Stationed at the salon chair, amid the foils, the blowouts and the precision snips, you may not realize it but Marissa Harmon is busy doing the work of a city leader. A hairstylist for more than 20 years, Harmon has honed her hairdressing skills and experienced all the ups and downs of business ownership as a salon owner. And she says that experience has perfectly positioned her to take on another job that has kept her busy since May 2024: the mayor of Lone Tree.
Harmon says she learned early on in her beauty career that the heart of any business is built on relationships. “You get to know people, what matters to them, what worries them, what they hope for,” she says. “You build trust one conversation at a time. That’s leadership in its rawest form.”
She says she lives by that discipline as the chief executive of a rapidly growing city. Harmon wears many hats: mayor, small business owner, hairstylist and mother. Still, she wears them all with the same values that define Colorado style: grounded, capable and deeply connected to community and nature.
Whether she’s rafting with her family, running a city council meeting or squeezing in a few hours at the salon, Harmon brings a steady mix of warmth, practicality and purpose. Her leadership style doesn’t hinge on titles or status, but instead is rooted in service.
“My aim wasn’t to be a politician,” Harmon says. “I just wanted to help. That’s what drew me in and what keeps me going.”
In Lone Tree, where suburban neighborhoods meet the mountains, "style" means more than what you wear; it’s something more holistic, an ease between upscale and comfortable, where trail shoes and smart policy meet.
Born in upstate New York, she grew up in a family of entrepreneurs who owned and operated brick-and-mortar businesses. When her family relocated to Colorado and opened their garage door business, that legacy followed, leading her into small business ownership with her sister and brother-in-law at Roots & Mane Salon in Lone Tree.
Even as mayor, she continues to work part-time at the salon, staying grounded in the daily life of her community.
Harmon’s path to public service was anything but conventional. Her young daughter won a “Mayor for a Day” contest in kindergarten, which led to meeting then-mayor Jackie Millet. They hit it off and Millet encouraged Harmon to apply for a position on the city’s planning commission. She joined in 2019 and served for three years. Later, she served on the city council before being elected mayor in 2024.
A year and a half in, Harmon’s leadership reflects the same qualities that made her a successful entrepreneur: responsiveness, collaboration and trust.
Her approach is rooted in non-partisan service, leveraging data, trusting experts and knowing when to collaborate and when to assert herself as a decision-maker. She always circles back to a core question: Does this benefit the people of Lone Tree?
“There’s power in saying, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out.’ There’s strength in listening. There’s power in learning.”
Recently, Harmon launched and now chairs the VIBE Task Force (Vitality in Business and Economy) through the Metro Mayors Caucus.
“The task force’s first goal is to ensure we’re attracting and retaining businesses, not just to survive, but to thrive in our cities,” Harmon says. “By working together and taking bold, coordinated steps, we’re building a region that’s not only a statewide leader in business vitality, but a national destination for opportunity. When businesses feel supported, and cities share wins, the whole region rises.”
Her philosophy is rooted in celebration, not competition. “When Centennial opens their new soccer complex, that’s good for all of us,” she adds. “We’re all interconnected.”
One of Harmon’s top priorities is responsible growth guided by home rule and local decision-making.
For Harmon, it’s not just about expansion, but also experience. “We want Lone Tree to grow in a way that feels intentional and reflects our values.”
That mindset also drives the revitalization of the entertainment district, home to upcoming projects like the Truck Yard, an outdoor venue for music, dining and community gatherings. Looking ahead, plans for a downtown city center on the east side of I-25 aim to create a connected, inviting destination for residents and visitors alike.
Another priority is to maintain and enhance Lone Tree’s business-friendly environment. Like a balanced ecosystem, a mix of businesses — both large and small — supports a strong local economy, which in turn supports homeowners, roads, schools and city services. In this way, Lone Tree can maintain its priorities: a high quality of life and safety for all residents.
Despite the demands of her job, Harmon makes space for the outdoors. Most weekends, she’s hiking or biking the local trails with her husband, daughters and two dogs—or heading out on a rafting or backpacking trip.
“The outdoors keeps me grounded,” she says. “It reminds me what I’m working to protect, not just the land, but the lifestyle and quality of life that come with it.”
Her love of nature isn’t separate from her work, it informs it. Whether at a city planning meeting or on a riverbank, Harmon draws inspiration from the balance, perspective, and clarity that the Colorado landscape offers.
Marissa Harmon didn’t come to city hall with a political pedigree. She came with real-world experience, a strong community foundation and the ability to listen and lead with purpose.
She’s leading Lone Tree the way many Coloradans live: practical, people-centered and quietly bold.
In Lone Tree, she’s proving that a new kind of leadership is not only possible, it’s already here.
Her love of nature isn’t separate from her work, it informs it. Whether at a city planning meeting or on a riverbank, Harmon draws inspiration from the balance, perspective, and clarity that the Colorado landscape offers. “The outdoors keeps me grounded,” she says.