Alumni Spotlight: Todd Howard Ezrin
Class of 1995
Degree:
B.A. in Interior Architecture and Design
Hometown:
Potomac, Md.
Current Role:
Owner and Principal Designer at TOBE DesignGroup
Where are you from and what brought you to Marymount?
I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Potomac, Md. Interior design is my second degree after earning a business degree from Ithaca College in upstate New York. I originally wanted to be an architect, but felt like I was so terrible at math that it would have been disastrous. I worked in hospitality at a Bethesda hotel after graduating but my passion for interior design was undeniable.
I left the hotel industry after three years to begin design classes at Montgomery College and later transferred to Marymount to pursue commercial design and become NCIDQ-certified. I knew a degree from an accredited institution was the right move for me. I really enjoyed my classes, the professors, and the coursework. Since graduating, I’ve returned as a guest lecturer to share insights on procurement for a business class in the design program. I have also reviewed student portfolios, which was a great experience.
What was your career trajectory after college, and what led you to start your own business?
I’ve had a pretty interesting career track—I’ve sort of done a bit of everything. I always knew I wanted to work in commercial design, so I joined a firm where the focus was on design for multifamily residential communities—public spaces in apartment buildings and condominiums. I wore a lot of hats and learned a lot as the firm grew. I have also worked on the vendor side in a furniture showroom and for a furniture dealer. During a management shuffle, I was terminated from that job. Although it was a difficult time, being forced out pushed me in the direction I really wanted to go—founding and running my own business.
I’ve never been the boldest or riskiest person, but deep down I always wanted to have my own business. I had the know-how from my business studies and experience from my past work as a designer. I joined forces with a partner and we formed TOBE DesignGroup. Eventually our partnership dissolved, and since then I’ve been running the business myself. That was 15 years ago. We’ve grown slowly but steadily, and although we remain small, I like to say we’re small but mighty.
What have been your greatest professional accomplishments so far?
As we’ve grown, so has the scope of our projects. We’re based in D.C. but have designed spaces across the world. We had a great partnership with a retail cannabis company in California and designed stores for them across the U.S., and even internationally in Israel, Austria, and Australia. Our design for one of their L.A. stores garnered us an ASID Design Excellence Award, which was very exciting. Over the last several years, our work has been recognized with five prestigious industry awards and other accolades. We also just had a project published in the late Fall 2025 issue of Home & Design Magazine.
I was also recently named to the “Power List,” a list of 50 leading designers and firms across the country published by Designers Today magazine. One of our projects was featured on their cover earlier this year, but I had no idea they would be including us on their power list. After practicing design for 30 years, it is humbling to be recognized within the industry. I’m grateful for the honor as it also helps elevate the firm’s profile and gives us more visibility on a national level.
You’ve been involved in a lot of philanthropic work during your career. Can you describe some of the projects you are most passionate about?
Philanthropy has always been important to me, and over the years I’ve built it into my personal life and my business. During the pandemic, for example, I learned how many people in Montgomery County, Maryland, were food insecure. That really struck me, so our firm started donating to a local food pantry for every new project we won. It began as a pandemic initiative, but we’ve continued it ever since. I also started something called Toys for Todd about 18 years ago. My birthday is in early December, and instead of gifts, I host a party where people bring toys or donate money to the Marines’ Toys for Tots Foundation. Marines come in full dress uniform, and we partner with a design-related showroom to host the event. It’s become an annual tradition and one of my favorite ways to give back. On top of that, I’ve been involved in volunteer design work. For years, I worked with a nonprofit that designed apartments for people in need—low-income single mothers or young adults aging out of foster care. We designed their spaces from scratch, so they had a home that promoted comfort, dignity, and well-being.
I’m passionate about philanthropy because I am acutely aware that I was raised with advantages—I never had to worry about food or housing. My parents taught me to think of others, and my Jewish heritage emphasizes tikkun olam, or “repairing the world.” That value drives me. Whether it’s through my work as a designer or through community initiatives, I want to have a positive impact on people’s lives.
What advice would you give to students, particularly those hoping to become designers or entrepreneurs?
My biggest piece of advice is to start early with internships. What you learn in the classroom—the principles, the foundations of design—is incredibly valuable, but there’s a lot about the profession that you only learn on the job. That’s probably true in many fields, but in design it’s especially important.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of relationships and giving back. Looking back over 30 years in design, what stands out to me are the mentors, clients and colleagues who have shaped my path and the opportunities I’ve had to support others in turn. Design is about more than making a space look good—it’s about improving people’s lives. That’s what I love about it, and that’s what keeps me inspired.
