Our Agency Values

Characteristics of a Cacti

We believe creating high-quality work requires attracting (and retaining) high-quality humans who exhibit the intangibles of strong character. At Cactus, there are eight values we teach out to our team, and expect from each other every day: Passion, Tenacity, Respect, Courage, Critical Thought, Collaboration, Belonging, and Wellbeing. More than words on a page - we annually rate the agency, and one another, on how well we’re living these out.

01. Passion

A strong and consistent desire for achieving excellence that manifests in the form of dedicated effort, constant improvement, contagious optimism, and an energetic attitude.

02. Courage

The ability to embrace being uncomfortable, and the willingness to stand out, take risks, and engage in respectful confrontation for the sake of championing excellence in our work and in those around us.

03. Tenacity

A mindset that is steadfastly proactive and solution-oriented in the face of challenges; a perpetual intolerance for complacency.

04. Collaboration

A regular pattern of behavior that is unwaveringly team-oriented, and which demonstrates an eagerness to generate ideas and solutions in partnership with others, placing high value on open-mindedness and welcoming the input, evaluation, and feedback of others into your work.

05. Respect

A lived attitude that is easily distinguished by the regular practice of valuing the roles, talents, efforts, contributions, and points of view of those around you, showing gratitude, appreciation, and professionalism in all circumstances – especially when you disagree.

06. Critical Thought

A practiced commitment to asking critical questions at every turn, taking nothing on assumption, and never being afraid to voice a question, concern, or critique – all out of a determination to achieve excellence in every aspect of what we do.

07. Belonging

A palpable sense of inclusion and acceptance generated by a shared appreciation for the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, convictions and life experiences of others, along with the shared belief that what makes a person unique to the world around them is also what gives them their unique creative voice.

08. Well-Being

A shared expectation for prioritizing and supporting one another’s mental, emotional, and physical welfare; caring about one another’s personal health just as much as we care about each other’s professional performance.

Meet the Cacti

Founder & CEO

Joe Conrad

Partner & CCO

Norm Shearer

President & CMO

Jeff Graham

VP, Account Leadership

Ainslie Fortune

VP, Creative Operations

Lisa Van Someren

VP, Comms Strategy & Media

Chris Shewmake

Executive Creative Director

Brian Watson

Group Strategy Director

Brian O'Connell

Executive Growth Director

Jill Kelleman

Finance Director

Cole Pelayo

Belief That Will Never Change:

Behavior that probably should:

Our Culture

DO SOMETHING THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

The Cacti are our culture, all 75 of em. And they tell us Cactus is a place where they feel a genuine sense of belonging; a place where they can do meaningful work for clients they believe in - and have a lot of fun doing it. Maybe it's why Outside magazine named Cactus a ‘Best Place To Work’ three years running. Or why we have team members who’ve worked here 15, 20, even 25 years - many who’ve boomeranged back to Cactus. It’s all pretty unheard of in today’s agency world. But then, so is the culture we have at Cactus.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

What makes a person unique to the world around them is also what gives them their unique creative voice.

Cactus has always been an equal opportunity employer that’s committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We’re firm believers that breakthrough creative ideas are best developed by diverse teams who bring their unique perspectives, authentic selves, and lived experiences to their work. Diversity within our team is what yields the diversity of thought that’s required to bring fresh creative solutions to our clients. It’s a key ingredient in our ability to create meaningful work that connects with people in meaningful ways.

Open Positions

Don’t See the Position
You’re Looking for?

We're not always hiring, but we're always game to meet smart and creative problem-solvers. If your work style is equal parts fearless and fun, if you bring tenacity and contagious positivity to work every day, and if you believe good enough is never enough - then we should probably talk.

Erin Conrad

People and Culture Manager

Send in Your Info

People