At GPJ, Integrated Production (IP) is the engine that turns vision into experience. Every great event requires bold creative, sharp strategy, and captivating storytelling—but without disciplined production, nothing makes it off the page and into our audience’s spaces. IP is where ideas become real. It’s where producers like Josh Staffieri transform complexity into clarity, pressure into momentum, and ambition into outcome.
From the Ignite Program to delivering large-scale experiences for global brands, Josh has emerged as a trusted leader within GPJ’s most high-impact programs.
From Student to Show Floor
Josh joined GPJ in 2019 through the Ignite Program, a six-month entry-level, train-to-hire program that provides up-and-coming professionals with hands-on exposure to real events and teams. The spark happened earlier, however, during a Workday internship while he was studying marketing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“That experience gave me my first real exposure to event marketing and showed me how powerful live experiences can be
in connecting people and brands,” Josh notes. “I learned about GPJ and the Ignite Program, which felt like a perfect fit for someone just coming out of college and eager to build a career in experiential marketing.”
He has since steadily risen from Event Specialist to Associate Event Producer,navigating complex projects for global powerhouses like Meta, Salesforce, Cisco, ICE Mortgage, and Adobe. Today, he leads teams across everything from executive summits to large-scale conferences.
Learning by Doing, Leading by Example
His first onsite experience was LinkedIn Talent Connect 2019, a global experience focused on the HR and recruiting space. He helped produce the Wellness Room experience, managed surprise-and-delight talent, coordinated dinners, and oversaw giveaways for 5,000+ attendees.
“It was an incredible hands-on introduction to GPJ’s scale, creativity, and attention to detail.”
Since then, Josh has honed a leadership style rooted in clarity and composure. He thrives in high-speed, high-stakes environments, where priorities shift, timelines squeeze, and teams need someone to hold the line and move the work forward.
“I thrive in environments where things are moving quickly, priorities evolve, and no two days look the same.”
That calm-under-pressure mindset has made him a go-to for projects that require cross-functional leadership and problem-solving in real time.
A Landmark Challenge—and a Landmark Win
One of Josh’s most significant successes came during Cisco GSX. He was responsible for the show’s centerpiece: The Landmark.
Months before the opening, the budget shifted significantly. Josh and his team had to reimagine the entire build in record time
“I led a cross-functional team spanning production, creative, strategy, fabrication, AV, lighting, and operations, and together we collaborated closely to problem-solve, prioritize what mattered most, and find creative ways to bring the concept to life within the new constraints.”
The Landmark did more than just meet the new requirements—it became a celebrated focal point for attendees, a symbol of collaboration, and a testament to what’s possible when a team works in sync.
Constantly Evolving
Whether coordinating a structural build or mentoring future producers, Josh continues to expand his impact. He’s recently joined our Live Production Subject Matter Expert (SME) group and developed a strong interest in fabrication—skills that now make him even more effective onsite and behind the scenes.
“That knowledge has been especially helpful onsite—allowing me to problem-solve more effectively, better understand install timelines, and work more seamlessly with union labor crews. Together, these experiences have made me a more well-rounded producer and reinforced how much I enjoy the work I’m doing at GPJ.”
That unique level of continuous betterment is the backbone of our agency as a whole, and Josh embodies it perfectly.
Investing in the Next Generation
While Josh continues to lead major productions, he remains passionate about mentorship—especially through Ignite, the very program that launched his own career.
“Being able to mentor and support early-career professionals, share what I’ve learned, and help shape an experience that sets others up for success has been incredibly fulfilling.”
He’s helped shape the program, ensuring it remains a vital part of GPJ’s talent pipeline and culture of growth. When asked what advice he would give to those young professionals, he responded with the following:
“If I could offer advice to young event professionals, it would be to stay curious, be proactive, and get comfortable with the uncomfortable. This industry moves
fast, and things rarely go exactly as planned, so being adaptable and willing to jump in wherever needed is key. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, raise your hand, or take on challenges before you feel fully ready—some of the best learning happens
in those moments.”
At GPJ, people like Josh Staffieri power the machine of Integrated Production. From building world-class events to shaping future leaders, he embodies the mindset and momentum that make IP the engine of trust behind every unforgettable experience.
