Give us a brief bio: who you are, your passion, what you do and your role.
I founded REED Public Relations in 2012 and have been its president for almost 11 years. I am extremely passionate about workplace culture and believe that my team is my most important client. Therefore, I have invested a significant amount of time and effort into making REED a place where our employees can thrive. I wholeheartedly believe that taking care of our team will equip them to better serve our clients’ needs. This approach has led to REED being named one of NBJ’s Best Places to Work list multiple times. Outside of work, I am a mother of three children (ages 1, 6, 13) and one stepson (22). I love spending time with my family, trail running, skiing, and being outdoors.
What is Reed Public Relations and what should we know about it?
REED is a data-driven PR and marketing agency that prioritizes measurable results and an action-oriented, straightforward approach. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond client work and is reflected in our company culture, which emphasizes giving back. Through REED’s Be The Good program, we offer service trip options and a work-away program that provides a stipend for employees to work remotely from anywhere in the world for a month. We’re proud to encourage our employees to explore the world and make a positive impact locally and globally. Additionally, as the Tennessee partner of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), REED can access resources worldwide to deliver compelling and innovative work for our clients.
What and who has inspired you professionally?
Hannah Paramore, the founder of Paramore Digital, has played a constant and pivotal role in both my personal and professional journey. When I left my previous agency and was searching for a job, she advised me that I wasn’t meant to get a job, but rather to start a business, as I was made for entrepreneurship. Paramore Digital was among my first clients and I will always be thankful for Hannah’s encouragement and support. She sets an excellent example of women supporting women, and I feel privileged to call her both a friend and mentor.
What do you enjoy about being a woman in business in Middle Tennessee?
I’ve been a Nashville resident since I was 10 years old, giving me the increasingly unique privilege of growing up in the city and witnessing its growth and evolution. I am immensely proud of my hometown, and it brings me joy that my agency has contributed to welcoming positive change to Nashville through our work with global brands like Madame Tussauds, NASCAR, and the Gibson Garage. Despite the changes, one constant in Nashville is its support for entrepreneurship. I’m proud to live in a city that champions women in business and the entrepreneurial community as a whole.
What is your best piece of advice for other businesswomen in the region?
Get involved, stay humble, stay hungry, work hard and, more than anything, always be willing to learn. The key to my success and my business’ success has been my willingness to engage, learn and look at every experience as an opportunity for growth. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. I do this through my involvement with EO Nashville. I have found that focusing less on being a woman-owned business owner and more on just being a business owner has allowed me to turn my attention to the opportunities that I have rather than those I don’t. Things may be difficult sometimes, but when you focus on your path and what’s going for you, good things will come.
