Katie Miller
Name some artists that have influenced you: Jon Jory, Uta Hagen, Tony Kushner, Laura Linney, and Marya Sea Kaminski - Epic storytellers and brave women ahead of their time.
Share an artistic accomplishment you are proud of: The year after graduating from the University of Washington, I produced and starred in a 15-person production of Polaroid Stories, a play that reimagines Greek mythology through the lives of unhoused youth. We worked closely with the ROOTS Young Adult Shelter program on The Ave and were able to donate a significant portion of the proceeds to their nonprofit. It remains one of the most meaningful examples of art, advocacy, and community intersecting in my career.
Why do you teach in the arts? Art is the ultimate conduit for empathy—and empathy is the most powerful tool I teach my clients to use in their marketing and sales. In an era of rapidly growing AI, empathy cannot be automated. You cannot generate the feeling that comes from real-time human connection. Artists understand this instinctively. The arts teach us how to listen, how to feel, how to connect—and ultimately, how to build community. Those skills are not optional; they are essential.
Katie Miller is the founder of KM Marketing Services, a narrative-driven brand house supporting brands through story-led strategy, branding, and graphic design. Equal parts storyteller and strategist, her unique background in theater (story - University of Washington Theater Graduate 2003) and luxury real estate (strategy) shapes the way she helps brands tell their story for conversion and meaningful connection. With over six years of experience elevating small businesses, Katie specializes in transforming brand identity, content strategy, and community visibility into clear, compelling narratives that resonate on and off the screen. Her work blends creative direction with practical strategy, giving brands the confidence and language they need to show up, stand out, and scale with purpose. Beyond the studio, Katie is deeply involved in community-building across Seattle’s Eastside—serving on boards, leading workshops, and championing female entrepreneurs—while raising her two children and staying rooted in the community that fuels her work.