Turtlebox Audio Names McGarrah Jessee as First-Ever Creative Agency of Record

Turtlebox Audio, the leading manufacturer of portable outdoor speakers built to bring big sound anywhere, has named McGarrah Jessee its first-ever creative agency of record following a national competitive review.

Founded in 2015 by four friends who needed a speaker that could survive rugged outdoor conditions, Turtlebox has grown from a problem-solver into a category-defining brand with a passionate following. The brand's speakers are known for their premium sound, waterproof design, and durability, built for the realities of life outside.

The appointment marks a pivotal moment for Turtlebox as the brand looks to build on its momentum and define its broader lifestyle brand platform to support the company’s next phase of national growth. Since 2021, the company has experienced consecutive year-over-year growth, jumping to No. 84 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list. Alongside its 2025 Inc. ranking, the company doubled its employee count over the past year.

As Turtlebox's creative agency of record, McJ will lead brand strategy, build its creative platform, and drive integrated advertising, social, content, partnerships, and experiential work. McJ brings three decades of experience building followings for outdoor and lifestyle brands, including YETI, Costa Sunglasses, and Brooks Running.

Together, Turtlebox and McJ look to evolve the brand's perception from an outdoor music utility to a nationally recognised driver of music culture. The ambition is to deepen Turtlebox's ties within its communities of early supporters while establishing a bigger role in the music landscape.

The Turtlebox brand has long believed in the power of music to enrich one's environment, dedicating themselves to enhancing the outdoor experience. Their speakers are engineered to deliver premium sound quality while remaining imperishable in forces of nature. The founders have described themselves as “sound nerds” who love live music, and their goal has always been to recreate the feeling of an outdoor concert. The brand’s music platform as currently stands spotlights artists, using their “Box Sessions” to share artists stories while giving them a stage for fans to enjoy.

"Turtlebox has always lived where music and the outdoors meet. It started with people who wanted sound on the boat, at camp, at the beach, all the places regular speakers weren't built to go. Now we have a chance to build an entire world around that on a national scale," said Jonathan McKenzie, co-founder of Turtlebox. "McGarrah Jessee understands that, and they've built brands before that become part of people's identity. We already have that kind of pull with our fans and now McJ is going to help us bring it to a lot more people. Of all the agencies we connected with, McJ captured the brand most authentically. The work, which had great range, all felt real and honest. They also showed the greatest ability to listen and understand, and that was across their whole team. They understand where we're coming from and where we want to go. The chemistry just felt right."

With the recent hire of Jason Campbell as McJ’s chief creative officer, Turtlebox will also tap Campbell's music and culture-driven expertise, providing a fresh creative lens that builds on McJ's legacy of scaling brands around the irrational ways people care: the rituals, attachments, and everyday truths that make a brand matter more than logic alone can explain.

"Turtlebox is delivering sound and music in a space where people are trying to disconnect from their phones and connect with nature, friends, family, the moment they're in. That gives them a chance to become a one-of-one brand. It's great to start this new journey with a brand like this," said Jason Campbell, chief creative officer at McJ. "Their team sees that opportunity, they're ready to build toward it, and their ambition for great work is legit. You can feel it spending time with them in their office where people are making, tinkering, and figuring out what's next. That kind of energy feels familiar and in sync with ours."

The assignment also reflects McJ’s growing national footprint and the role its distributed talent model can play for brands looking to expand into new markets. In addition to its Austin headquarters, McJ has built a remote team across more than 30 cities, giving clients access to broader creative, strategic, and cultural perspectives.

McJ’s first work will support Turtlebox’s 2026 holiday season, followed by a new brand campaign slated to launch in March 2027.