Ron Elgin

Background

About Ron Elgin

Ron Elgin is a self-proclaimed, “life-long ad guy.” Having graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in communications, he worked as a copywriter at the region’s largest advertising agency, Cole & Weber. After serving our country as an officer in the Army, he returned to the agency and moved up the ranks to Managing Director of their Seattle Office. In 1981, he left to co-found ElginSyferd which quickly grew to the largest independent agency in the market with accounts such as Holland America Line, Jansport, McDonald’s and Nordstrom. In order to provide global capabilities to their clients and career opportunities to their employees, the company was sold in 1989 to DDB Worldwide with 206 offices in 98 countries. Ron continued as CEO of his $250 million in billings firm until his retirement at the end of 2011. Along the way, however, he proved to be more than just an “ad guy,” founding or co-founding five successful companies ranging from Direct Marketing to Graphic Design. Currently, through his company, reconnects, he consults with a variety of business clients. He recently published a humorous account of his life titled, Huckster, and because of its success is writing a sequel. Ron has served in the top board positions of a dozen local non-profits as well as many for-profit boards such as CareCap, Fluidmaster and Knowledge Anywhere.