ABOUT LEE

Lee specializes in making everyday communication clear, concise and impactful by sharing immediately useful, often-neglected strategies.

 

Since founding Simplify Language in 2022, he has led over 300 highly engaging live trainings for government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare, and nonprofits. Attendees consistently describe his sessions as fun, efficient, and surprisingly challenging.

 

His content is directly informed by the real-world challenges and perspectives shared by the over 10,000 people he’s trained. His practical approach helps everyone communicate with greater clarity and trust, from frontline staff to executive leadership.

 

He has delivered keynote presentations for dozens of conferences, including the American Bar Association and the South Carolina Department of Education. Lee also leads popular workshops on how to:

* Lead Engaging Presentations

* Facilitate Meetings Efficiently

* Improve Public Speaking and Compelling Messages

* Navigate Diverse Communication Styles and Cross-Cultural Differences

 

His work is grounded in two decades of leadership as the co-founder and 20-year CEO of the nonprofit Intercambio Uniting Communities. Under his leadership, Intercambio connected 10,000 adult immigrants with 5,000 volunteer teachers and scaled the model nationally.

 

At Intercambio, Lee also led hundreds of trainings on cultural humility and authored The Immigrant Guide, a tool used by 300,000 people. Intercambio continues to thrive, recently receiving a $2M gift from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation.

 

Lee holds a BBA from the University of Michigan and he lives in Boulder, Colorado with his family.

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LEE'S MESSAGE

 

WHY THIS? WHY NOW?​

Our ability to communicate deeply impacts how we get along with each other. It impacts opportunity, access, and inclusion.

When we can talk to each other and be understood, we build better trust and relationships.

When we create communication that more people read and understand, we all benefit.
 

THE SOLUTION

We can shift how we adapt our communication to different audiences quickly. You can do it, but it requires skills, practice, and intention. 

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I love leading engaging, fun, practical trainings for people of all backgrounds and professions. 

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LEE'S AWARDS

• 2004 Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the University of Michigan  Business School

• 2005 Daily Camera Newspaper Pacesetter in the field of Education

• 2005 Multicultural Award from Community Action Programs

• 2010, 2012, 2013 Boulder County Gold People’s Choice  –

           Best Activist/Community Champion 

• 2011 Boulder County Business Report Forty Under 40 

• 2012 Rotary Club of Boulder Flat Irons’ Spark Plug

• 2012 Boulder Chamber of Commerce: 2140 Young Professional 

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Awards Intercambio received under Lee's leadership 

• 2001 NOVA from Community Foundation Serving Boulder County for Innovation and Excellence in the Field of Education 

• 2007 Nonprofit Business Citizen of the Year from Microbusiness Development Corporation

• 2007 Innovation IQ from Boulder County Business Report

• 2007 YWCA of Boulder Champions of Diversity Award 

• 2009 Mile High Chapter of the Red Cross Leadership in Inclusiveness 

• 2010 Partnership Award from Boulder Housing Partners 

• 2013 El Pomar Foundation Award of Excellence – Human Services

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LEE'S PUBLICATIONS

• Author – The Immigrant Guide, a tool used by 300,000 immigrants and refugees to learn about laws, systems, and culture in the U.S.

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• Author – How We Can Shift the Power Imbalance in Adult Education to Deepen a Sense of Belonging, Improve Program Outcomes, and Create a More Equitable Society, a 2021 article published in the Coalition on Adult Basic Education’s journal on racial equity.  

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• Author – Pronunciation Fun, builds confidence for English learners.

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• Lee established the unique vision for Intercambio’s English curriculum series, Confidence and Connections, which is used by 30,000 people.