Santiago Ramirez, Principal

As the creative director for Copa, Santiago manages the art department to ensure that design, layout, photography and production form a cohesive and compelling brand identity for all of Copa’s clients.

Santiago thrives on developing original concepts and creative executions that bring brands to life. With a passion for design and an eye for detail, Santiago delivers innovative visual solutions for each of Copa’s clients.

With a degree in graphic design and advertising, Santiago’s creative talents and training extend well beyond the computer screen.  While highly proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign, Santiago is also an accomplished photographer, whose work has appeared in numerous publications and event programs.

In addition to being a talented designer with exceptional multimedia capabilities, Santiago is skilled in conceptual development and visualizing successful marketing strategies for our clients.

A 10-year veteran of creative communications, Santiago has worked in all facets of marketing, advertising and communications, lending his creative and leadership abilities to clients in numerous industries including sports and entertainment, franchise integrity management and food service. Santiago has a broad knowledge of how well-designed communications can define an image, deliver a message, and generate measurable results. His expertise and experience includes community relations, grassroots marketing, advertising conception, team management, teaching and facilitating.

Prior to launching Copa, Santiago worked for an international company specializing in food services for stadiums, arenas, campuses, businesses, and schools, where he was on-site as the creative manager for the local university in Knoxville, Tennessee.  There he oversaw the development and creation of all the food establishment visual displays, food merchandising programs and displays as well as restaurant advertisements, signage, and menus.  He also spent time at Hispanic Sports Marketing, San Diego, where he assisted in the development of sports programming and sold media and promotional packages to advertisers such as Miller Brewing Co., Nike, McDonald’s, State Farm and Kraft.  Prior to his work with Hispanic Sports Marketing, Santiago served as the Community Relations Specialist for the San Diego Sockers, a professional indoor soccer team.  There he developed the grassroots marketing program, managed the promotions team and assisted with all game day promotional and marketing activities.

Particular to Copa’s multicultural focus, Santiago is a first-generation Colombian-American born in the United States to immigrant parents native to South America.  He has a keen understanding of both Hispanic and American culture as well as a solid grasp on the vernacular of both the Spanish and English languages.

An avid outdoor and fitness enthusiast, Santiago currently resides in the hills of Hardin Valley – a quiet community of West Knoxville, TN with his family.