James John Bell

As Director, James provides account management, art direction, advertising and
strategic marketing for SmartMeme Studios clients and partners.

In 1992 James left a four-year career in television news with ABC to support
Native American sovereignty struggles and environmental activists with
creative media strategies and award wining documentary video making.
James was Writer/Director at the Chicago based non-profit public interest
communications firm Sustain from 2000 to 2003, where he managed advertising
and public relations campaigns for critical environmental issues surrounding
biotechnology, energy, land use, and transportation for the Sierra Club,
Rainforest Action Network, Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for
Food Safety among others. In 2002 he co-founded the non-profit advocacy
communications organization the smartMeme Strategy & Training Project. 
His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post,
and Communication Arts.

An avid gamer, activist and writer James writes regularly on issues of narrative
theory, social-change, technology, online video games and cultural-analysis.
He authored the afterword to the environmental science fiction classic The Sheep
Look Up by John Brunner, as well as chapters in books on pop cultural phenomena
like the online virtual world video game World of Warcraft and the new popular
sci-fi television series Battlestar Galactica. He lives in Union, Washington.


J Cookson

As Creative Director, J is responsible for ad and collateral graphic design,
video production, and concepting narrative strategies and creative actions
for clients and partners. An award winning filmmaker, intuitive graphic designer,
and former avante garde musician, J brings to SmartMeme Studios his
creative and visual talents.

J is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and has worked
professionally in the visual arts for over 15 years. His past work has ranged from
corporate efforts for the likes of Columbia Records, MTV and Nickelodeon,
to independent films, documentaries, interactive video games, music videos,
and arts and educational projects. J has been a guest instructor at the Art Institute
of Chicago and has screened his works at media festivals around the U.S and in
Europe.

Since 1999, J has used video and graphic design as tools of documentation,
outreach and education to support issues and struggles related to ecological
sustainability, food sovereignty, global justice, government and corporate
accountability, police brutality, civil rights, housing activism, eminent domain,
world peace, and deeper democracy - like the widely seen Cheney "Got Oil?"  
image for the 2002 World Economic Forum. From 2001 to 2003 he worked as
the video director for the non-profit public interest communications
firm Sustain, where he, and James collaborated to create award winning
environmental communications videos and advertising. J co-founded the
nonprofit smartMeme Strategy and Training Project in 2002. He lives in Union,
Washington.


Kristen Fisser

As SmartMeme Studios Bookkeeper, Kristen handles billing, traffic and business
administration. She began working for the smartMeme Strategy & Training
Project as bookkeeper in 2005. Since 2007 she has been an Accounting
Technician at Southard Beckham Atwater & Berry, CPA, PS. in Port Orchard, WA.
She has worked in the accounting field for over 16 years.  She resides in
Gig Harbor, Washington.


Kristin Kinder

Kristin assists with advertising, project management, and strategic marketing
for SmartMeme Studios clients and partners. The daughter of a graphic designer
and New York Times bestselling author, Kristin was exposed early to the creative
process. She sang in choir for ten years, enjoys photography, writing, and video
making. After playing soccer at Santa Clara University, she graduated with honors
in 2006 with a degree in Combined Sciences and a minor in Biology. Inspired
by a study abroad program that took her around the world, she moved to Germany
to play soccer and work. Most recently she has been working with Waste Management
during their transition to picking up half the waste in Seattle. She resides in
Seattle, Washington.

Cyndi Sorrell

Cyndi joined SmartMeme Studios in 2009 after graduating from The Evergreen
State College with an emphasis in cultural studies. Cyndi assists with fundraising
and marketing initiatives for SmartMeme Studios clients. She has over ten years
experience in nonprofit arts administration including event management, booking
and grant writing. Prior to attending TESC, Cyndi spent six years managing artistic
and cultural programming at Seattle's historic Paramount and Moore theatres.
She lives in Tacoma, Washington.