Ray E. Toler, Jr.

About me:

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Profile
Effective and creative problem solver. Customer-focused, multi-disciplinary team leader and project manager with broad experience base. Superlative written, visual, and verbal communicator. Passionate teacher with enthusiasm for creation, improvement, and technology.

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Career Goal
I earned my MBA in May 2007. I am eager to utilize past experience and recent education in a marketing and/or communications role with a forward-thinking and energetic company.

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Experience
Owner, Tortured Artist — a consultancy providing marketing, communications, creative, and project management services — 2003-Present
Provide creative and consulting services including marketing communications, audio/video production, corporate identity and collateral design and production, project management, process improvement, and managerial consulting resulting in effective business solutions. Lead and advise client teams. Past projects include:

• Interactive Sales Demo — Evaluated client’s existing demo. Changed design from a monolithic project with an 18-24 month cycle to an evergreen, modular system allowing rapid development and easier maintenance. Specified change from proprietary development software to web-standards resulting in significant improvements to distribution flexibility and ability to repurpose assets.


• Research Program DVD — Wrote and produced a compelling seven minute video for use in direct mail, at trade shows, and on client’s web site. Total production costs were less than a single full-page magazine ad, while providing a more complete and memorable overview of client’s 45 year old research program. Interfaced with CEO, Marketing Vice President, and technical experts. Directed and coordinated creative team.


• International Advertising Campaign — Designed and wrote a series of high-impact full-page ads for publication in both domestic and international markets. Tied advertisements into display materials for trade shows.


• Customer Relations Management (CRM) System — Conducted initial process review, needs assessment and platform selection to integrate and streamline multiple customer-related information databases and processes into a modular system capable of serving the needs of multiple departments and global locations.


• Content Management System (CMS) Development — Evaluated existing processes for client’s web publishing efforts and identified several areas for improvement. Assisted with hiring of personnel and led team to design and create a content management system allowing distribution of online publication efforts across entire company, resulting in high efficiency gains and elimination of bottlenecks. Fostered interaction with CRM team to ensure synergies between projects.

Administrator, Intranet Systems, Incyte Genomics — 1997-2003
Established and led multi-departmental team to assess needs and develop intranet sites and applications. Managed selection and implementation process of enterprise software solutions including search engines, groupware, discussion forums, help-desk tracking, distance learning and collaborative tools. Worked with Vice President of Human Resources to develop telework policies. Led project to improve operational efficiencies by converting HR forms to electronic formats allowing online processing. Trained employees in web design and development software. Evaluated and improved processes associated with desktop support including standardization of platforms, software, and inventory resulting in reduction of average delivery time for new employee desktops from four days to one day.

Marketing Coordinator, Heat Transfer Research, Inc. — 1990-1997
Rapidly progressed from entry-level position to oversight of international research and development consortium’s global advertising, identity, branding, and marketing efforts. Oversaw development and publication of all marketing, advertising, and PR materials. Conducted marketing surveys targeting both existing and potential customers. Introduced appropriate emerging technologies and media to marketing efforts including creation of company’s first web site in 1994, conversion to electronic product distribution, and CD-ROM publishing, and led efforts to incorporate them in business strategy. Coordinated and attended all global trade-show appearances.

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Education
University of Houston, Houston, Texas — MBA, 2007, Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia — BFA, 1990, Cum Laude