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© HelloIAmCreative 2026

About EJ Toudt

 A driven, open minded, creative graphic designer and chief creative officer with over 25 years of experience in advertising, marketing and editorial design.

Life is a continuous learning experience.

Editorial, Advertising and Marketing Design and Direction
AI Marketing
Layout and Design
Creative Direction
Photo Editing
Video Direction, Production and Editing
HTML5 Digital Ad Design
WordPress Web Design and Development
Social Media Execution and Management
Headline Writing
Team Leading
Adobe Creative Suite

The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill;

InDesign
Photoshop
Illustrator
Premiere
After Effects
Animate
Lightroom
WordPress
Figma
Logic
Audition
Mac/PC
Team Management & Leadership
Art Direction
Creative Direction
Podcast Production and Implementation
AI Marketing with Chat GPT/Gemini
Adobe Creative Suite AI features

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn …and change.” – Carl Rogers

East Carolina University
1989-1994
B.S. in Communications

Work Experience

October 2024-Present
Chief Creative Officer
Qantm Creative

As Chief Creative Officer, I lead the creative vision and execution across Qantm Creative’s client portfolio, ensuring every engagement delivers strong strategic thinking, high-quality design, and measurable business value. I am accountable for creative excellence, brand integrity, and the overall performance of the creative department—balancing big-picture direction with hands-on involvement when it matters most.

I guide work from initial concept through final delivery, translating client objectives into clear creative strategies and ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to a consistently high standard. I work closely with multidisciplinary teams and clients, keeping creativity aligned with business goals while maintaining agency profitability. I work along side many individuals in the creative department, sales and digital/social departments.

Key Responsibilities

  • Set and uphold the creative vision, standards, and direction for all client work

  • Lead the creative process from concept through execution across branding, digital, and marketing initiatives

  • Translate marketing and business objectives into clear, actionable creative strategies

  • Partner with account, strategy, and production teams to deliver cohesive, effective solutions

  • Oversee client pitches, proposals, and presentations

  • Ensure brand consistency, visual excellence, and quality control across all deliverables

  • Manage agency profitability through oversight of scope, timelines, budgets, and resourcing

  • Serve as a senior client-facing leader, presenting campaign strategies and creative solutions

  • Review work, provide constructive feedback, and solve creative or production challenges

  • Recruit, mentor, and develop creative talent across design, photography, and video

  • Foster a collaborative, high-performance creative culture

  • Maintain hands-on involvement in concept development and key creative executions when appropriate

  • Provide oversight and direction on WordPress design and development initiatives

  • Guide HTML5 and digital advertising design standards and execution
  • Work alongside Website Developer managing, designing and developing websites.

July 2021-October 2024
Creative Director
WB Marketing

Responsible for the creative direction of WB Marketing’s clients; presentation and execution of branding and design of clients; the profitability, budget and creative quality of the agency.

I guide all projects and am responsible for the overall quality of work produced by the creative department. I tend to keep one foot in the trenches, helping to generate the big ideas. Here is a list of daily things I am responsible for:

  • Manage the creative process from concept to completion
  • Translate marketing objectives into clear creative strategies
  • Work closely with multidisciplinary project teams
  • Lead and direct the creative team in the production of all marketing and branding collateral for clients
  • Ensure visual communication and brand standards are met
  • Oversee client pitches and proposals
  • Oversee profitability, deliverables, timelines and budgets
  • Meet with clients or upper management to explain campaign strategies and solutions
  • Review work, troubleshoot and provide feedback to creative teams
  • Remain actively involved in hiring and training creative staff
  • Manage and cultivate the career development of design, photography and video staff members
  • WordPress Development and Design
  • HTML5 Advertising Design
  • Work alongside Website Developer managing, designing and developing websites.

September 2011 – March 2021
Creative Director
Virginia Media

Responsible for the creative output of Distinction Magazine, VA Growler Craft Beer Magazine, PRIME, and Outer Banks Magazine, with oversight of the art directors, photographers and creative processes; presentation and execution of branding and design of the magazines; the profitability, budget and creative quality of the magazines, and the operational readiness of the online components including the website and social media outlets, all in fulfillment of our brand promise to our readers.

  • Work collaboratively with the editor in the development of stories
  • Ability to execute creative concepts and copy, and clearly communicate creative direction to others
  • Excellent communication, planning, time-management, and follow-through skills
  • Manage budgets, procuring and scheduling of freelance photographers and illustrators
  • Manage art direction, design, and production of the magazines
  • Prepare and justifying job estimates
  • Quality control, including proofing, reviewing, creative output and processes
  • Produce videos for online use
  • Create and manage all social media content including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
  • Creating and maintaining the www.DistinctionVA.com website and the www.VAGrowlerMag.com websites

Responsible for creating various ad campaigns for businesses in Hampton Roads and beyond which include print, direct marketing, and digital solutions. Also in-house Pilot Media marketing collateral.

July 2019-December 2019
Creative Consultant
Kansas City Magazine

Responsible for redesigning and rebranding the former 435 Magazine in Kansas City into Kansas City Magazine. Redesigned their logo, cover and inside pages, helped advise current art directors on photo editing and photoshoot direction.

March 2008 – September 2011
Creative Director
Virginian-Pilot Media Companies, LLC

Created various ad campaigns for businesses in Hampton Roads, and outside of the market, which include print, direct marketing and digital solutions. Designed all in-house Pilot Media marketing and collateral. Creative consulted and trained a graphic design staff of 24 designers. Looked at advertising and project creative to ensure it meets creative standards and business goals. Went on client calls with sales executives and presented creative to clients to lock in potential revenue. Had a sell ratio of 75% – 85% of all projects presented from March 2008 – September 2011.

June 2005 – March 2008
Graphic Design Team Leader
Virginian-Pilot Media Companies, LLC

Managed and scheduled a graphic design staff of 8 designers. Held meetings, creative consulted designs of staff, helped in brainstormings, provided consult and problem solving between sales staff and design. Worked with other team leaders and sales managers to uncover potential revenue opportunities.

March 2001 – June 2005
Graphic Designer
Virginian-Pilot Media Companies, LLC

Managed ad list of over 60 clients weekly for The Beacon (city tab) and the Virginian-Pilot newspaper as well as producing creative specs and projects.

May 1994 – Dec 2000
Program Director/Music Director/ On-Air Personality
Rock 102.5 WERX & 95.3 The Wave WOBR

Managed and scheduled a staff of 5 full-time employees plus 4 part-time employees. Talking with music label representatives, choosing music and making daily on-air playlists. Producing various on-air shifts for my personal DJ work from a morning show, night shift and afternoon drive time. Producing, copywriting and voicing commercials for on-air use. Planning concert events and on-air giveaways. Performing remote broadcasts.

 

Awards

GDUSA AWARDS

2025 Best-Of-The-Year Awards

Send It for Shane Makers Beer Can Design
Qantm Creative Holiday Card 2025
Nauticus’ WinterFest on the Wisconsin Campaign
Nauticus May Weld It Event
Hampton Roads Maritime Training System (HRMTS) Campaign

2025 Health and Wellness Awards

Fishing Point Healthcare Display Tent in the category Exhibits + Displays
Virginia Health Services – Main Brochure Booklet in the category Brochures + Collateral
VHS Senior Living Digital Campaign in the category Social Media 

2025 Digital Design Awards

The Breeden Company – Breeden Company Digital Ad Campaign
Fishing Point Health Care – Fishing Point Spec Digital Ads
City of Manassas – Department of Economic Development 2023 Annual Report EBook
Town of Herndon – Police Dept. Website
SPAR, Inc – Nascar Video
Qantm Creative Agency – Social Graphics

2024 Digital Design Awards

The Breeden Company Website
VHS Recruiting “You” Social Ads
Breeden Construction Branded 2024 Q1 HTML5 Ads 

American Graphic Design Awards 2024

Norfolk International Airport “Direct to” Series
Qantm Creative Brand Material
SPAR Kickoff Go For Bold Event
HRWC Racing Booth and Collateral
Manassas 2023 Annual Report
Herndon PD – Website
Qantm Creative Agency Reel

2023 American Graphic Design Award Winner

Virginia Health Services Pop-Up Banner
Elysion Construction Logo
The Breeden Company Website
City of Manassas Economic Development 2022 Annual report

2022 American Graphic Design Awards

Breeden Construction Branding Campaign
2022 American Graphic Design Award for
Virginia Health Systems Website (www.vahs.com)
2022 American Graphic Design Award for
SPAR Global Website (www.sparinc.com)

SOCIETY OF FEATURES JOURNALISM AWARDS:
2019 Best Niche Publication (Magazine), Society of Features Journalism
2019 Best Special Publication (Distinction food issue), Society of Features Journalism
2018 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (first place)
2018 Best Special Section (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (first place)
2017 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (first place)
2016 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (second place)
2015 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (first place)
2014 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (first place)
2013 Best Niche Product (Magazine) Society of Features Journalism (second place)

FOLIO AWARDS:
2017 Folio Award Finalist for Full Issue: Epicurean

CRM AWARDS:
2020 National City and Regional Magazine Awards finalist

ADDY DESIGN AWARDS:
Silver 2009-2011 • Gold 2012 • Silver 2013 – 2014 – 2015

MID ATLANTIC DESIGN AWARDS:
2012 – 2014 1st Place Best Niche Publication
Best In Show 2013
2009 1st Place Mid Atlantic Design Award

VIRGINIA PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS:
2019 Best in Show, Specialty Publication, Virginia Press Association
2019 Best in Show, Specialty Writing, Virginia Press Association
2019 Best in Show, Specialty Graphics, Illustrations and Art, Virginia Press Association
2019 Best in Show, Specialty Photography, Virginia Press Association
2007 – 2014 – 2015 1st Place Best Slick Publication
Best In Show 2012