Tod C Parkhill

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Graduated with honors with a BFA in Communication Arts and an

emphasis on Electronic Media.

Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA

A summer college job drawing caricatures at the local theme park helped develop career skills I still capitalize on today. Within five years, I was Area-Manager of Artist Operations and was in charge of developing training materials for new employees and creating concepts for themed attractions around the park. I was responsible for operations worth over a quarter million dollars to the park’s yearly bottom line.    

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA

I worked in the Richmond Times-Dispatch promotions department which focused on corporate design and public promotions such as contests, subscription drives and house ads. I also helped spear-head the new electronic Classifieds pagination system, which allowed us to streamline production of the incoming Classified ads – one of the paper’s most valuable revenue streams.

Young American Comics, VA, CA, MI

Using the skills I learned at the newspaper, I started a small-press publishing company and worked with artists and writers around the country to produce experimental and high-concept sequential art that achieved much acclaim among our peers. I was involved in all aspects of running the company and by the time the financial collapse hit us in 2008 we had published over 70 titles and helped launch the careers of many of our contributors.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA

As the economy began to collapse in the mid-2000s, I returned to the Richmond Times-Dispatch as a Graphic Designer. When the paper bought a local weekly publication with a readership of about 10,000, I was selected as the de facto Editor-in-Chief to help revitalize it. Our team expanded readership from 10,000 to almost 25,000 and helped bolster the local arts and entertainment community.

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I also helped develop Kids Extra, a monthly publication that promoted the “Newspapers in Education” department as part of their youth readership drive. As Art Director, I was in charge of all aspects of the creative look and feel of the publication from branding to merchandise, game creation and online and local presence. Kids Extra ran in the Sunday edition with a circulation of 120,000. Within a year, the publication had won an International Newspaper Marketing award and had expanded into weekly publication as part of the nationally syndicated Mini Pages insert.  

Various, Lansing, MI

I watched the newspaper industry make bad decision after bad decision, and while I was involved in many of their innovation attempts, I did not yet have the influence or position to help save them. At a time when lay-offs were rampant, I convinced the RTD to hire me as a contractor for a number of on-going publications. I also worked as a creative consultant for various other companies including creating infographics for First Book in Washington, D.C., and internal corporate design for Consumers Energy in Jackson, MI.

Dart Container Graphics Services, Mason, MI

I was hired as an Art Coordinator to help assist with the SOLO transition in the Graphics department. Not only was I able to provide an outsider’s perspective, I also helped solve some issues involving new cup geometry and SKU rationalization. I am currently responsible for coordinating the custom print markets in New York, Texas, Louisiana and most of the mid-west and helped pioneer the new e-proof system before its country-wide launch. I also created a Pantone color efficiency guide to help reduce wasted ink at the plants and have been one of the “go to” people for helping develop departmental efficiencies. I also recently completed Dart’s “Team Lead Training” and helped produce an animated training video for the Sales department.