Leadership
Evan T. McConnell
Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board
As early as high school Evan exhibited his enterprising ambition by starting his first business – a school store.
In the 70′s, Evan started one of the first professional disc jockey companies on the East Coast, SoundTech DJ’s.
He oversaw every aspect of SoundTech DJ’s success, from designing and building the sound systems to personally training the 50+ disc jockeys employed.
He continued in the entertainment vein by opening Bogart’s, one of the most popular dinner dance clubs in Fairfax Virginia.
In 1987, Evan once again recognized a need and established the publication Best Weddings, a bridal magazine.
Best Weddings was an immediate hit, by providing a central resource for wedding vendors, planners, and brides alike.
Best Weddings was published eight years, sold over 500,000 issues annually, and was distributed on over 4,000 newsstands nationwide.
Evan wrote all the operating and management software for the magazine. He also had the foresight to see that the publishing industry was turning to digital output.
In 1995, Evan designed an interactive web site as the next step in publishing. Offering real-time advertising, the subscriber could modify their ad with immediate results.
Wishing to share his experience, and promote a user-friendly world-wide web, Evan began consulting and training people in the use of the internet.
Evan is an experienced programmer in Java, Delphi, Pascal, D-Base, and several other computer languages and programs.
Identifying a need for families to view the Internet in their living rooms, Evan built and sold one of the industry’s first computers that would convert its signal through a television.
In 1997, Evan created EarthWalk, seeing an even greater need for this type of display device in the school system.
EarthWalk was born from his vision of providing the technology and tools to make better use of computers and the internet in the classroom.
Evan obtained an exclusive marketing agreement from Hitachi for their quality hardware and covered the entire U.S. educational market.
Already, with an established customer base of over 3,000 school districts within the U.S. alone, EarthWalk has developed a reputation for delivering advanced, cost effective technology that enhances the educator’s ability to teach, AND the students’ desire to learn.
Evan remains active in every aspect of EarthWalk’s inner workings. His personal imprint is everywhere – overall strategic direction, new product development, and the introduction of NetWize™, as well as financing and partnerships.
Recognized in 2001 by Deloitte & Touche’s Technology Fast 500 Program (a ranking of the 500 fastest growing companies in North America based on a five-year percentage revenue growth) EarthWalk was ranked 52nd.
During the evaluation period, EarthWalk grew by an astounding 11,491%!
In addition, EarthWalk earned the honor of being ranked #1 on the Virginia Technology Fast 50 list.
Evan based EarthWalk in Manassas Virginia–a suburb of Washington DC—out of his desire to give back to his community.
Evan, his wife Peggi, and their two children, call Manassas home.
Evan serves on the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation Board to maintain his personal commitment to advancing education.
He’s been involved in a wide variety of community leadership opportunities, and charitable work.
A recent source of pride was being named a finalist in the prestigious Ernst & Young 2002 Greater Washington Area Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) awards program in the category of Communications.
Responsibilities: Overall strategic direction, new product development, introduction of NetWize™, financing and partnerships.
Margaret A. McConnell
Co-Founder, President and COO
Margaret A. McConnell (Peggi) is co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of EarthWalk Communications, Inc. And she brings her own brand of leadership and creativity to the table.
Widely respected and admired by the entire EarthWalk organization for her business acumen and management skills, Peggi also is the spouse of CEO Evan McConnell. Peggi has owned and operated her own businesses for the past twenty-five years.
One of her strengths is her resourcefulness, tapping into unexplored territory and bringing new products into niche market places.
Her first business involved installing and designing commercial salt-water aquariums for restaurants, medical centers, and public facilities. After only a year, this little operation quadrupled in size.
That growth led to the importing and exporting of exotic shells and other gift items that she marketed to national department stores such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.
The success of her gift business later mushroomed into a separate entity entailing the wholesale manufacturer of custom décor.
Peggi was the Co-Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for Best Weddings, a bridal magazine that provided a central resource for wedding vendors, planners, and brides. She took the magazine from regional to national distribution by expanding the advertising to include a national editorial section.
Utilizing her outstanding marketing talents, Peggi is credited for creating the evaluation program currently used at EarthWalk.
This marketing strategy played an important role in acquiring the exclusive distribution rights from Hitachi.
Peggi’s responsibilities include (but are in no way limited to) overseeing daily operations, sales and marketing, and logistics.
The creation of the International Sales Department was a direct result of Peggi’s perseverance and hard work. That hard work paid off dramatically in the reward of a significant educational partnership with the territory of Puerto Rico.
Peggi and Evan McConnell have been partners in business and life for over twenty years.
While Peggi probably considers many of her successful business ventures her “babies”, in actuality she has raised two remarkable children. Peggi grew up locally and felt it was important for EarthWalk to establish its corporate headquarters in Manassas, Virginia.
Responsibilities: Oversee daily operations, including sales and marketing, operations and logistics.
Robert “Greg” Vanderlip
Executive Vice President/General Manager
Greg brings more than twenty-six years of experience in the consumer electronics and computer industry.
For ten years prior to joining EarthWalk, he was the Multi-Media Manager for Hitachi, managing over 140 million in consumer electronics and regulating distribution of consumer electronics and multi-media products.
He began his career with Pacific Stereo, then, a subsidiary of CBS.
After achieving National Sales honors for 1978-84, he accepted a regional management opportunity in retail operations for the southern U.S.
Greg has produced and managed a variety of product launches, national tradeshows, and marketing campaigns.
His expertise includes sales force development, motivational and product training, conceptual product design, product development and vendor negotiations.
Married with two children, Greg lives locally and thrives in the creative and technologically advanced environment of EarthWalk.
In 2001 he was honored by the sales staff for his valuable contributions and was recognized as the MVP that year.
Responsibilities: Sales, Operations, and Product management.
