Mountain Culture & Adventure: The Heart of Summit Brandworks
Welcome to Summit Brand Works. Summit Brand Works is a small marketing consulting firm based in Denver, Colorado that specializes beverage alcohol and outdoor lifestyle recreation. We offer marketing strategy consultation and execution support for small and medium-sized companies.
About Mark
Summit Brand Works was founded by me, Mark Erickson. I've been really fortunate to have a career working in the bicycle, spirits, and beer industries. During the last 15 years, I've working with some amazing brands and companies, such High West Distillery, Constellation Brands, Bicycle Colorado, and Laws Whiskey House.
I founded Summit Brand Works after experiencing and speaking with numerous companies that need marketing support but are working with budget, expertise, or labor limitations. I offer Fortune 500 marketing leadership experience without the overhead of a full-time executive or large agency.
Crafting Mountain Hospitality
At Summit Brandworks, my professional journey reflects a lifelong passion for mountain culture and the aspirational lifestyle it represents—one defined by exploration, adventure, and authentic experiences both outdoors and around the table.
My career in the spirits industry has been guided by a deep appreciation for the role premium beverages play in celebrating life's moments. At High West Distillery, I helped shape brand strategies that honored Utah's mountain and mountain heritage while creating products that complement the après-ski and outdoor adventure culture. This foundation prepared me for my role at Constellation Brands, where I worked with premium spirits that enhance gatherings and celebrations across diverse consumer lifestyles.
Most recently, my time at Laws Whiskey House deepened my connection to mountain hospitality, working with a team dedicated to creating authentic Colorado whiskey that embodies the spirit of this great state—products that capture the essence of Colorado's terroir and become part of the ritual that follows a day on the trails or slopes.
Exploring the Outdoors
Parallel to my spirits career, my lifelong passion for outdoor adventure has shaped my understanding of brands that enhance exploration. My competitive cycling journey began in middle school, where I discovered the thrill of road and mountain bikes as vehicles for adventure and personal challenge. This passion followed me across continents when I worked with Bicycle Express, one of Australia's premier cycling retailers, gaining perspective on how cycling culture creates community and enables deeper connections with landscapes and environments.
My work with Bicycle Colorado, one of the nation's most influential cycling advocacy organizations, taught me how to build communities around shared values and create meaningful initiatives that promote sustainable access to outdoor experiences—essential elements for brands that serve the aspirational outdoor lifestyle.
Where Mountain Culture Meets Marketing
What unites these seemingly different worlds—spirits, hospitality, and outdoor recreation—is a shared cultural ecosystem centered around mountain living and the pursuit of authentic experiences. Whether developing brand strategies for distinctive spirits that complement a mountain dinner or advocating for better cycling infrastructure that enables weekend adventures, I bring the same passion for connecting brands with people seeking meaningful, aspirational lifestyles.
At Summit Brandworks, I leverage this unique perspective to create distinctive brand solutions for companies that enhance how people explore, gather, and experience mountain culture—from the products they use on adventures to the beverages they share afterward.
Let's connect and discuss how your brand can become an essential part of the mountain lifestyle journey.