Tim Echols grew up in Clayton County. The Echols owned a car auction, dairy farm, and house moving business. 

In 1978, Tim attended UGA and met Windy Davis, who he married shortly after graduating. Windy is currently working on her graduate degree in Christian counseling.

After college, Tim worked for his mentor, Harmon Born, at Beaudry Ford in downtown Atlanta. Windy graduated from Georgia State University and taught at Morningside Elementary for Atlanta Public Schools. They decided to go into youth work full-time and both left their jobs to raise the funds needed for their venture.

Tim eventually started his own organization, TeenPact, which has grown to be a national citizenship experience for teens operating in all 50 states. It is headquartered in Richmond, VA, and Tim serves on the board of the organization. TeenPact has trained over 82,000 teens and children since its inception in 1994. Tim's most recent book is Jean Marc of Jekyll, a historical fiction book about the founding of the Jekyll Island Club and the story of remarkable friendship between a French immigrant and a Gullah Geechee descendent. 

Windy and Tim have seven children, have been married 40 years and live in Hoschton, outside Athens. Tim has a BA and two Masters degrees from the University of Georgia.