Jake Trussell
Résumé
PROFILE
A listener, maker, and communicator adept at translating complexities into concise, compelling narratives that engage audiences, and driving impactful projects and campaigns across channels.
SKILLS
Strategic Communications
Strategic Planning
Brand Management
Public Relations
Marketing Strategy
Experiential Marketing
Web Design
Web Analytics
Social Media Strategy
Team Leadership
Writing
Creative Direction
User Experience Design
Brand Architecture
Logo Design
Naming
Presentations
Adobe Creative Cloud
WordPress (& Other CMS)
Trello, Basecamp, Aritable, Jira
Chat GPT
Human-Centered Design
Brand Strategy
Multi-Channel Campaigns
Project Management
Content Curation
Music Production & Curation
Brand Storytelling
Partnerships
Design Strategy
Digital Media
SEO
Graphic Design
Information Architecture
Messaging
Brand Voice
Video Production
Photography
Public Speaking
Microsoft Office
Google Workspace
Midjourney
EXPERIENCE
Founder & Creative Director
2018 to Present
Human-centered brand strategy and communications agency that metabolizes complexities into concise stories that engage audiences
Work includes:
- Strategic planning
- Branding (naming, identity, positioning, messaging)
- Multi-channel campaigns. (web, print, social, event, PR)
- Content development & curation (writing, photography, music)
- Website design and development
- Experiential marketing
Founder & Creative Director
2003 - Present
Record label with over 20 releases on vinyl, CD, and digital formats; URB Magazine described Mashit as “one of the most forward-looking labels,” and legendary BBC Radio 1 host John Peel said their “releases are killing dance-floors across Europe and the US months before their release” when he featured Mashit as “Label of the Month” on his show along with a session recorded by Mashit founder DJ C
Music Producer
1994 - Present
Recording artist, DJ, music curator, and film score composer who has performed at mountain-top festivals in Japan, underground raves in London, and nightclubs in Prague, alongside artists including Lupe Fiasco, Four Tet, Rhymefest, Flosstradamus, and DJ /rupture (with whom he founded the Toneburst event production collective); discography features more than 50 records on labels including XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Soul Jazz, sharing production credits with the likes of Diplo, Quincy Jones, M.I.A., and Gregory Isaacs; a Chicago Reader review of his 2021 Do Radly album said that the music “brings life-giving daring to his hybridized dance music;” DJ C has held night club residencies in Boston and Chicago where he has also booked other artists from around the world
Creative Director
2009 to 2018
Designed and managed brands, initiatives and experiential marketing campaigns for Chicago's economic development organization chaired by the Mayor; managed the brand of Chicago as a global business destination (#1 for corporate investment 7 years straight); built brands and communications for a number of civic startups incubated there; designed and led programs and initiatives focused on innovation and entrepreneurship
Key Roles and Responsibilities:- Served as in-house marketing and communications leader, collaborating with C-suite, cross-functional teams, and external government, civic, and private-sector partners to provide clear, strategic leadership through sometimes ambiguous situations; led marketing and communications campaigns with a focus on human-centered experience design (UX) and driving measurable outcomes aligned with company vision, mission, objectives, and values
- Led the ThinkChicago tech talent recruitment program, which brought more than 1,500 university students to meet industry, civic, and government leaders in Chicago, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Lollapalooza, Chicago Ideas Festival, and the University of Illinois; during this time the tech talent pool grew an average of 11.5% annually, more than doubling the workforce from ~ 75k to ~ 170k according to CBRE, making it 3rd fastest-growing tech talent market in the country
- Led the ChicagoMade initiative in collaboration with the City's Department of Cultural Affairs, Choose Chicago (tourism agency), and the Mayor’s Office, to support the creative economy and elevate the city as a hub of innovation; activations at SXSW led to 175 media stories, 3,000+ attendees at the ChicagoMade music showcase which included artists like Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Saba, and Mick Jenkins, and 50+ meetings between leaders including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, (now Governor) J.B. Pritzker, and executives of companies including Apple, Amazon, Google, and Warner Brothers
- Led teams using agile project management to design, build, test, and iterate human-centered digital products in collaboration with in-house teams and outside agencies, including numerous websites and the award-winning Site Selector web application; Toolset includes WordPress, Drupal, Squarespace, Strikingly, Jira, Basecamp, Trello, Slack, Creative Suite, G Suite, Office365
- Managed and mentored internal marketing, communications, and design teams, along with outside agencies to solve problems by collaborating cross-functionally
- Led teams to design new business processes and systems to improve internal communications and company alignment, including the development of vision, mission, measurable objectives, and company values developed in partnership with a team of organizational psychologists
Web Consultant
2008
Developed content for Annual Report, Digital Learning, and MacFound.org websites
WebmasterMassachusetts College of Art & Design
1999 - 2007
Designed and developed the College's first website in 1999, coordinating across the organization to develop clear, coherent story-telling while maintaining brand consistency; managed an external agency to develop the award-winning website redesign in 2002; provided branding, communications, and technology strategy for the College President and departmental directors
BOARDS & VOLUNTEERING
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Arts & Business Council of Chicago
2018 – Present
A&BC envisions a world where creativity is universally valued as a resource with limitless potential for social and economic impact, and provides programming that serves Chicago’s cultural workers and enterprises in order to ensure community vitality and an equitable creative economy; led development of the 2022 - 24 strategic plan; led 2020 anniversary events with the ChiMusic35 experiential marketing campaign generating 9 Chicago Reader articles and over 2 million online impressions in order to raise funds for, increase awareness of, and generate engagement with the organization in lieu of in-person events during the Covid19 pandemic
Braintrust
GreenHouse Innovation
2018 – Present
A group of thinkers using the Innovation Dynamics framework to help solve social problems in collaboration with organizations like the Chicago Literacy Alliance, Shedd Aquarium, and Design for America
Advisor
Year of Chicago Music
2019 – 2021
Served on 3 working groups with the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (Marketing; Professional Development & Music Industry; Research, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy) to support and promote Chicago's vibrant music sector
Mentor
2112 Creative Industry Incubator2015 – 2020
Mentor startup entrepreneurs in design, branding, and marketing strategy at business incubator focused on music, media, entertainment, and other creative industries
Radical Creator2014 – 2020
Active in a community of change-makers breaking down silos and sparking connections across ChicagoAdvisor
Year of Chicago Theatre2017 - 2018
Worked with Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and the League of Chicago Theatres to support and promote Chicago's theatre industry, leading to the “Year of Chicago Theatre” (2019)
Advisor
LakeFX Summit2014 – 2017
Creative industry professional development conference
Advisor
Chicago Music Summit2013
Music industry professional development conferenceEDUCATION
BFA, Media & Performing Arts, Interrelated Media
Massachusetts College of Art & Design - Boston, MA | Graduated with Distinction
1998
Blockchain Certificate
edX (Linux Foundation)
2018
Insights for Innovation CertificateIDEO U
2016
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
20x2
GMan Tavern
2023
Presented an overview of 20th-century popular music genres in 2 minutes. 20x2 is an event where 20 creative people from various walks of life are asked the same question and given 2 minutes each to answer in any way they choose. In this case, the question was “Did you hear that?”
Thrive Talk
Havas Life2022
Presented the ChiMusic35 campaign to the Havas Life agency teams in Chicago and New York as part of their Thrive Talk series focused on how to help people thrive.
Psychology of Creativity
Illinois Institute of Technology2020
Presented to an organizational psychology class on how the creative process, design thinking, and innovation can be applied across sectors.Design for America Summit
Northwestern University's Segal Design Institute2019
Presented on the use of design methodologies to improve employee experienceLeadership for Creative Enterprises
Northwestern University's School of Communication2018
Spoke on building and collaborating with innovative businesses and organizations, in conversation with Melissa Kaufman, Executive Director of The Garage incubator
Lake FX SummitMulti-venue Creative Industry Conference
2015 - 2017
Moderated discussions with Kickstarter co-founder Charles Adler, Cards Against Humanity co-founder Max Temkin, Threadless CEO Jake Nickell, Fake Shore Drive founder Andrew Barber, Young Chicago Authors Artistic Director Kevin Coval, and others
Taste of Chicago
Grant Park2016
Moderated a discussion on designing experiences across industries with Lupe Fiasco's tour manager, Iridium Clothing Co. Creative Director and rapper Pugs Atomz, and the creative agency for The Second City and Pitchfork Meida
Grammy Town Hall2014
Moderated a discussion on Chicago’s creative industries at a Recording Academy event
Visiting Lecturer
Harvard University2000 – 2007
Lectured on music production and cultureAWARDS
Site Selection Magazine’s Top Metro for Corporate Relocation & Investment
2013 – 2019
Top industry accolade 7 years in a row for Wold Business Chicago’s work marketing Chicago as a business destination
International Economic Development Council Award2012
SiteSelector Web Application
AIGA Web Design Award2002
MassArt.edu
Jake Trussell
Listener
Maker
Communicator