DIRECTOR + PRODUCER
See Resumé

Seattle transplant whose career started in the 90’s grunge- music scene, managing tours and producing concerts & raves (and Bill Gates’ exclusive parties).

Whitney later joined experiential agency NEVERSTOP, where he created for the likes of Nike, Microsoft, Sephora, Range Rover, and many others. His work revolved around creating community within the corporate environment and his proudest achievement is his work of creating the concept of the “launch party”. He would then go on to work closely alongside Alex Calderwood (founder, Ace Hotel) to help bring Alex’s idea to life. His interest in visual arts & creating community led him to founding the company Smilebooth and eventually starting a passion project-turned-creative-festival, namesake Yeah Field Trip. YFT re-invests into the arts community by providing a safe-space of connection, collaboration, education, wellness-exploration, and good times.

Whitney lives in Los Angeles, California with his 2 beautiful children and his snaggle-toothed dog, Harry.

CREATIVE LEAD + PRODUCER

Jared has spent over thirty years working at the crossroads of art, music and media, developing a signature style in design, production and communications.

A serial entrepreneur, he has founded several companies, including a popular live music venue and nightclub ARO.Space, a record label Sweet Mother Recordings, a concert production company Tasty Shows as well as The Innovive Group, an integrally informed consultancy. In 1996 he co-founded Neverstop, a creative agency specializing in experiential design and marketing where, for over a decade, he led cutting-edge campaigns for a diverse range of clients including; Nike, Giorgio Armani, The Gap, Microsoft, Rock the Vote, Pearl Jam and the United Nations. At Neverstop, he pioneered “Cultural Engineering,” an integral philosophy of marketing and communications. Innovations include stealth projection vans, pop-up stores, and interactive consumer-oriented installations.

Jared has also been a front-runner in the wellness industry. Partnering with his twin brother, he re-defined the spa experience with Nestspa, a unique in-room hotel spa company. This venture was purchased by Andre Balazs Hotels (Hotels AB), and led to the pair taking dual roles as Directors of Spa Development for The Standard Hotels and The Chateau Marmont in LA. While there they also created, designed and executed the Standard Spa Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, which was voted the #1 Spa in the Americas & Caribbean by the Condè Nast Reader's Poll in 2009. He has also been brought in for strategic projects for the Ace Hotel Group.

In 2013 he founded Magnetic - ERV with Jena Thornton as a vehicle to reposition The Sorrento Hotel, a cherished hotel in Seattle, WA.

In 2014 he founded the Orcas Island Film Festival along with Carl Spence. In its 6th season, the festival takes place over five days with an impressive lineup over 40 brand new international films directly from their premiers in Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, NYFF and Sundance.

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

It's good to know good people. And it's even better to work with them. Nikolai Slimp is one of our beloved Smilebooth employees hailing from our Houston office.

He has been with the company for five years. Over that time Nik has worn a lot of hats, from booth operator to creative idea-man, effects designer to technology whiz. He's worked on the ground at hundreds of smilebooth activations and behind the scenes to bring the ideas to life. He's awesome and we're lucky to have him. He's married with two beautiful kids (sorry singles on the prowl). Nik, you rock and we love ya.

I take really good photos

…And I take really good photos.

Robert is a writer and filmmaker whose work ranges from polished fashion content to short-subject documentaries around nonprofits in the Congo.

When not shooting, writing, or traveling, he can be found with his nose in a book, or baking bread, or giving fair but honest notes on your cousin’s screenplay.

SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER / PRODUCER

Originally from Sydney, Josh relocated to New York City for fun but stayed for love.

Now he creates brand experiences for brands like Google, Target and Adidas. An accomplished experiential and cultural marketing professional, his ideas have come to life at CES, SXSW, Cannes Lion and Mobile World Congress.

Wearing all the hats he is part business development executive, experiential producer and social worker. Joining Smilebooth in its infancy, his relationship management skills were instrumental in growing the business and partnering with some of the world’s best brands.

During the Pandemic he added influencer programing experience to his tool kit. Working on projects for Snap and Propel with influencers like Jaden Smith and Mindy Kaling, he helped connect the brands with the cultural conversation.

Josh lives in Brooklyn with his beautiful wife, adorable kids and Flash the dog. He brings his strength in client services and focused creative development to the team and we are excited to have him aboard.

HUMANKIND FESTIVAL

Coming 2021.

YEAH FIELD TRIP

Field Trip was born at the intersection of need and desire.

The need to fill a dark, lonely chasm in the creative journey. At a certain point, it hits everyone like an unwanted flu—routine, sterility, crossroads. We all desire to do something that will rekindle our lust for peak creativity. At Field Trip we do that through creative cross-pollination—a blend of community, ideas, conversation and the freedom to simply, do.

You can learn more about the Origins of YFT or take a journey back in time with our Time Machine!

SMILEBOOTH

Creating interactive experiences with photo & video. Smilebooth makes content shareable in real time and stimulates engagement for brands.

From weddings, your kid's mitzvah, your company’s corporate events, or red carpet moments— Smilebooth does it all, and they have fun doing it.

YEAH! RENTALS

YEAH! rentals is a Los Angeles & Palm Springs based furniture and props rental house specializing in authentic designer furniture. They bring indoor / outdoor mid century modern, minimal, and industrial design to your event or shoot. From a simple dinner party to a multi-day event for hundreds of people, Yeah! Rentals will keep you looking SHARP.