Audrey Whittam
Audrey Whittam is the founder of Creative Displays & Packaging LLC and a seasoned leader in the packaging and retail display industry with more than 35 years of experience. Her journey began in high school, working alongside her father at a corrugated manufacturing plant, where she gained hands-on exposure to the operational and creative aspects of packaging. This early foundation sparked a lifelong fascination with consumer products, merchandising, and the way brands connect with shoppers through visual presentation. She later pursued a degree in marketing from Rutgers University and Douglas College, blending academic insight with real-world industry experience.
Audrey’s professional path evolved from selling corrugated packaging to discovering her true passion in point-of-purchase displays, where creativity, strategy, and relationship-building intersect. She spent 25 years with Display Connection, cultivating long-term client partnerships and guiding projects from concept through manufacturing and fulfillment. When the division was dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, Audrey turned an unexpected challenge into an opportunity, launching Creative Displays & Packaging and leveraging her extensive industry knowledge, loyal client base, and entrepreneurial spirit to build a thriving independent business.
Today, Audrey leads her company with a hands-on approach, overseeing day-to-day operations while collaborating with graphic and structural designers to deliver innovative retail programs for her clients. Known for her energy, tenacity, and love of working with people, she thrives on the variety and creativity that each new project brings. A dedicated wife and mother of two, Audrey balances her professional drive with a strong commitment to family, community involvement, and competitive sports — experiences that continue to shape her leadership style and passion for creating meaningful, lasting impact in the world of packaging and display.
• Provisionally Certified Women Business enterprise
• SBE Approved (Small Business Enterprise)
• Rutgers Business School- B.S.
• Previously member of Women in Packaging
• Pass It Along
• WIT - Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment
What do you attribute your success to?
My dad was in manufacturing - he was a plant manager at a corrugator - and I started working when I was in high school, then started selling for that company in college. I always had a love for packaging and products, consumer products, and the way things were displayed. I was always in the stores looking around and was just naturally curious about that. I went to school for marketing at Rutgers University and Douglas College, and I think with the packaging background and my marketing degree, it was just a natural fit. When I started selling, I just loved the people - I love being out there, I love working with people, I love creating things and programs. What is really fun about this industry is that it's not the same project every time, it's always something cool and new. I'm an athlete, so I'm super competitive, and I think that falls through into sales and just being aggressive in everything. When something goes wrong, I'm tenacious in figuring out a solution and getting things done, and working with teams - strategy, all of it. I think being an athlete and playing on multiple teams and doing multiple sports really has helped form who I am today. I have a very positive personality, so I like to figure out a way even when something goes wrong. I don't look at pointing fingers or whatever - it's like, okay, so let's just solve the problem and figure out how we can do it and how we could figure out that it won't happen again. I'm always looking at the positive sides of things and how we could do things and how we could make things better.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My godmother was a huge influence on me. I spent a lot of time growing up with her, and she ran a business. I always looked up to her because she was just a powerful woman that just made things happen. I was around that and watched that, and that was a big influence in my life.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't take no for an answer. When people ask me to do something, I try my best to figure it out. There are so many people where when you're asking questions, they say 'yeah, it can't be done, you can't blah blah blah.' I have a very positive personality, so I like to figure out a way. Even when something goes wrong, I don't look at pointing fingers or whatever - it's like, okay, so let's just solve the problem and figure out how we can do it and how we could figure out that it won't happen again. I'm always looking at the positive sides of things and how we could do things and how we could make things better.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think it's harder to break into accounts today because a lot of people are so closed off. The challenge is opening new doors. I have a great customer base and referrals are great, but opening new doors outside of my existing network is what's challenging, because people already have a network of people that do a great job. That's what I hired somebody for - I was doing so much that I didn't really have time to pursue selling and growing the business, so that's why I hired a sales and marketing person, and hopefully we'll break through that. I'm older, so I'm really good with managing what I have, but a lot of the younger generation like working with their peers, and so I think that I need to have a fresh approach. That's why I hired a younger person to appeal to that younger market, so I'm hoping that we'll make that difference.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm an athlete, so I'm super competitive, and I think that falls through into sales and just being aggressive in everything. When something goes wrong, I'm tenacious in figuring out a solution and getting things done, and working with teams - strategy, all of it. I think being an athlete and playing on multiple teams and doing multiple sports really has helped form who I am today. I have a very positive personality, so I like to figure out a way even when something goes wrong. I don't look at pointing fingers - it's like, okay, so let's just solve the problem and figure out how we can do it and how we could figure out that it won't happen again. I'm always looking at the positive sides of things and how we could do things and how we could make things better. I think if you're doing a great job, you should be recognized for that based on merit, whether you're male or female.