23 Mar 2018 ‘Grateful and blessed’: Marcus Elliott makes move to healthcare
Marcus Elliott has joined Conway Regional Health System as its new director of corporate health services.
The career of Marcus Elliott, 54, a former All-Southwest Conference offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks, minister and part-time radio personality, has taken a turn toward healthcare in the 501.
What’s driving one of Arkansas’ most well-known Razorbacks these days?
For Elliott, who is also an ordained minister, it is about making a difference in people’s lives.
“I like being able to participate, on some level, in changing someone’s life for the better,” he said. “That gives me energy and hope. It is comparable to helping God change someone’s spiritual life for the better as a minister.”
Many of the more experienced sports fans in the 501 remember Elliott delivering crushing blocks for Gary Anderson, a lightning quick tailback for Lou Holtz’s Razorbacks who went on to play for the San Diego Chargers. Or, they have heard his impassioned opinions on 103.7 FM The Buzz radio station’s Drive Time Sports show.
Now, he wants to be a difference maker for healthcare in Faulkner County as Conway Regional Health System’s new director of corporate health services.
“I want to be the catalyst for their healthcare. I want to be the person the business community seeks out to solve all their health care issues,” said Elliott. “By helping with their healthcare issues, I can give them the time they need to focus on their business.”
He added, “I look forward to helping form dynamic partnerships with corporate leaders to improve the health of the community. I’m also excited about telling the story of a creative, caring and committed Conway Regional staff.”
NEW JOB
Elliott said he enjoys most the interaction with other groups in his new position. “Being able to meet with an organization or group and literally help discover things about their health and wellness that can be changed to make their employees healthier. At Conway Regional there is not a health question that we don’t have the answer for,” said Elliott. “Now, it is just a matter of helping businesses implement the solution.”
His wife, Ramona, was the first person Elliott told after accepting the position with Conway Regional. “She took it a lot better than my decision to go into the ministry,” joked Elliott. “She had met the leaders here and had faith in Conway Regional.”
Elliott, a licensed minister, previously started and pastored a nondenominational ministry known as “Church 228.” In addition he has served as campus pastor for New Life Church at the Downtown Little Rock campus.
LESSON FROM LOU
Elliott is a Little Rock native who grew up a few blocks from War Memorial Stadium. His father, the Rev. Marcus Hurkus Elliott III, a pastor and presiding elder in the 12th district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for more than 50 years, and his mother, Dorothy Allen Elliott, operated Ricky Lou’s Daycare in Little Rock. He recalls listening to Razorback games outside War Memorial with friends and dreaming that he would be a Razorback.
An All-State high school football player, Elliott made his way to Fayetteville in 1980, thanks to his God-given talent and the “coaching” of his parents and Clyde Horton. He describes Horton, his high school offensive line coach, as a “father figure” who helped with his college decision.
Horton and the fiery Lou Holtz are his mentors in football and in life. “Coach Holtz was very demanding but he taught me a lot of lessons that I use in my business life,” added Elliott.
The value of hard work and a bachelor’s degree in business helped Elliott make the transition after injuries caught up to his football career.
It is in sales that Elliott has found his business calling. Shortly after college, he became part of an 18-month management training program with Navistar that sent him all over the country, sometimes working in a foundry where engines were being manufactured. Other times he was flying to Orlando, Los Angeles or Chicago to teach management classes.
While he struggled at times with the travel, “I learned that I want to be a part of sales because I could meet people and develop relationships,” said Elliott.
Elliott has more than 12 years combined experience as an executive sales representative and territory manager with Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals and Medtronic Diabetes medical devices, as well as eight years with Alltel Communications, serving five years in sales as the manager and then vice president of retail sales.
While he has begun to integrate himself into the Conway community, he continues his involvement with Little Rock schools as a member of the board of directors for the Little Rock School District Athletic Foundation and as a volunteer football coach and organizer for the 6th and Goal Youth Football League.
Elliott can be described in many terms: corporate healthcare leader, salesman, ordained minister, a Razorback learning to wear UCA purple or opinionated sports fan. But in the end, he prefers “grateful and blessed.”
