Michelle Lee

Michelle Lee brings a diverse background in business ownership, management, and leadership to her role as President of the Red Hat Society. Throughout her career, she has owned and managed companies across a variety of industries, developing a reputation as a skilled problem-solver. Often called upon to take over challenging projects and bring them to successful completion, she became known professionally as “the closer” and “the fixer.”

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michelle spent much of her childhood moving between the East and West Coasts while her father served in the U.S. Navy. The experience of frequently adapting to new places and communities helped shape the resilience and resourcefulness she brings to her leadership today. She later attended high school in Illinois and studied accounting and art at Brigham Young University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and an MBA in finance.

Michelle’s connection to the Red Hat Society began long before she became a Member. Her grandmother, Betty, was a Red Hatter in southern Illinois, and Michelle remembers wishing she could join her grandmother at Chapter gatherings. After turning 50, Michelle joined RHS herself and later named her Chapter, the Red Hot Betty Boopers, in honor of her grandmother and her love of Betty Boop.

After participating in RHS events and becoming increasingly involved with the organization, Michelle stepped into the role of President in the summer of 2025. Her focus is on building upon the Society’s legacy while expanding opportunities for Members to participate in its leadership and future direction. Under her leadership, RHS is evolving toward a more Member-led organization designed to strengthen connections, encourage participation, and help introduce the Red Hat experience to a new generation of women.

Known in the Red Hat world as Queen Plumerix, Michelle created her royal name by combining the plumeria, a flower closely associated with her Hawaiian birthplace and symbolic of new beginnings, with the phoenix, a symbol of renewal and resilience. Together, they reflect both Michelle’s personal story and the new chapter she is helping shape for the Red Hat Society.

As a speaker, Michelle draws on her experiences in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the Red Hat Society to explore themes of resilience, reinvention, connection, and finding joy at every stage of life. With a practical perspective shaped by decades of solving problems and leading through change, she brings warmth, humor, and real-world experience to conversations about navigating transitions, building meaningful communities, and embracing what comes next. Michelle is available to speak at conferences, retreats, corporate gatherings, association events, and other special events.

Outside of RHS, Michelle enjoys cooking and baking, dancing, traveling, creating art, and exploring her family history. Her personal philosophy is captured in one of her favorite sayings, “Everything is better with sprinkles.” Inspired in part by childhood memories of her grandfather turning a simple bowl of ice cream into a “party,” Michelle looks for the little “sprinkles” in life that make it more joyful.