People who know me have asked "What is an engineer doing starting a gift business?"

OK, I'll tell you. After over ten years of adventure in the Silicon Valley of California developing integrated circuits, I felt I had achieved all I hoped. It was great to see how teams of bright minds can come together to put technical concepts into reality. But it was time for a breather! I took time off to be at home with my two young children, and had time to really look at my own buying patterns. I learned of the idea of using my consumer power for social change from a non-profit group called Co-op America . How great, “voting” to reward ethical corporate behavior simply by what I chose to buy!

After I started my own business, initially selling just a few body care products, this philosophy provided direction. Anything I would sell, I would have to feel complete confidence in as healthy for people and the planet. And fun! I wanted to be a part of the “new green economy” – people who didn’t feel you have to check your conscience in at the door to go into business. Business “unusual”. Maybe the profits wouldn’t be as great, but you can live with yourself and feel pride.  I decided to focus on gifts, both to provide better alternatives to the conventional gifts out there, and to support the wonderful “green” companies creating products people should learn about and enjoy.  

Kate refers to Lee as her “in house” marketing expert. Lee brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to Kate’s Caring Gifts including such diverse fields as scientific software, consumer products, direct mail, and semiconductors.  Prior to joining Kate in forming Kate’s Caring Gifts, Lee was a marketing consultant, working under the name MarketQwest Associates where he got his feet wet in web design, eCommerce, and consumer packaged goods.  Before MarketQwest, Lee held marketing positions at MDL Information Systems, Chips and Technologies, and  GE/Calma.  In his younger days, Lee did theatrical lighting and stage design, including the design of several Off-Off Broadway plays, as well as lighting and sound for rock bands, fashion shows, and discos.  Lee holds an MBA from Santa Clara University , and has taught marketing on graduate and undergraduate levels at University of Phoenix online and Upper Iowa University Online.