Celeste Stroud Jones - About Celeste

🌟 Welcome! Hi There, and HELLO! 😁

I’m Celeste, but friends and colleagues know me as Cicie. With over two decades in the trenches of advertising and creative production across major industries like automotive, consumer electronics, entertainment, and gaming, I've worn many hats. From app development and VR to advertising and live ops, I've developed a knack for elevating creative ideas, amplifying concepts, and bringing them to life through production and technology.

I've passionately produced projects and products that span a spectrum: mobile apps, videos, print, experiential projects, and more across industries such as automotive, entertainment, gaming, and consumer electronics.

My journey in the industry has taken me from major ad agencies like Deutsch LA, TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, and 72andSunny to mobile game development and creative operations at Amazon Studios and Prime Video.

🌟 The Convergence of Advertising, Tech, and Gaming: What's the common thread?

The boundaries separating Advertising, Entertainment, and Technology are progressively merging. Leading agencies and top-tier brands consistently push the boundaries, seeking novel ways to engage their audience. From immersive events and digital applications to interactive games and innovative products, the realm of creative technology is expansive. Every experience I've garnered only adds depth to my multifaceted skill set. In short, I've navigated the entire spectrum of the industry. My adaptability is a hallmark of my career; I swiftly grasp and acclimate to emerging technologies and production methodologies, always seeking the optimal solution tailored to unique challenges.

🔹 My Career Highlights:

Innovative Collaborations: At Chiat/Day, I spearheaded a collaborative project with Google (formerly Doubleclick) to create a cutting-edge dynamic Paid Media platform tailored for Nissan and Infiniti. This initiative set the stage for the innovative, dynamic ad server platforms widely used today.
Award-winning Campaigns: I played instrumental roles in orchestrating and executing award-winning campaigns for elite brands such as Samsung, Marvel, Kraft, and Diet Pepsi. Notably, for the Activision/Bungie title, "Destiny.""Destiny Planet View" was a groundbreaking project; it was an award-winning web browser application, drawing inspiration from Google Earth. Launched a week before Destiny's official release, this venture was avant-garde for its era, demanding extensive technical exploration to transpose in-game assets into a captivating web journey seamlessly. Moreover, we pushed the boundaries of the Google Earth/Maps API. Our collaboration with the Google team resulted in the developing of a tailored MSA.
Adventures in App Development and Beyond: 2018 was a hallmark year; while freelancing as a Sr. Producer, more often than not, I found myself immersed in projects where the path forward was uncharted, demanding innovation at every turn. I released three distinct apps and had the unique opportunity to contribute to a 3D Nano-tech game designed for the RED Phone.
Game On: I transitioned into mobile game development and live game operations after significant years in prominent ad agencies like Deutsch LA, TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, and 72andSunny. Taking the reins of a game that had been in the works for five years, I steered its US launch to fruition in four months. On my very first day, the abrupt departure of the Studio Director presented a massive leadership gap. Coupled with the game's shifting direction, morale was at a low. Yet, I was no stranger to such 'pivots.' With extensive refactoring and strategic feature road mapping, it was imperative to reorient and reinvigorate the team. The ultimate objective? Reigniting the joy and excitement in the art of game-making!
Integrated Creative Approach: While serving on the Marketing Operations team at Amazon Studios, I worked on The Lord Of The Rings "Rings of Power" television series. The multifaceted nature of the project necessitated coordinating the development of thousands of assets, an array of specialized producers, streamlining approvals, and aligning timelines for senior partners and stakeholders. Recognizing the need for an integrated approach to managing the entirety of asset development, I introduced the role of "Integrated Creative Managers," entrusted with overseeing the holistic development lifecycle of assets. Given the sheer volume of assets and intricacies involved, this was especially pivotal for managing Franchise Operations and ensuring consistency and quality at the IP Franchise level.

🔹My Philosophy:

Optimism and Faith drive me - combined, they are the wind behind my sails, propelling me forward even in challenging situations. My southern roots have endowed me with a hearty laugh, 😆 and I always believe in clear, straightforward communication. I thrive when surrounded by talent, love team synergy, and am always searching for innovative ways to collaborate and achieve greatness.

🔹 A Glimpse of My Personal Life:

Family forms my backbone, with two fantastic boys, Jonah and Caleb, and my supportive husband, Malik, completing the picture. Our family is also graced with a 15-year-old Norwegian Forrest Cat named AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript and XML) -a name inspired by my husband's tech background.

Hailing originally from Atlanta, GA, I've called Long Beach, California home for the past 20 years.

Want to learn more or discuss a collaboration? Don't hesitate to reach out!

CELESTE STROUD JONES - MARKETING, CREATIVE OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION