elevating people, ideas and stories.

I’m a producer, creative director and copywriter who loves tackling all areas of production from creative development through to execution.

I spent the past decade running my own creative agency, Curmudgeon Group, focusing on brands investing in a climate resilient future. I fully embrace a ‘yes, and’ culture as a means of bringing stories to life while making the world a better, more inclusive place.

I thrive on working with smart, audacious clients who are eager to design and execute work at the intersection of climate and culture through fresh, emotive storytelling.

I’m known for my creative ambition, humor, adaptability and deep comprehension of conservation and climate. In addition to my work in advertising, film and branded content, I am a conceptual artist who is always drumming up new work in public art and performance, with over 20 years living and working across the U.S., Latin America and Europe.

I have a keen eye for strategy and copywriting, having built and led teams from the ground up for over 15 years. I currently serve on both the National Council and the Northern Great Plains Advisory Committee for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US), and am a former board member of Kindling Group, an award-winning documentary media and impact production studio.

conservationist

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idea generator

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outdoorswoman

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crossword addict

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public artist

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cyclist

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amateur horticulturalist

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travel fanatic

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poodle spooner

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music maker

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policy wonk

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fun aunt

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builder of things

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conservationist • idea generator • outdoorswoman • crossword addict • public artist • cyclist • amateur horticulturalist • travel fanatic • poodle spooner • music maker • policy wonk • fun aunt • builder of things •

film and media production

creative direction

brand strategy

concept development

copywriting

creative operations

education

MA PERFORMANCE STUDIES
TISCH SCHOOL, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

BA MUSIC
COLORADO COLLEGE

some folks i’ve worked with

united way of metro chicago
millennium park foundation
national institute of trial advocacy
gaylord and dorothy donnelley foundation
planA films
halski studios
openlands
the wetlands initiative
yale university press
chicago park district
amelia street studios
nowhere collective

+ many more

Josie is available to work freelance and in-house with brands, agencies and production studios, supporting teams through project consulting, creative operations, concept development and production oversight. 

  • I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Josie on a number of projects and business development efforts with ample opportunity to see her in action. Josie is a confident delegator who always demonstrates a great sense of leadership, making my role as a strategist that much easier. She creates an atmosphere of trust within a team, unafraid and able to get hands-on when necessary. Her positive and endearing attitude even managed to open up this concrete-loving city boy to the idea of nature, seeing a life beyond the typical matrix of CPG brands. Her experience and expertise is only surpassed by her passion for her work, and I believe that potential agency teammates and clients considering work with Josie will be better for the experience.

    Mark Solotroff, Senior Strategist
    C+R Research

  • Working with Josie is always a pleasure. Apart from being a passionate artist and creative, Josie’s ability to conceptualize, communicate and produce ideas and complex projects effectively, along with facilitating the ins and outs of client relationships, is only part of what makes her a great partner.

    Kathryn Large, Executive Producer
    PlanA Films

  • In my time as the Executive Director of the Millennium Park Foundation, Josie provided strategic and conceptual planning for a number of initiatives, from fundraising to interactive design features within the park. I particularly appreciate her ability to listen and balance client input with an acute sense of when to push back at appropriate, often necessary moments to achieve amazing outcomes. The input and deliverables of our work together were crucial in moving the Foundation forward in its stewardship of the Park. I continue to look to Josie as both a colleague and confidant who brings passion and professionalism to her creative process, and wholeheartedly recommend her - you will find no better advocate for your brand.

    Scott Stewart, Senior Director of Operations
    Nathan Wright Landscape Design

  • With exceptional acumen and understanding of how to creatively energize a team, Josie is an outstanding leader. She never falls short of a strong and clear vision, always encouraging collaborative team input in order to build motivation for project goals and objectives. Most importantly, she knows the value of building a strong sense of purpose, empowering people to action through a healthy feedback loop of individual progress and collective achievement. I seldom come across an individual who possesses the range of skills, innate creativity, ambition and communication that Josie does. She is truly exceptional in her field.

    Jennifer Gordon, Senior Communications Strategist
    BMO

  • Josie is a big thinker and a true doer. She has a knack for seeing the potential of and mapping out the strategy of any given project from 3,000 feet up. And yet, she is highly organized and is adept at managing the intricate details of large-scale projects, seeing a vision all the way through to execution. I’ve worked with her on both client and passion projects, ranging from integrated campaigns and copywriting to my own feature-length film. I greatly value her opinion, feedback and creative direction. What’s more, she’s fun to work with!

    Katy Osborn, Founder
    Nowhere Collective

  • During my campaign for MWRD Commissioner, Josie exceeded expectations. She never failed to ask the difficult questions with both a sense of humor and humility. She is a tremendous asset to any campaign that recognizes the value of a clear message.

    Cam Davis, Commissioner
    Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

  • We needed to try something new, partly given the timeliness of the project and partly given the short timeline with which we had to work. Josie really understood the concept and deftly transformed it into an aesthetic and message that captured the look, feel and urgency of the moment. She worked seamlessly with both our US and UK offices so that the creative fit consistently with our broader integrated marketing strategy. It was fantastic working with her and her team, and we couldn’t be happier with how the creative turned out.

    Michael Hoak, Marketing Manager, US Markets
    Yale Universit Press