Sue-Ellen Roper McClain
Sue-Ellen is owner and principal of McClain Marketing Group, a leading marketing communications firm in Portland specializing in developing and executing integrated marketing strategies.
A seasoned marketing veteran, Sue-Ellen launched the agency in 2001 and grew it to become one of the leading firms in Northern New England. Today, the firm provides integrated marketing communications strategies to Maine-based clients as well as national clients in both the non-profit and for profit sectors.
A chemist at heart, Sue-Ellen enjoys the challenge of exercising both the left side and the right side of her brain—thinking strategically and managing the business while not losing sight of the creative impact. From Boston to Bangor to Portland, her background spans two decades on both the client and the agency side. She began her career in banking as Marketing Officer for United States Trust Company in Boston and Merrill Bank in Bangor, owned and operated Classic Communications, served as Marketing Director for Martins Point Healthcare and Pierce Atwood in Portland, as well as worked with Fortune 500 clients such as McDonald’s, Nabisco, Lipton, Dr. Scholls and Eskimo Pie.
McClain Marketing takes great pride in serving Maine clients such as L.L.Bean, Verrill Dana, FairPoint Communications, Reebok, Central Maine Medical Center, Clark Insurance, University of Maine School of Law, ImmuCell, Androscoggin Bank, R.M. Davis Wealth Management as well as many note-worthy nonprofit organizations including the Hurricane Outward Bound School, York County Shelter programs, Maine Huts & Trails, Spectrum Generations, The Iris Network, Maine Appalachian Trail Club, and Morrison Center, to name a few.
Sue-Ellen has worked collaboratively for over 20 years with Brandt Associates teaming up with Elena in helping to achieve fundraising goals and both short and long-term communications solutions for many non-profits throughout New England. As a seasoned professional utilizing her expertise from the private sector, she looks forward to expanding her services and sharing her wealth of knowledge among non-profit organizations seeking to grow.
Committed to community involvement, Sue-Ellen has served on the Board of Directors for the Portland Ronald McDonald House, Maine Huts & Trails and Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust. She currently serves on the Board of Portland Downtown. Sue-Ellen has honed her fundraising skills as Co-Chair for the Children’s Museum Capital Campaign to raise $25 million to move to the Free Street location (1993), director of Maine Huts & Trails Capital Campaign to break ground (2002), and Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust campaign to conserve Mount Abraham (2004).
A graduate of Wheaton College, Norton MA with a BS in Chemistry and Psychology, she lives in Phippsburg and California with her family.