producer. creative director. copywriter. cyclist. conservationist. outdoorswoman. public artist. amateur horticulturalist. idea generator. strategist. poodle spooner. travel fanatic. music maker. fun aunt. builder of things. welcome to my world.
Josie is a producer, creative director and conceptual artist working across advertising, film, public art and branded content. With a keen eye for strategy and copywriting, she’s built and led teams from the ground up for over 15 years.
She is the founder and principal of Curmudgeon Group, a creative agency for brands investing in a climate-resilient future. Her time running an agency gives her an innate understanding and appreciation for interpersonal relationships and the value of effective communication when leading teams of all shapes and sizes.
Known for her humor, creative ambition and deep comprehension of conservation and climate, Josie loves tackling all areas of production from creative development through to execution. She fully embraces a ‘yes, and’ culture as a way to bring stories to life while making the world a better, more inclusive place. With 20 years living and working across the US, Latin America and Europe in a breadth of media, Josie thrives 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.
She currently serves on the National Council and the Northern Great Plains Advisory Committee for the World Wildlife Fund US, and is a former board member of Kindling Group, an award-winning documentary media and impact production studio.
elevating people, ideas and stories.
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.