Kurt Valenta
Verified Expert in Marketing
Marketing Expert
Warren, OH, United States
Toptal member since October 10, 2024
Kurt is a creative director and brand-building expert with 30+ years of agency experience and a BFA in Design from Carnegie Mellon. He has led creative teams for Fortune 500 clients across B2B and B2C, excelling in brand development, digital, social media, video, and experiential marketing. Kurt’s work has won numerous awards, and he has served as an ADDY judge. As a player coach and mentor, he is known for fostering collaboration and driving results.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Advertising
- Brand Identity
- Creative Design
- Digital Storyboards
- Package Design
- Video Design
- Web Design
Work Experience
Creative Director
Kurt A. Valenta Design, LLC
- Rebranded Marian University of Indianapolis, including their logo, signage, web, video, and outdoor and print campaigns. Drove efforts in branding a new engineering school.
- Provided creative direction for all enrolment and commencement marketing materials for Marian University.
- Art-directed thinkhwi.com, a major US refractory and heavy-industry website build.
Senior Art Director
Synchrony
- Created a request for proposal (RFP) for new social and email campaigns as the art director for CareCredit.
- Designed the animated Synchrony-Amazon 15th anniversary logo for a joint corporate event.
- Engaged as the art director on multiple high-profile email campaigns for Sleep Number.
Senior Art Director
EY
- Produced original video exhibits and design concepts for museum-styled rooms in Spatial for the Metaverse.
- Led the design concept for EY's annual 3-day digital conference in NYC.
- Oversaw social marketing campaign designs promoting EY breaking news, new hires, and PGA golf sponsorships.
Senior Art Director
Highmark Health
- Conceptualized and led the creative side of the development of promotion videos for the launch of new Highmark Health websites.
- Designed and directed award-winning videos for the relaunch of dental and eye insurance products.
- Redesigned the InDesign template system for key B2B sales initiatives. Streamlined the process while simplifying sales messaging and increasing production turnaround.
Creative Resource Manager
HMT Associates
- Conceptualized the art direction and development for Mondelez International (Oreo, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Ritz, and Belvita), Heineken International (Amstel Light and Red Stripe), and Kraft Heinz.
- Led the Trident Gum Chew Through campaign activation in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago, including the creative for broadcast, social, web, and video. Activation included concerts, subway station takeovers, train wraps, and product giveaways.
- Introduced and implemented the full-time use of Microsoft Teams, InVision, and Sketch for remote work collaboration during COVID-19.
Creative Director
Cleveland.com
- Generated over $550,000 of new business in the first year through direct presentations and RFP responses.
- Launched an enterprise sales system, including the website build and products on WordPress and UI/UX for Cleveland.com.
- Increased marketing sales by $1 million in the first year for automotive dealerships.
Senior Art Director
Marcus Thomas
- Pitched and signed GE Momentive as a high-ticket client to the agency and managed brand identity, including new website launch and B2B campaigns.
- Coordinated video production and social media campaigns for the Troy-Bilt Fall Chore product line at Lowe's.
- Led a $2 million national product launch for the GE Iron Grip campaign, including branding, packaging, social media marketing, web design, in-store POS, and direct mail marketing.
Creative Director
Brunner
- Handled agency pitches for 360 accounts and landed business that increased the agency's revenue by $3+ million throughout my employment.
- Developed and led the branding identity for Atlanta Bread Company and its 150 franchised stores in nine states.
- Received the National Public Relations Society for America (PRSA) award for MTD and Zippo.
Project History
GE Iron Grip
Headed the branding of the GE Iron Grip product launch into all Home Depot stores in the US.
I drove a 360-degree brand and marketing campaign, overseeing all marketing verticals, including product microsite, trade show, social media, video, and shopper marketing. I also directed all aspects of art, including design, photography, video, and media broadcast.
Trident Gum Chew Through Activation
Led the $2 million launch of Trident Gum's Chew Through campaign through robust social media and live activation simultaneously in three cities.
I headed the Trident Gum Chew Through campaign activation in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago through concerts, subway station takeovers, train wraps, and product giveaways. I also led the creative for broadcast, social media, web, and video.
Atlanta Bread Company
Directed the branding identity for Atlanta Bread Company and 150 of its franchised stores across five states.
I led the complete rebranding of the in-store guest experience, including architecture, signage, menus, and packaged goods. I directed all the creative of photography, video, and digital assets in a $1 million marketing effort across five states.
Highmark Health
Drove the creative and production of videos for Highmark Health insurance sales.
I was the lead creative in developing B2B and commercial videos promoting various health-related products and subjects. I also oversaw UI/UX production from concept through final launch, managing multiple production teams of copywriters, producers, and junior designers. I also demonstrated senior design skills in the creative production of ads, digital ads, brochures, and email campaigns.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design
Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Skills
Core
Experiential Marketing, Print Advertising, Shopper Marketing, Brand Activation
Platforms & Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator
Business Models
B2B2C
Other
Figma, Web Design, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Advertising, Video Design, Brand Identity, Package Design, Digital Storyboards, RFPs, Web UX, Social Ad Design, Digital Design, Creative Design, Visual Design
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