Founder & President
Brant Engelhart is the founder and President of QT9 Software, where he’s spent the last two decades turning a bold idea into a leading software company serving regulated industries worldwide. Starting with just himself and a vision for smarter, more accessible quality and ERP software, Brant has grown QT9 into a thriving business with over 60 team members and thousands of global users.
With a background in software development and a passion for operational excellence, Brant built QT9 from the ground up—designing the first version of the platform himself and guiding its evolution into a complete, cloud-based solution used by companies in life sciences, manufacturing, aerospace, and more. His deep understanding of compliance challenges, paired with his entrepreneurial grit, has made QT9 a trusted name in the QMS and ERP space.
Brant is known for his hands-on leadership style, commitment to customer success, and belief that the best software doesn’t just meet requirements—it makes people’s jobs easier.
When he’s not driving innovation at QT9, you can find Brant at either a Chicago Bears or Bulls game, traveling with his family, or enjoying a day on the water with a cold one in hand.
Vice President, Operations
Max Austin brings a rare mix of operational precision, leadership under pressure, and people-first problem-solving to his role as Vice President of Operations at QT9 Software. In addition to his time at QT9 (employee #2), he brings over 20 years of experience in the Chicago Fire Department—where he rose through the ranks while mastering high-stakes decision-making—Max knows how to keep systems running smoothly no matter the challenge.
At QT9, Max oversees daily operations, implementation, and support. He plays a key role in ensuring that the company’s QMS and ERP solutions are delivered with the reliability, responsiveness, and clarity customers expect from a trusted technology partner. His ability to align teams, optimize processes, and lead with purpose makes him a cornerstone of QT9’s growth and customer satisfaction.
Max’s background also includes years of hands-on work with technology infrastructure, system integrations, and internal operations—skills he developed both in the field and in the office. That unique blend of public service and technical expertise has made him a calm and capable force behind the scenes, ensuring QT9 runs like a well-oiled machine.
When he’s not supporting customers or fine-tuning workflows, Max enjoys spending time with his daughters, rebuilding cars, and—true to his roots—staying cool under pressure.
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Jim Ellward is an accomplished commercial leader with more than 20 years of experience building high-performance teams and driving growth across B2B organizations. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing at QT9 Software, Jim leads all go-to-market strategy, revenue generation, and brand positioning efforts, helping regulated companies simplify compliance through QT9’s powerful QMS and ERP solutions.
Jim’s career spans leadership roles across operations, business development, and sales management, where he has consistently delivered measurable results by aligning people, processes, and strategy. His background includes executive positions across different industries, where he developed a deep understanding of complex buying cycles, cross-functional team leadership, and customer-centric growth.
At QT9, Jim is focused on expanding the company’s reach, refining the customer journey, and enabling scalable growth through integrated marketing and sales operations. He brings a balanced leadership style—equal parts strategic and hands-on—with a passion for solving real problems and delivering lasting value to customers.
Outside of the office, he can be found lost somewhere on a golf course, bleeding green for his Spartans, or floating on the lake with his family, friends, and a full cooler.
