About

Our Mission

We care deeply about the community and the local causes and initiatives that enrich our lives. Say Hey There’s mission is to amplify the voices of organizations that are making a positive difference in the world so they can boost their impact. We can help you speak up and be heard.  

We work towards accomplishing our mission every day by providing exceptional marketing and communications guidance and sharing brand stories in an authentic and inclusive way that will raise awareness and inspire connections.

Behind the Scenes

Meet Mikala Harden, Founder & Creative Director

Mikala Harden (She/Her) is the Founder and Creative Director of Say Hey There, an award-winning creative studio based in Omaha, Nebraska that partners with nonprofits and community development and enrichment organizations.

With more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, she specializes in brand strategy, community-centered marketing, and compelling storytelling. Mikala orchestrates design, writing, video, and more to help organizations build awareness, deepen connections, and inspire action.

Say Hey There helps organizations stay on-brand, clarify their voice, and tell their stories—whether serving as an extension of an internal team for an event or special project, or leading ongoing strategy with the thoughtfulness of an in-house marketing department.

In addition to her marketing work, Mikala is the writer behind Cause & Culture, a column produced by The Reader, now part of Nebraska Public Media. The column highlights diverse local people and organizations driving real change, offering a platform for the meaningful efforts shaping Omaha’s cultural landscape.

Mikala has participated in panels on branding, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and modern marketing at events hosted by the Millard Business Association and the Omaha chapters of the American Advertising Federation and the International Association of Business Communicators. Her work has been featured in the Omaha Chamber’s We Don’t Coast blog.

Outside of her professional work, Mikala enjoys supporting the arts and attending community celebrations. Mikala is a past president and longtime board member of the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards and remains actively involved as the organization’s marketing sponsor.

Mikala enjoys spending time with her family, indulging in self-care, writing, practicing yoga, and curling up in a cozy spot with a good book.

INFJ + Enneagram 6 + Strategic, Relator, Arranger, Intellection, Responsibility

Mikala is a thoughtful strategist and creative problem-solver who cares deeply about people and purpose. She naturally sees patterns, considers different perspectives, and finds a path forward when things feel complicated. She values deep, genuine relationships and is fiercely loyal to the people and work she cares about. Curious and reflective, Mikala likes to understand the why behind things and think through what comes next. She brings together intuition, creativity and strategy, with a strong sense of responsibility to do meaningful work and do it well.

Founder Mikala Harden's Headshot
Founder Mikala Harden's Headshot
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Awards & Recognition

Say Hey There’s work has been honored by the American Marketing Association–Omaha with multiple Pinnacle Awards, recognizing excellence across nonprofit marketing. In addition to a 2025 Silver Award for Integrated Marketing, the studio received 2026 Pinnacle Awards for Paid Social Media (Nonprofit) and Special Event (Nonprofit). From cross-channel campaigns to focused efforts like volunteer recruitment and event promotion, this recognition reflects a commitment to thoughtful strategy, strong storytelling, and measurable impact. Say Hey There was also recognized in the the Midlands Business Journal’s Impact 250 storytelling series, recognizing 250 companies making a meaningful impact in the community.

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Awards & Recognition

Say Hey There’s work has been honored by the American Marketing Association–Omaha with multiple Pinnacle Awards, recognizing excellence across nonprofit marketing. In addition to a 2025 Silver Award for Integrated Marketing, the studio received 2026 Pinnacle Awards for Paid Social Media (Nonprofit) and Special Event (Nonprofit). From cross-channel campaigns to focused efforts like volunteer recruitment and event promotion, this recognition reflects a commitment to thoughtful strategy, strong storytelling, and measurable impact. Say Hey There was also recognized in the the Midlands Business Journal’s Impact 250 storytelling series, recognizing 250 companies making a meaningful impact in the community.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

True commitment to DEI&A stretches far beyond a statement on a website. For us, it means being intentional leaders when it comes to imagery, language, and accessibility on a daily basis. Learn more.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

True commitment to DEI&A stretches far beyond a statement on a website. For us, it means being intentional leaders when it comes to imagery, language, and accessibility on a daily basis. Learn more.

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Merch Shop

Have you seen our merch? Ignite your inner feminist with every wear. Our mission is to design and curate pieces that will help you feel empowered and inspired. Made for creatives by creatives.

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Merch Shop

Have you seen our merch? Ignite your inner feminist with every wear. Our mission is to design and curate pieces that will help you feel empowered and inspired. Made for creatives by creatives.

Working with Mikala is such a great experience. She is always very responsive and timely, and provides a talent that is unmatched. Her professionalism is on point, and her kindness and authentic nature are just icing on the cake. She is the whole package. We feel SO LUCKY to have found Say Hey There and have had several wonderful experiences working with her. We will forever be faithful clients, and fans. Thanks for being awesome, Mikala!

Sarah Dunsmore

The Catios

Mikala at Say Hey There has been a positive social media and marketing manager for the Nebraska Children’s Commission. Mikala helped us create a social media presence and keeps it on track. In just a few months we have seen an increase in audience and engagement for the Commission and its subcommittees.

Sage Leis

Nebraska Children's Commission

I worked with Mikala Harden for several years during my time as the President and Executive Director of a large nonprofit in the Omaha area. She helped us develop our brand and creative assets and ensure consistency across all mediums, which contributed to the organization’s growth. She led our marketing and digital strategy and the quality of her work was consistently excellent. Mikala has been a real asset to the First Responders Foundation.

Ray Somberg

First Responders Foundation

Partnering with Mikala has taught me so much! She is the deadline queen and is one of the most organized people I have ever met. Mikala is such a positive person to work with and I am proud to have the partnership! Thank you, Mikala for all you do!

Katie Smith

Child Saving Institute

During my time as a Say Hey There intern, I got to practice and improve my skills as a videographer by working on real projects with real clients. Not only did I have the benefit of learning the technical side of digital content creation, but I also gained invaluable experience with the social side of digital marketing under Mikala’s mentorship. After my internship, when I went on to create content for my own clients, I felt wholly prepared to solve creative problems and give my clients the videos they needed.

Katie In

Intern

The level of professionalism and consistent engaging content that Say Hey There provides is unparalleled. I really enjoy working with Mikala and I look forward to continuing in the future.

Joshua Crum

Since our website re-design and new marketing rollout in September of 2014, we could not be more impressed with Mikala and the job she does. She has exceeded our every expectation and would recommend her and the job she does to anyone looking for a long term relationship with an expert in her field. Mikala has become a very important part of our Foundation and is 100% immersed in our success. Say Hey There will be the best marketing decision you will make.

Jim Hanson, Jr.

First Responders Foundation

Mikala is among the most determined and talented people I’ve met. She is a knowledgeable and savvy marketing and creative professional who is as great with people as she is at crafting solutions that produce results. Mikala is fun to work with, and she brings tremendous energy to everything she does.

Jess Anderson

Mikala is a powerhouse when it comes to marketing our event and creating meaningful community engagement that drives attendance. She’s creative, professional, and incredibly organized, ensuring every detail is executed seamlessly. Her strategic approach to advertising and partnerships ensures we maximize every dollar, and the results speak for themselves. Thanks to her expertise, the Guns & Hoses Hockey Challenge continues to grow year after year.

Gina Mowat

First Responders Foundation

Mikala is passionate about music and about the creative community here in Omaha. If you ever need any sort of help with marketing, graphic design, web development, branding, strategy, etc, I highly recommend Mikala and Say Hey There!

Erin McMorrow

Say Hey There is an absolute joy to work with. Mikala stepped in during a transitional period for my organization, taking on my current role in the interim. Upon my hire, I found her thoughtful training and insights to be invaluable. It’s clear that Mikala genuinely cares about her clients and the long-term success of their organizations. I can’t recommend Say Hey There enough!

 

Emma Gardner

Child Saving Institute

Outstanding work from the whole team! Everything from social media campaigns, brand development and design strategy, web, content creation, and so much more. Coming from nonprofit organizations, marketing and communication is vital to our success, and Say Hey There has been the perfect partner for us.

Edwin Lyons

Wear Yellow Nebraska

Say Hey There creates our social media posts, and I am very impressed!! The posts are beautiful, unique and the perfect blend of inspiration and information. Their gift for creativity shows in everything they have ever done for us.

Diana Schmidt

Safe2Help Nebraska

When I first met with Mikala, she knew exactly what we needed to bring our brand to life. She asked questions that drove to our company’s essence and message—what we wanted to share with the world—and crafted our brand from there. Mikala and her team at Say Hey There created our online presence and streamlined our communication process with clients and amongst our staff, and helped us present our story and our services consistently across platforms. We simply could not be more pleased with our decision to partner with Say Hey There in making our brand a reality.

David White

Aksarben Window Works

Mikala manages all of our marketing projects, social media content/campaigns, sponsorship fulfillment, fundraising campaigns, and website updates. No project is too big for her to take on and she was exceptional in prioritizing time, projects and resources to accomplish our goals. Mikala’s design work is amazing and everything that she produced for the HCF is exceptional. If you are looking for someone who is organized, professional, and a joy to work; then you need to hire Mikala Harden and Say Hey There.

Chris Blum

Heartland Cancer Foundation

It has been wonderful to partner directly with Mikala for over five years! She always stays up-to-date on the current trends, presents innovative and creative ways to keep costs within budget, and assists with strategic planning that allows continued growth. Her marketing, branding, and design skills allow her to easily assist with any needs that may arise.

Mikala’s hard work ethic, high integrity, and desire to always do what is right, make her an extremely reliable and valuable asset to our organization. Over time, Mikala has helped grow our social media presence and general brand awareness through her support of our internal marketing team.

It’s been my pleasure to partner with Say Hey There over the years and work directly with Mikala on a variety of long-term and one-time projects. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our organization. I would recommend Say Hey There to any business seeking outstanding marketing and branding assistance.

Chelsey Haas

Child Saving Institute

Six stars! As a small family business, we were overwhelmed about where to start with website and brand development. Mikala was such a joy to work with, she walked us through each step with ease and clarity. She listened and inquired about our goals and vision, and then BAM!!! We now have a website that makes us feel truly proud of what we have accomplished!

Betsy Samuelson

Seed & Soil

If you want to have an amazingly personal experience with outstanding results Say Hey to Mikala. A true professional with an eye for detail and voice, her work speaks for itself–and for her customer.

Beaufield Berry

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mikala for nearly 6 years, and she is truly invaluable to our nonprofit foundation. She is efficient, dependable, creative, and incredibly easy to work with. Mikala creates and manages our marketing workflow, coordinates seamlessly with vendors, and consistently delivers high-quality work on time. I honestly don’t know how we would run the foundation without her, and I would highly recommend her to any organization looking for an exceptional marketing professional.

Amy Green

Heartland Cancer Foundation