/ guiding voices
these folks, click any of the names below.
Bill McEllen―President
A longtime member of the
McCann Healthcare family, Bill McEllen has guided echo through a sustained period of unprecedented growth. Under his stewardship, the agency has been successful not only in winning new business and attracting top talent, but also retaining the culture of authenticity and inclusion it’s been known for.
Much of that success can be attributed to Bill’s visionary strategic thinking and his infectious confidence and optimism.
A seasoned veteran with 19 years in healthcare marketing, Bill offers a blend of client-side sales/marketing and agency experience. Clients appreciate that he’s walked in their shoes and understands both their needs and how an agency delivers on those needs.
Bill is also a serious competitor—but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Case in point: he handily beat all comers in the 2009 echo donut-eating contest and he’s got the pictures to prove it!
Bill received his BA in business administration with a focus on marketing from Bloomsburg University and his MBA in health services administration from Marywood University. He has also completed the Management Development Program at Dartmouth College. In 2010, Bill received the honor of being named one of the 100 Most Inspiring People in the life-sciences industry by PharmaVoice magazine.
When you meet Bill…
Ask him why he keeps a park ranger hat in his office.
Juan Ramos—EVP, Executive Creative Director
It’s late and a bleary-eyed creative team is busy putting the finishing touches on concept boards for a 10 AM client presentation. At many agencies, they’d be stressing out about what the creative director might think when he reviews their work. At echo, the creative director has his sleeves rolled up right there beside them, providing guidance, support, direction—and a late-night snack to keep the juices flowing!
That’s Juan, our EVP, executive creative director. His easy-going, honest, and approachable nature fosters an atmosphere of creative inspiration that defines the culture here. Ideas flow freely, and the highly original creative the agency produces stands as a testament to Juan’s leadership. Deeply committed to cultivating young talent, Juan is the driving force behind the creative growth of echo.
A part of the McCann Healthcare family for more than 20 years, Juan has been consistently recognized for his own creative talent as well. His work has received numerous honors, including “Ad of the Year” by Med Ad News, as well as IN AWE and Rx Club awards.
Juan graduated as valedictorian from the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts with a degree in advertising design.
When you meet Juan…
Ask him why he always keeps an “emergency business suit” close at hand.
Joseph Maynard—EVP, Director of Client Services
What hasn’t Joe Maynard done in his
31 years of pharmaceutical industry experience? He’s repeatedly distinguished himself as a key strategist and brand leader on both the client and agency sides and he’s launched a multitude of brands domestically and globally.
A true veteran of the industry, Joe knows from experience when it’s appropriate to rely on traditional strategic approaches and when to push for innovation. Over the years, he has earned a much-deserved reputation as a client favorite because of his consistent ability to think beyond expected solutions and deliver fresh ideas that truly distinguish brands.
A relative newcomer to echo, Joe not only filled the newly created director of client services position, he has come to define it. He is a natural fit with the echo family and has been instrumental in guiding the agency’s growth through new business wins. Just be sure to stay on your toes around Joe: he likes to start conversations with a disarming joke and then finish off with a keen strategic insight that inspires and motivates.
Joe graduated from Montclair State University with a BA in biology and received his MBA in pharmaceutical marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
When you meet Joe
Ask why we call him “the skipper.”
Tracy Blackwell―EVP, Director of Strategic Planning
echo’s first-ever EVP, director of strategic planning, Tracy has been a key player in securing multiple new business wins during a period of unprecedented growth for the agency. Her energy and passion for brands inspire colleagues and clients, old and new. Under Tracy’s leadership, the strategic planning group continues to expand, delivering the deep insights required to effectively position new-to-market brands and open up greater opportunities for existing ones.
A part of the McCann Healthcare family since 1994, Tracy rapidly climbed through the ranks, beginning as a copywriter and eventually becoming creative director in 2001. For 8 years, she helped shape the creative voice of echo. Then, recognizing how essential an in-house strategic group is to the agency’s continued growth, Tracy defined a new role for herself in order to guide the agency in its area of greatest need.
Within echo, Tracy is widely regarded as the “heart” of the agency. Known for her deep compassion and firm convictions, Tracy devotes much of her time outside of work to charitable organizations, including The Interfaith Council for Homeless Families and Bridges.
Tracy graduated with honors from George Washington University with a BA in English and a minor in psychology.
When you meet Tracy
Ask her why candy corn should be considered a vegetable.
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