Josh Ellis
Executive Director and Founder, SUM
Josh Ellis is the co-founder and executive director of SUM, a company that creates restorative outdoor experiences for groups throughout Chicagoland—from staff retreats and wellness outings to community exploration and team-building events. By offering safe, inclusive, and welcoming experiences, SUM helps people pause, connect, and recharge—while also making nature more accessible and enjoyable for those often marginalized in outdoor spaces.
Before founding SUM, Ellis spent 15 years at the Metropolitan Planning Council, where he led impactful urban and regional development efforts rooted in community needs, ecosystem health, and sound public policy. He has been a board member at PODER for over a decade, helping grow the organization into one of Chicago's leading immigrant integration and workforce development organizations—a journey that began when he taught evening ESL classes during graduate school at the University of Chicago.
A New Hampshire native, Ellis now lives in Chicago’s South Loop. He loves exploring the world, both near and far, with his wife and two kids.
