Jake Trussell

A listener, maker, and communicator adept at translating complexities into concise, compelling narratives that engage audiences, and driving impactful projects and campaigns across channels.

Founder & Creative Director

Metabolize

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

Mashit

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

DJ C, Jake Trusell

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

World Business Chicago

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 talent recruitment initiative, bringing more than 1,500 university students to meet with leaders in Chicago’s tech sector, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Lollapalooza, Chicago Ideas Festival, and the University of Illinois
• Led the ChicagoMade initiative in collaboration with the City's Department of Cultural Affairs, Choose Chicago (tourism agency), and the Mayor’s Office, in order 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

MacArthur Foundation

2008

Developed content for Annual Report, Digital Learning, and MacFound.org websites

Webmaster

Massachusetts 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

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 Incubator

2015 – 2020

Mentor startup entrepreneurs in design, branding, and marketing strategy at business incubator focused on music, media, entertainment, and other creative industries

Radical Creator

Chicago Ideas

2014 – 2020

Active in a community of change-makers breaking down silos and sparking connections across Chicago

Advisor
Year of Chicago Theatre

2017 - 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 Summit

2014 – 2017

Creative industry professional development conference

Advisor
Chicago Music Summit

2013

Music industry professional development conference