Business's 23 People of Influence in 2023.
- Earned Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Published reflections from her Eastern Washington University Business Leadership Speaker Series appearance, emphasizing values, audience listening and a long-term view during uncertain periods.
- **2023-02** — Recognized by the Spokane Journal of Business as one of its 23 People of Influence.
- **2022-06** — DH completed its acquisition of Nyhus Communications, expanding the agency into Seattle and retaining Nyhus's team and clients.

## Links

- Website: https://wearedh.com/team/michelle-hege/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-hege-ms-apr-48971a4
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/desautelhege
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearedh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desautelhege

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michelle-hege
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-24