Co-Founder/Writer
In 2019, J. Barbush co-founded the creative marketing agency Cast Iron LA with his partner Luis Ramirez. Drawing on their wealth of experience, they aimed to fill a gap in the market, providing top-quality service to clients who were too small for large agencies but could benefit from big agency talent. Cast Iron LA is committed to working with a diverse range of clients, leveraging emotional intelligence and understanding of digital audiences to create resonant, award-winning campaigns.
J. Barbush began his career in production at MTV before transitioning to RPA Advertising in 1996. Over his 25-year career, J. has developed a variety of social media and 360 campaigns for an impressive list of clients, including Honda, Honda Motorcycles, VH-1, Discovery Channel, SYFY Network, SharkWeek, Tempur-Sealy, California Anti-tobacco, East West Bank, Cobra Electronics, ThinOptics, Escort Radar Detectors, Hilti, Erbaviva, No Compromise Gaming and more.
In 2007, J. drew from his production, digital, and traditional advertising background to build and lead the social media creative team at RPA. Under his guidance, a team of 25 created social media content for major clients such as Honda, Farmer’s Insurance, Dole, LA Clippers, and ampm/ARCO, as well as RPA’s own social presence.
His skillset extends to video editing, an area in which he has developed throughout his career. Initially learning editing to enhance communication with other editors, J. found a natural affinity for the craft. Over time, he refined his skills and has personally edited over 100 pieces. His adeptness in editing enables him to skillfully blend captivating visuals with impactful narratives, producing immersive and engaging experiences for viewers.
This thorough understanding of the editing process not only enriches J.’s creative capabilities but also provides clients with the added benefit of having a versatile creative director who can edit with precision and insight. Furthermore, J.’s ability to edit in-house brings efficiency to projects, ensuring timely delivery without compromising on quality. This streamlined approach ultimately results in cost savings and a smoother production process for clients, making it an invaluable asset to any campaign.
J. Barbush is known for being a conceptual problem solver, with a keen insight into audience behavior and a deep understanding of all social media platforms. His expertise in the nuances of each platform has helped him create campaigns that get noticed and resonate with target audiences. J. is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and dive into the management and administration of multiple creative projects in a fast-paced, real-time environment, and actively contributes to his team’s projects.
Throughout his career, J. has demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the advertising industry. He has published numerous articles on the subject in renowned platforms such as Adweek (www.adweek.com) and the 3 Percent blog (www.3percentmovement.com/blog).
Some of his notable articles include:
“‘Man Up’ and 5 Other Terms to Keep Out of the Office” – Adweek
“Are you doing diversity right?” – 3 Percent Blog
“Art and Analytics: How Creatives and Strategists Can Play Nice” – Huff Post
“How to be an awesome creative director” – Digiday
J’s campaigns have earned recognition from prestigious institutions such as Cannes, Shorty, CLIO, One Show, IAAA, Belding, ThinkLA, Addy, Webby, CA Annual, P.R. Daily, J.D. Power, Yahoo! Big Idea Chair, Yahoo! Searchlight, MIXX, OMMA, WOMMA, Drum, and more. He has also served as a Webby Judge, LeBook Judge, Addy Judge, and a 20-time editorial contributor to FastToCreate, Adweek, iMediaConnection, Campaign Live, Digiday, The Drum, Little Black Book, and others.
J.’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships, both in the workplace and with clients, is reflected in his confident presentations, egoless communication, and serial collaboration.His passion for storytelling, combined with his vast experience and knowledge of the advertising landscape, has made him a sought-after creative leader. He is dedicated to staying ahead of industry trends and continuously evolving his skills to create innovative and impactful campaigns for his clients.