St Croix Rod lands top comms man Josh

St Croix Rod has netted well-known industry media specialist Josh Lantz to take on the role of corporate communications director at the Wisconsin, USA-based manufacturer.

A lifelong angler, Josh brings 28 years of fishing-industry communications experience to the newly created position, having worked for the past eight as communications specialist and group editor with Traditions Media, providing media-relations services for some of the best brands in the outdoors industry, including St Croix Rod.
The 52-year-old grew up on Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana and graduated from Ball State University in 1993 with a pair of bachelor’s degrees in Urban Planning and Development and Environmental Design. A freelance outdoor writer since 1994, he entered the fishing and communications industries full time in 2002, continuing his freelance communications work while also serving as editor-in-chief of Indiana Outdoor News and working as a self-employed fly-fishing guide, among other roles.
He said: “Today, native storytelling through industry distribution, quality editorial content, direct-to-angler communications and top-tier service to hardworking media partners are critical parts of any successful fishing brand’s overall marketing strategy.

“Traditions Media has been a pioneer in this area and I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given to work with and learn from this talented team.”
In his new role he will work with the St Croix Marketing Team, led by vice-president of marketing, Jesse Simpkins.

“I’ve known and worked with Jesse for many years,” Josh added. “There are very few companies and very few people I would have left my career at Traditions Media for, but Jesse and St Croix were at the top of that extremely short list.

“In working with St Croix over the past five years, I’ve seen how its commitment and promise to anglers guides what every person involved with the brand does every day and impacts every decision that’s made. I couldn’t be more excited to come work on this team in this angler-driven environment.”

Meanwhile, Jesse explained: “Josh has become a valuable and trusted part of the St Croix family over the past few years, helping us clearly and consistently communicate our unique brand story, our values, our technologies, our mission, and – most importantly – our promise to anglers.

X