John Eckel '81

CEO & Founder, Rock and Sock'em Marketing, LLC

John has spent more than 25 years creating award-winning branded entertainment, sports marketing and PR programs, events, sponsorships, new product launches, commercial endorsements, cause marketing campaigns, crisis management efforts and media relations programs for many of the world's leading corporations, governing bodies, universities, entertainment properties and star personalities. He has forged a successful career on both the corporate and celebrity talent sides of the negotiation table, with a proven track record as: President and CEO of Alliance, the worldwide entertainment division of advertising agency Grey Global Group; Senior Commercial Endorsements Agent with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA); Senior Vice President and founder of PR firm Hill and Knowlton's global sports marketing practice.

During his 14-year tenure with Hill and Knowlton, he also forged a JV called Brand Struck with WPP sister company J. Walter Thompson, serving as its Chief Creative Officer. Clients/projects included the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Athens 2004 Olympic Bid Committee; Ford; Mazda; 8 Super Bowl Halftime Show Title Sponsorships; Adidas; Nebraska, Indiana and Northwestern Universities; the John R. Wooden Classic; etc.