We recently connected with Mike Arzt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.

We were heading down the path of setting up a 1% donation program within our two businesses. Then we figured out we could be much more effective to the organizations and causes we believe in if we apply our skills and networks.

We brought one of our favorite non-profit organizations and one of our best clients together. We helped create content around this new partnership. In the end, the three groups coming together did way more uplift than our 1% donation ever could have done. Huge win, win, win.

We also run events at our building for non-profits. Additionally, we have run an event at Silverton Mountain in benefit of First Descents. This was the 4th year. We brought 150 people together and not only raised $140,000 but also a massive amount of awareness and media for First Descents.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Snowboarding has been my all consuming passion since I was 12 years old. At age 16 I started making it my career path also. First at a snowboard shop in Connecticut. Then starting at Burton Snowboards in Vermont when I was 18. I worked for several different snowboard and media companies before moving over to all freelance around 2003. In 2006 a close friend of mine from the Burton years and I launched The Public Works.

The Public Works is a unique agency that helps brands tell their stories. We have in-house services from creative all the way through to engineering and custom fabrication. We also have complete in-house multimedia services. Basically a turn key operation that can go from creative to execution.

The best part are the amazing companies and people we get to work with. Companies such as Red Bull, Aspen Skiing Company, CMH Heli Ski, Jeep, Subaru, Smartwool, North Face, Spyder. Velocity Outdoors and so many more. It is our clients who light the fire, we love helping pour some more fuel on it.

12 years ago we bought an abandoned 30,000 square foot building in Denver. We turned this into Battery621 which now is home to about 20 like-minded creative companies.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’d day our biggest mission is how we can best work with our skills and our clients to do good in the world. There are endless ways this is possible. Always looking for the win, win, win.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

We had multiple clients asking us to work on customized Airstream trailers for them. I finally picked up the phone and called the 1-800 number for Airstream. Ended up talking to the director of marketing for an hour. Two weeks later I went and had a meeting and a factory tour at their HQ in Ohio. It took years to build up the relationship and find a fit for project work. Now it is 12 years later and they are still one of our best clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: tpw.media
• Instagram: @thepublicworks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.arzt/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-arzt-thepublicworks/

Image Credits
The Public Works