People Side Feature 

Jose “Pepe” Dans: Leading Coral Gables Marketing with WOW MKTG

Staff

Founder and President of WOW MKTG

Coral Gables resident and business owner Jose “Pepe” Dans honed his skills in sales at several publications and television stations before becoming the head of national and local sales for Univision Network, the largest Spanish-language media company in the U.S., by his mid-30s. In 2005, with years of sales, advertising, and marketing experience under his belt, the son of Cuban immigrants founded WOW MKTG. The agency, which combines advertising, public relations, and event management, moved to the Gables in 2007. Since then, it has established itself in South Florida’s marketing scene and grown to a multi-million dollar enterprise employing close to 80 people, with a client roster featuring TelevisaUnivision, CVS Health, UHealth, the Miami Marlins, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Leon Medical Centers, among others.

“THERE ARE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH AND A PASSION FOR WHAT YOU DO. THAT, AND A LOT OF RESEARCH…”

Latest Achievement

Dans remains rooted in faith and community service, serving on the boards of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, and the Chapman Partnership, for which he has chaired the annual fundraising gala for the last four years. Recently, he and his wife of 30 years, Heide, were inducted into the Miami Dade College Foundation Alumni Hall of Fame and received the Trish & Dan Bell Community Empowerment Award from the nonprofit Branches for their exceptional dedication to serving the community.

What He Says

“It hasn’t always been easy. But struggles are part of what makes success so sweet. Establishing in Coral Gables was one of the best decisions I made. Through it all, faith has guided me, turning challenges into triumphs,” says Dans. “There are a lot of smart people in this business, but you have to have faith and a passion for what you do. That, and a lot of research. I research everything. You need to go with your gut but you need to substantiate that with research, and quantify everything.”

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