elevating people, ideas and stories.

I’m a producer and creative director working at the intersection of climate, culture and brand impact.

Through my creative consultancy, Curmudgeon Group, I work with organizations and brands invested in a climate resilient future to hone their story and execute the strategies and ideas that speak to shared brand purpose.

Across my career, I’ve worked alongside environmental non-profits, higher education, arts and culture, and global climate brands looking to scale. My ideal collaborators and clients are equally passionate about crafting and executing fresh, emotive work at the intersection of culture and sustainability storytelling.

Combining over 20 years in the creative field with a deep network of sustainability leaders, I am uniquely experienced in curating and leading cross-functional teams based on client need – uniting experts across advertising and design, production, strategy and communications to elevate brands in their sustainability and climate mission.

As a producer, I am invested in the creative concept as much as the strategy behind it and the logistics that go into making bold ideas come to life. I relish the unforeseen challenges, twists and turns that come with every new production and creative endeavor. These are opportunities to think on my feet and cultivate curiosity in teams to deliver exceptional work at any scale, no matter the situation. My approach to work is a "yes, and" mentality – building creative and strategic solutions by viewing every roadblock as an opportunity.

As a creative, I thrive on collaboration and find inspiration in people and spaces. I prioritize the concept over the medium, and believe great ideas come from anyone, anywhere. I always look past what things are, envisioning what things could be.

At present, I serve on both the National Council and the 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. 

View Work

education

MA PERFORMANCE STUDIES
Tisch School, New York University

BA MUSIC
Colorado College

View Resume

services

film + media production
creative direction
concept development
creative operations
sustainability storytelling
copywriting
brand strategy

folks i’ve worked with

united way of metro chicago
millennium park foundation
national institute of trial advocacy
city of phoenix
180 degrees design + build
planA films
wendy’s
halski studios
vmly+r
openlands
phoenix zoo
the world wildlife fund
yale university press
the wetlands initiative
chicago park district
nowhere collective
+ many more

Let’s produce something
spectacular, together.

I’m available for consulting, freelance and fractional work with brands, agencies and production studios who eagerly embrace bold stories and dynamic thinking across the impact, climate and sustainability sectors.

Contact Me

  • Collaboration is both difficult and enriching​, and collaborating. with Josie is truly energizing. We didn't set out to build something together -- it just happened naturally as our conversations expanded. ​She is a masterful creative thinker​, always striving for what's right and what's better. ​ She is a great listener and builder, is inquisitive and masterful in thinking through all the important and necessary details. This makes her especially vital in a world that wants the right answer now, where people want to be "the person" with the idea, and where too many want to focus only on the big picture. What comes through in every thing she does are her strong values. They're a guardrail she won't cross ​and are a key to her creativity. She holds herself to the same high standards that she seeks in others. ​She's about building for enduring success, and ideas that travel well across audiences, time and platforms.

    Howard Pulchin, Head of Ideation
    Humantel

  • 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 University Press