40 Under Forty alumni: Joe Santa Maria, Class of 2002 - made it by striking out on his own
Joe Santa Maria in 2002 and 2024
Photo | MATT WRIGHT
At the Worcester Historical Museum are 40 Under Forty winners and alumni (from left) Joe Santa Maria (Class of 2002), Idaliana Medina (Class of 2024), Nicole Zea (Class of 2016), and Raquel Castro-Corazzini (Class of 2024)
- Class of 2002
- Then General manager and vice president business development at Worcester Fitness in Worcester
- Now Owner and creative director of Kill the Ball Media in Holden
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A lot has changed for Santa Maria since he was named one of WBJ’s 40 under Forty awardees more than 20 years ago.
After putting in two decades as general manager of Worcester Fitness, Santa Maria officially set out on his own to make his passion for photography into a full-time business. When starting his web design and commercial photography agency, Kill the Ball Media, Santa Maria wasn’t entirely sure he could consider himself a photographer. Now, 10 years later, his work has been featured in The New York Times, Ring Magazine, Worcester Magazine, and a number of independent news sites. Though no longer a Worcester Fitness employee, Santa Maria still works closely with the company as it hired Kill the Ball Media to serve as its full-service ad agency. In addition to its core offerings, his company provides free digital marketing and photography services to nonprofits and volunteer groups, including the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, the Worcester Public Library Foundation, and the Worcester Public Schools Mini Olympics. Santa Maria writes a blog for Kill the Ball Media, producing educational content aimed at making the fast-changing world of digital marketing easier to understand.
What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? I was thrilled! To be a part of the 2002 class makes me very proud. They are an incredible group of people.
What does it mean to you now? It means I’m 22 years older. The guy in the picture looks about 17 and is wearing a shirt two sizes too big. Every year, when I get the issue, I remind myself I was once one of those young people doing his best to do his best.
What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Either remain humble or learn to be humble. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room and shouldn’t want to be anyway. Work with and/or for people who inspire you.
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