ABOUT US

BASED ON THE NORTH SHORE OF O'AHU, SERVING CLIENTS EVERYWHERE. BASED ON THE NORTH SHORE OF O'AHU, SERVING CLIENTS EVERYWHERE. BASED ON THE NORTH SHORE OF O'AHU, SERVING CLIENTS EVERYWHERE.  BASED ON THE NORTH SHORE OF O'AHU, SERVING CLIENTS EVERYWHERE.  

Ellie got her start at national marketing agencies before taking her expertise in social, content, and brand strategy in-house to the CPG + food and beverage world—first with Caribou Coffee (a global coffeehouse with more than 850 locations across 11 countries), then as Director of Brand Engagement for Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, where she led brand, communications, and creative teams across the U.S.

After years on both sides of the industry, Ellie saw what made agency-client partnerships thrive and where traditional processes fell short. So in 2024, she founded Of the North, a contemporary creative agency built for the modern marketing world. Of the North combines big-brand expertise with a boutique, human-first approach, helping brands move with clarity through identity, strategy, and creative execution.

Ellie's work has been featured in Nation's Restaurant News and she’s spoken to international audiences on team culture and communication. She also volunteers with the Hawai‘i Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals HI School Program, mentoring the next generation of marketing leaders.

Originally from Minnesota, Ellie has called Hawai‘i home for nearly a decade, always drawing inspiration from both North Shores she loves most—Lake Superior and O‘ahu's 7-mile miracle. 

Meet the founder

Ellie Schwartz builds brands, strategies, and stories that connect with people—and last.

Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn.

The ones who keep the creative wheels turning...

Of the North is a remote agency serving clients across the U.S. and beyond—with team members based in Hawai‘i, Minnesota, California, and New York.