by Andrew Harrill | Oct 13, 2016 | Blog
Director of Administration Anthony Owens describes how his love of football intertwines with celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Read about Ron Riveria, the NFL Head Coach.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to highlight Carolina Panthers, NFL Head Coach, Ron Riveria. Riveria is the third Hispanic Head Coach in the history of the National Football League (NFL). Tom Flores, one of the two previous head coaches, coached the Los Angeles /Oakland Raiders from 1979 to 1987 and the Seattle Seahawks from 1992 to 1994. Flores won a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. The only other Hispanic head coach in NFL history is Tom Fears, who coached the New Orleans Saints from 1967 to 1970. Though not as widely known, Fears was the first Mexican born player to be drafted by the NFL. He is also in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Fears has very impressive credentials, many would have a hard time answering any trivia questions about him.
Ron Riveria has two excellent role models to look up to as he carries on the mantle of Hispanics being head coaches in the NFL. Since becoming head coach of the Panthers in 2011, after two losing record seasons, he has guided the team to three consecutive playoff appearances, which also included the 2016 Super Bowl XXL (50).
Riveria has always impressed me with his style of taking chances that most coaches do not in the NFL; hence, his nickname the River Boat Ron. That was one of the reasons I wanted to watch Superbowl 50 as I wanted to see what risks Riveria would take.
During his time as a linebacker at the University of California-Berkeley, Riveria was an All-American and was a second –round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1984. He went on to win a SuperBowl with the Bears in 1985. Riveria started his coaching career in 1996 as a quality control coach and moved up the ranks to become a defensive coordinator in 2004 for the Chicago Bears.
The Rooney Rule, which is a National Football League policy that requires league teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs, is a rule that most NFL fans have heard of. Most equate that rule to apply to African-Americans, but it is for all minorities and is maybe one reason Riveria was given several interviews in 2007 for head coaching openings in the NFL. Although not hired at that time, Riveria has since proven that he was made for this and is an exceptional leading the Panthers.
Here’s to Riveria for setting the standard of excellence in coaching for Hispanics and continuing to carry the torch for Hispanics, minorities and Americans.
by Andrew Harrill | Oct 10, 2016 | Blog
We don’t have to worry about Solange standing in the light of her big sister’s halo any longer (finally). Her moment to shine has finally arrived, and is just as bright, with the release of her second full-length album, A Seat at the Table. Featuring narration from music mogul Master P, mother Tina Knowles-Lawson and father Matthew Knowles, this album highlights oppression experienced by African American in the United States and how she believes we are destined to overcome it. The empowering album of pride and self-awareness landed in the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart. This is a first for Solange.
Along with her sister, Beyoncé, the two made history this year as the first pair of sisters to have number one albums in the same calendar year. They also join an elite list of siblings who have all notched number one albums. Michael and Janet Jackson back in 2001 and Master P and Silkk the Shocker back in 1998/1999 comprise the remainder of an elite list, of which the Knowles sister were recently added. Read the Billboard article documenting this milestone.
Still, don’t understand why Beyoncé’s brand is a big deal? View our blog from dGC team member, Josh Randle, Beyoncé: The Beauty, The Brand and The Beast.
Solange (left) and Beyoncé Knowles (right)
by Andrew Harrill | Oct 4, 2016 | Blog
Continuing our Hispanic Heritage Month blogs, dGC’er Kate expresses her admiration for America Ferrera and how she has helped shape body image positively for all girls.
Any preteen girl, circa 2005, had her life “profoundly” changed by the cinematic masterpiece that was “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” Throughout this movie about friendships, first loves, and magical pants (duh), we were taught the importance of embracing every moment and never taking our loved ones for granted. Even as a twelve year old, I was able to pick up on those themes. What I did not pick up on, was that a truly inspiring young woman was portraying one of the lead characters. America Ferrera, or better know to me as Carmen, soon became one of the only names in Hollywood that I truly looked up to.
Though Fererra was not yet a household name, she still managed to captivate audiences through her performance as the sassy, unapologetic Latina who simply wanted her dad’s approval. Blossoming since that role in 2005, Ferrera went on to star in countless roles, most notably the television show “Ugly Betty.” Now a star in Hollywood, Fererra not only stuns on the big screen, but also continues to impress me with her beliefs and actions. In a city where stick skinny is the only size, Ferrera has refused to conform to the standards that Hollywood has set. She has said in countless interviews that she is proud of the way she looks.
Specifically in Cosmopolitan for Latinas, Ferrera said, “How much time have I wasted on diets and what I look like? Take your time and your talent and figure out what you have to contribute to this world and get over what the hell your butt looks like in those jeans!”
Cosmopolitan Cover: America Ferrera
I find her sentiments to be so inspirational and important, specifically for younger girls these days. Everyone is so concerned with their image, thanks in large part to Hollywood, social media, and the Jenner girls. It is scary how many times I hear about trivial things like “thigh gaps” or “bikini bridges” – even worse when I get caught up in them myself. Fererra on the other hand is proud of her appearance, yet would rather not focus on it. She knows that she has far more to offer than her physical appearance, and wants people to focus on her talents rather than what size dress she wore to the Emmy’s last year. If more women could serve as such a positive, confident role model to young women, I think girls would grow up knowing that they are unstoppable rather than striving to achieve an impossible standard.
So, this Hispanic Heritage Month, here’s to America Fererra – forever an inspiration both on-screen and off!
by Andrew Harrill | Oct 3, 2016 | Blog
This month, dGC is honored to share and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th through October 15th. Every day this week, a dGC team member will share a personal story about people/brands that we admire
Up first, dGC’er Allie LaCombe takes a closer look at the life of José Fernandez to feature his impact and baseball legacy. As a sports fanatic, she felt drawn to José’s story and pushed us to think about individuals to share thoughts with during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Sports can shape a person, city and country . . . quite frankly, it’s amazing how a single play or person can impact so many. On and off the field/court/ice, athletes of all ages are stepping on the “playing ground” for the first time on a daily basis. Athletes, of all races, are participating in the beauty of sport. I believe that sport has a way of unifying people through simple baseball plays, hockey super stars, or football giants we go further than an ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays everyday!
When I think of an athlete that embodies this, who has made an impact on the sports community, José Fernandez strikes a cord with me. José was a Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher and he passed away recently. His legacy can be felt throughout the baseball community and off the field too.
His infectious smile, seen in the majority of his MLB photos, reminds me that his influence and life is not reduced to a quick Google search. Sports remind me of my teammates who made me a better person by carrying the team with their ‘love of the game’ combined with a joyous spirit. After hearing about José’s tragic boat crash, I was compelled to learn more about him. Aside from his notorious NL Rookie of the Month and Rookie of the Year awards in 2013 and a promising pitching career, I quickly realized that he is much more than a powerful pitcher with a pretty smile. What I didn’t know about José, that makes his story even more compelling, are the following facts:
- José was born in Santa Clara, Cuba and had dreams of making the MLB as a child (CSNews.com).
- Fernandez made three unsuccessful attempts at defecting from Cuba before he made it into the United States. His arrival in 2008 was more than just a successful arrival to the U.S.; the city of Miami took him in under their wing and gave him the tools and resources necessary to succeed (ESPN.com).
- Fernandez was just 14 years old and locked in prison for months at a time with the worst criminals in the country. According to sources, he was “surrounded by murderers and rapists solely because he wanted a better life” (TheBigLead.com).
- He escaped Cuba as a 15-year-old and yet, made something of himself and his new life. He worked to eradicate childhood cancer and carved out time for kids, always, because he was just a kid himself – in heart and deed (Yahoo.com).
- Statistically, currently in the MLB, about 25 percent of all players are Latin. A little over 10 percent of all players are Dominican (the island holds the title as the second largest producer of MLB players besides the U.S. in the world). The Dominican Republic has had an estimated 669 players play in the majors in its history. Cuba has only had 199 because of diplomatic isolation (SBNation.com).
- José was becoming a father. He was excited to add this new part of joy into his life, as his girlfriend was pregnant with their child during the time of his passing (USA Today).
After doing more research on José, there was a common denominator that continues to make his death and legacy more chilling: his love for life and love for baseball overlapped each other. Many professional athletes can be closed off and cold, especially to the media. However, Fernanadez was one of the most well-liked players in the MLB by both media and fans. Rarely does a spirit like that arise in professional sports, let alone carry a team’s image and persona. By all appearances, José exuberated personality traits and characteristics parallel to people in my life who I gravitate toward.
While José Fernandez was an outstanding baseball player, he defied so many other odds: childhood cancer, attempts at making it to the United States to pursue his dream, leaving beloved grandmother behind in Cuba and being labeled as an infamous Cuban, professional baseball player. His spirit will always be with his family, teammates, and the city of Miami; his influence will be celebrated by sports fans, like me, and countless others around the world.
by Andrew Harrill | Sep 21, 2016 | Blog, Client News
The Justice A.A. Birch statue after its unveiling
On International Peace Day, we come together to think of our world in the bigger picture. We come together in unity through positivity, helpfulness, remembrance, and triumph. Although today marks a national celebration day, we were able to take part in a celebration of an individual in the Nashville community who spent his career striving for justice, equality, fairness and peace.
The 10-year anniversary committee of the Justice A.A. Birch Building dedicated a statue of Chief Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr. a state Supreme Court judge, who served 37 years as a judicial stalwart, on Saturday, August 27th and dGC was honored to manage creative services, public relations, media relations, event planning and management.
Invitation to the ceremony
The celebration, held in Birch’s honor, included a program with a statue unveiling, ribbon cutting and award celebration. Immediately following the program, a reception, with live music, continued to celebrate Justice Birch who historically served at every level of the court system within the State of Tennessee. Justice Birch’s legacy was honored with an eight-foot, life-size bronze statue with a four-foot granite base to include an historical marker as part of the rededication of the Justice A. A. Birch Building. Designed by nationally renowned sculptor Brian Hanlon, the statue was unveiled in the plaza area in front of the Justice A. A. Birch Building along with 150 guests, friends, judges and the public.
Justice A. A. Birch Jr. is known as a judicial legend and was the first African-American prosecutor in Davidson County. The unveiling of the eight-foot bronze statue was an incredible way to pay tribute to him. Not only was he the first African-American prosecutor, he was also the county’s first black judge in both General Sessions and trial courts. Later in his career, Justice Birch became the second justice on the state Supreme Court who was of color and the first to serve as chief justice.
Birch repeatedly used a simple quote in urging black attorneys to keep a high profile in their communities as a way to inspire others stating often: “You can’t be what you can’t see” (Randall Dickerson, Real Clear Politics).
Presiding General Sessions Judge Rachel Bell served as committee chair for the total effort. “It’s quite fitting, too, because Justice Birch was, and is, a larger-than-life judicial trailblazer, and now we can all see and say that literally,” said Bell.
Judge Rachel Bell and the Justice A.A. Birch Statue
Birch’s family sat in the front row as the bronze statue was showcased in his memory and honor. “He believed that through the practice of law, the most noble of professions, in a city that was the epicenter of social change at the time, he could improve the human condition,” said Birch’s son, Adolpho Birch, III, a Vanderbilt University Law School graduate and lawyer for the National Football League.
“He could impart civility, he could impart humanity. He could hold us to our highest ideals. Justice. Equality. Compassion for all citizens. I do not speak for him lightly.”
Also present was Mayor Megan Barry, who spoke at the podium with powerful words, “The things that he stood for, that meant the most to me, are justice, fairness, equal access under the law, honor and most importantly, reaching back to pull younger people along to help them make their way in the legal profession,” she said.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Peace isn’t merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” As a keeper of the peace, seeing the community support of Birch was wonderful to experience. On a day, like #InternationalPeaceDay, we’re honored to remember his life and legacy.
#InternationalPeaceDay
Reference: Dickerson, Randall. “1st Black Tenn. Chief Justice, Adolpho Birch.” Real Clear Politics. Real Clear Politics, 26 Aug. 2011. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.
by Andrew Harrill | Sep 19, 2016 | Blog, Client News
On August 18th, 2016, the red carpet rolled out in Music City for a unique and memorable event: Black Music Honors (BMH). Our client, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), celebrated the soul of American music with this inaugural event. BMH was held at the Andrew Jackson Hall of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) and hosted in
Nashville. dGC was instrumental in developing the creative strategy, media relations objectives as well as red carpet execution. We also had a hand in the design of the Rhapsody & Rhythm awards presented to the honorees, working with acclaimed artist Jamaal Sheats who took his repoussé (2014/15) and converted it into a statue.
Designed by acclaimed artist Jamaal Sheats and Perri duGard Owens.
Black Music Honors is a music television special honoring legendary icons, artists and musical genres who have had a significant influence on American culture. Black Music Honors was produced by Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) in conjunction with NMAAM and aired locally at the beginning of September and will air nationally on Bounce TV Network, Friday, September 23, 2016 at
9:00pm (EST).
Big Daddy Kane and his family the 2016 Black Music Honors’ Red Carpet
During the show, music trailblazers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Big Daddy Kane, Dionne Warwick, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Clarence Avant and Stax Records were honored through tribute performances. Performers who honored these legends included Tina Campbell, Andra Day, Eddie Levert, Tina Campbell (Mary Mary), Chubb Rock, Ann Nesby, Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), Kool Moe Dee, Cherrelle and many more. Not only did they do an outstanding job of paying tribute to these legends and musical icons, they paid tribute to the heart of music that has influenced generations of Americans.
Dionne Warwick accepting her Rhapsody & Rhythm award
At dGC, we are proud to have played a part in planning, brand development, media relations, designing the Rhapsody & Rhythm award and red carpet activities. To have witnessed this magical night come to life was amazing! We gladly supported NMAAM, with our work, to tell a story never before told . . . until now, through various media outlets including Billboard, Essence, Huffington Post as well as several other local and national news outlets.
by Andrew Harrill | Sep 7, 2016 | Blog
Anyone who knows me, knows I love me some Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter. I had to call her full name so you know that the love is real. However this isn’t a why I love Beyoncé blog, this is a why Beyoncé’s brand works blog.
Over the last couple of years, there has been an influx of negative press and commentary about Beyoncé (straight haters, in my opinion). Whether it was her counterparts in the industry, non-fans, police chiefs or entire police departments there has been an uproar when her name is mentioned. I believe it’s because Beyoncé’s brand has grown into a massive empire. Mentioned in songs and TV shows, her name is used as an adjective and as a standard for many to compare other pop stars.
How has her brand grown you ask? One word comes to mind when referencing Queen Bey, CONSISTENCY.
Since her days as Destiny’s Child unofficial front woman, Beyoncé has remained consistent on all fronts. With six solo albums released each of which has entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, she is the first and only act to have their first six albums all reach number one and for her first six albums debuted at the top of the charts as well . She continues to push limits and sets standards in the industry. Since the 90’s she has dominated mainstream media and recently let her true southern roots take the forefront of her career. Not withstanding, she continues this consistency in four distinct ways.
1. Live Performances: Brand Promise
Where Beyoncé excels the most (and the real reason why her brand is huge in my opinion) is her live performance. From the first beat drop, to the very end, she captures your attention and takes you along for the ride (That woman knows how to own a stage). I’ve watched many of her live performances and there are not many, if any, that I can honestly say were terrible. Many artists lack the attention grabbing abilities that Beyoncé portrays so well. I have to credit the legends that came before her whom she drew most of her inspiration. Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner are her biggest influences and you can see it, in the way she performs. All of the aforementioned can probably be found in the top entertainers of all time. Actually, in my opinion, they would be the top 4 and Beyoncé would be number 5.
Prime examples of her consistency are her 2016 BET Awards performance and the recent 2016 VMA mini concert. (Seriously! She performed 16 minutes of ‘Lemonade’) She wasn’t announced with either award show’s lists of performers, she just sort of just showed up and performed. On both occasions she set the bar high for those who followed her. E! News and Rolling Stone both wrote articles of high praise about her VMA performance. “Has Beyoncé ever met a stage she couldn’t dominate? The answer is officially no,” asked and answered by E! News writer Samantha Schnurr. “[Beyoncé’s] ‘Lemonade’ medley highlighted an otherwise charisma-free show,” said Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone. Her consistent high-energy performance model is one reason her brand is big.
2. Controls The Narrative: Public Relations
When I say control the narrative, I mean she doesn’t allow her dirty laundry to be aired everywhere. Ever since she’s been a star we’ve had to speculate anything related to Beyoncé, unless Beyoncé herself gave a nod. We found out through the grapevine that Jay Z and she united in holy matrimony. There were no pictures, candids or video from the wedding. They’ve been married 8 years as of April 2016, and she just allowed us to see photos and videos from their special day. She doesn’t engage in silly feuds, tabloid drama, and other shenanigans that tend to self-destruct brands. The very public Kardashian-West wedding wasn’t attended by Jay & she because of the plan to air the wedding on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Since parting ways with her father as her manager, she address rumors through song, video, and tour interludes. On the 2013 leg of her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, there is a video interlude that addresses the negative and nasty comments people say about her. Each dancer, accompanied with a voice over, would reenact the rumor or allegation about Beyoncé, but instead of her actually replying or saying anything about the rumors, she proceeds to perform a Texas size rendition of ‘Bow Down.’ Basically a big “forget you” to the haters.
With her 2016 hit ‘Formation’ she addresses age-old Illuminati rumors and comments on her baby’s hair. Instead of taking to social media, Tumblr and/or her website, she addresses the situation, gives you new topics of conversation.
3. Maximized Appeal: Brand Building
Back in 2013, iTunes had the “exclusive of the century” with her self-titled album being sold only on their service. She eventually went on to break and set records with the iTunes exclusive. The appeal of a Beyoncé exclusive is so massive, that Target opted not sell the singer’s 2013 self-titled album due to the lack of demand they felt it would cause since iTunes secured the album first. (Crazy, I know.)
In 2016, she’s taken the conversation to a new level and maximized her mainstream appeal. Since the release of ‘Formation,’ back in February, she has infiltrated the 24-hour news cycle and has remained there for the last four months. She released the video to Formation exclusively on Tidal, of which she is part owner. So, hearing that Beyoncé just released a new video on the heels of us hearing that she’d once again perform halftime at Super Bowl 50 was major news.
Tidal hasn’t seen the brightest of days, but with the exclusive release of Formation (and eventually her 6th studio album ‘Lemonade’) the sun started to shine on the streaming service. Beyoncé continued to dominate the news cycle by performing ‘Formation’ during Super Bowl haf time and announced the Formation World Tour (which will be in Nashville October 2nd). The entire time all this new Beyoncé news was being released, Beyoncé was silent. In her typical fashion, no press, no interviews and no promotion followed any of the announcements
Since the birth of her daughter, Blue Ivy, she has limited the amount of in-depth interviews she does. She released an exclusive documentary to HBO titled ‘Life is But a Dream,’ which chronicles the singers journey after her big night at the 2010 GRAMMY awards up until her return to the stage, post giving birth. The documentary, she executive produced, was the most candid she had ever been publicly. Most footage she filmed on her laptop and with a professional camera she owned. So her first interview in years… was a big deal.
4. Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Brand Promise
Beyoncé has consistently demanded, through her actions, that the industry follow her. She changed the way albums have been released and when they’re released, especially with her release of two visual albums. She’s changed how albums are viewed through her visual process and where albums are release with her exclusive deals with iTunes, HBO & Tidal. Beyoncé’s brand has grown because she controls the conversation at every turn. (You know you that b**** when you cause all this conversation…those are her words, not mine) = )!
It’s interesting to see how she continues to maximize her brand, especially with the number of years she’s been in the industry. I know we can expect her to continue working hard and more grinding ‘til she owns it cause she slays. Her brand is the strongest it’s ever been. Her unannounced performance at the VMA’s garnered over 1 million tweets and earned her the most tweeted celebrity of the night. I’m excited to see what record Beyoncé breaks next.
(Happy Belated Birthday Beyonce & YES! I will be at the concert in Nashville on Oct. 2nd)
by Andrew Harrill | Jul 6, 2016 | Blog
Coming into duGard Communications (dGC) has been a great experience for me. At first I just wanted to come in; get the work done and leave. Once I formed a relationship with the coworkers; I got to learn a lot more. I knew in the back of their minds they were thinking this 14-year-old girl won’t last. I say that because everyone is on a higher level than I. Don’t get me wrong, there are days were I would like to give up.
Once, I actually sat in a meeting, I finally knew the meaning of work. The team has this concept called, “My Big Rocks.” It’s when we share projects that we have or haven’t finished. We ask questions about what needs to get done for that week. Every meeting I attend, I write and/or type my notes up and then send them to those who need it. I write down who all is there at the meetings and sometimes I’ll write things down that others might forget.
Occasionally, I step into Perri’s office, sit down and just watch her work. The moment is brief because I get new projects all day! I never knew how busy a business could get. The main thing this job is teaching me is that there is always someone behind the curtain. Which means in a play there are actors, then there’s the people behind the scenes who put it all together. dGC are the people behind the curtain!
I got to go to luncheons with Anthony Owens. One specifically would be with Cable. They sponsored the whole event, Cable had so many women there. Everyone there had something in common which was business and wanting to get there company to the community. WKRN News Channel 2 anchor, Dawn Davenport, was there doing an interview with Billie Jean King!
One of my projects was to call moving companies and get quotes. When I was hired they knew this internship would help me in the future. So far, my typing skills and phone etiquette have improved. One thing that surprises them are my ideas and my creativeness. Being at this job, if they know it or not, I’ve gotten them out of their comfort zone!
I also work with their client Choral Arts Link (CAL). I help as much as I can. I sort files, music and binders. I’ve learned that every year CAL sorts everything by themselves. I’m pleased that I can help out. It’s nice to have the feeling of being needed, in a way. The ideas I come up with are used by CAL.
dGC and CAL aren’t used to having a “young adult” working with them. I crack jokes and sometimes I sing out loud so they can smile! I feel like I made them realize that it’s okay to laugh and relax. You’ve never seen a team work so hard as dGC! They help put so many events and projects together. So far, I’ve taken pictures with Cece Winans and I got a signed tennis ball from Billie Jean King!
Something I’ll take from my experience so far is everyone has a story, the hardest thing is deciding whose should be told.
Chanelle Long is a rising high school freshman who is actively gaining business experience at dGC as an intern. After college graduation, she aspires to be a fashion designer and have her own line of wedding dresses.
by Andrew Harrill | Jun 30, 2016 | Blog, Client News
NASHVILLE, TN — Last week the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) announced its first-ever Rivers of Rhythm® Digital Exhibition (RofR) and significant financial support from Belmont University. Click here to view full PDF
by Andrew Harrill | Jun 29, 2016 | Blog
A couple of years ago, we wrote a post about not letting your professional potential expire. We each learn as we go. We all have bumps and bruises in our professional career but there’s an ability to grow from these things. That how we feel about something now could change and that’s ‘ok.’ In fact it’s great. When a growth or challenge presents itself, we must maximize it or run the risk of completely missing out.
We were reminded of this with the opportunity to celebrate the life of Muhammed Ali earlier this month. His words and work are profoundly important. We’re reminded that his growth is similar to that of anyone professionally wanting to make an impact, learn from a mistake, develop a new habit or create a new process. He challenged us to think, grow, develop and help others, give back and love hard. We’re saddened by this loss, but inspired to reach and realize our potential because of what he did.
dGC Team
615-823-4020 
