by perri | Dec 10, 2021 | Blog, News
dGC is honored to make Design Rush’s list of Top Advertising Companies in Nashville.
The experts at Design Rush have ranked the top-performing Nashville advertising agencies based on their projects, client portfolio, average rates, awards, teams and more. duGard Communications is honored to be recognized alongside Nashville’s leading companies.
Use the filters to compare them and make the best choice for your brand!
Congratulations to the winners! See the full list here: https://www.designrush.com/agency/ad-agencies/tennessee/nashville.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
By: Emma Vondra
duGard Communications would like to be the first to say that 2021 was the year of East Chop Capital. This Black-owned private equity firm announced the data from their first real estate sale and the numbers don’t lie. East Chop Capital has $7M in assets under management and announced a 328% ROI on the first sale, and the return of $1M to investors. Moving forward, the private equity firm will expand their portfolio while capitalizing on a crossroads area of (1) real estate, (2) the rebound in travel, and (3) the future of work in which hybrid is the new normal.
Working diligently to close the wealth gap is something that East Chop Capital rightfully prides themselves on. They provide solid returns to their diverse LP base of 91% BIPOC, 9% White, and 18% Women investors.
While the figures they are producing don’t lie, it is far from just being about money. GP Calvin L Butts Jr. explains that “East Chop Capital is a very different type of private equity firm, committed to providing the best combined financial, educational, social returns. Generating financial returns is the expectation, but we add additional value through education, access to other private equity and venture capital investments [deal flow], and unprecedented social and networking opportunities, such as annual investor retreats, and our summer reception series that we hosted on Martha’s Vineyard this past August. We always over deliver on our Commitment.”
With an attitude and mission like that, the dGC team knows that the sky’s the limit for the growth that East Chop Capital will have. To learn more about East Chop Capital and to stay connected, visit www.eastchopcapital.com and follow on LinkedIn and Instagram.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
By: Emma Vondra
April was a joyous month for the Watson Grove Baptist Church family as it brought back their first in-person service in over a year. What better time to gather together as a community than Easter Sunday? Watson Grove saw this desire/need from the Nashville community and stepped up to the plate.
On Sunday, April 4, Watson Grove welcomed guest Dr. Alex Jahangir, Metro Coronavirus Task Force Director, to Cumberland Park in Nashville to help celebrate the wonderful holiday season in an event called ‘Resurrection on the River.’ In accordance with social distance guidelines, 800 seats were available for worshipers.
Watson Grove is a growing Church with a lot to get involved in. For more information on this faithful community, check out their website.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Uncategorized
By: Emma Vondra
2021 was a year of phenomenal growth for The Trap Music Museum as they opened their Nashville location “Escape the Trap.” duGard Communications was thrilled to jump on board to help this business plant roots in a city rich in music history.
This unique escape room experience allows one to immerse themselves in Trap music history and culture while working their way through a series of rooms, which also utilize live actors. This one-of-a-kind experience is the perfect team building experience for all people 18 years of age and older.
James Miller, the SVP of Marketing for “Escape the Trap” Nashville explains that “Nashville has a diverse culture and history, but the city is just opening itself up to the idea of its musical, entrepreneurial and leadership landscape being more than what it has traditionally depicted.”
The Trap Music Museum “Escape the Trap” wants to work to continue the growth of Music City by bringing a diverse range of people together to learn about all that Trap music culture is.
For more information on Escape the Trap head to their website https://escapethetrap.com.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
Smashin’ Crab Music Festival 2021
By: Emma Vondra
Smashin Crab, a restaurant known for its backyard crab and crawfish boils hosted their first inaugural Smashin Crab Music Festival on September 26, 2021 and the duGard Communications crew was able to play a part in making this first ever event a large success.
This Jazz and Blues Festival’s lineup consisted of Jon Gorman Band, Cojo Ko, The Carl Stewart Band, Sonja Hopkins, The Jerry Tachoir Group, Will Davenport, Khayree Northcross and Melody & Harmony.
The family-friendly event allowed the community to come together to celebrate and bask in the vitality of Jazz and Blues music. Beyond the soulful music, event-goers were also able to eat yummy food and shop from vendors local to the Hendersonville community.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
Street Works ‘Tea, Transformation and Talk’
By: Emma Vondra
April 18 is a date that Street Works in Nashville knew that they needed to stand up and speak out about. This date is National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD), an annual event designed to recognize the importance of routine HIV testing and status awareness, as well promote HIV prevention and patient-centered care for transgender and gender non-binary people. Transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV.
duGard Communications had a vital hand in planning and promoting Street Works’ event centered around this topic on April 16 titled ‘Tea, Transformation and Talk: National Transgender HIV Testing Day.’ This free event was aimed at sparking an in-depth conversation with community leaders Camille Lewis, Valerie Spencer and Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey and included time for questions from the virtual audience.
Creating an inclusive and educational space for community members to have a conversation was something that Street Works was able to successfully captivate.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
Celebrating Pride Month, Street Works Hosts ‘Pride, Prejudice and Punch’
By: Emma Vondra
June is a beautiful month for our world as we get a chance to truly celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community through Pride Month. duGard Communications was able to join Street Works, a free, confidential HIV testing and supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Nashville/Middle Tennessee area, hosted their ‘Pride, Prejudice and Punch’ event to mark this occasion.
To make a delicious punch, it is crucial to use a diverse array of ingredients in order to help create the best final product. The same can be said for the community that we live in today. Celebrating a diverse range of people in pride month creates the most remarkable community.
Street Works’ June discussion featured Daniel D. Driffin, named one of the ‘100 LGBTQ Emerging Leaders to Watch’ by the National Black Justice Coalition. Beyond that, he is the co-founder of THRIVE SS, a patient advocacy and support network offering resources for people of color living with HIV.
This June event was not only an eye opener, but a heart opener for attendees who were able to hear the nationally-recognized Daniel D. Driffin.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
By: Emma Vondra
After over 2 decades of service to the Nashville community, Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership President and CEO Sharon Hurt announced her retirement. September 30, 2021 marked Hurt’s last day in this role, but also marked the transition of Nashville arts professional Lauren Fitzgerald into the position. Fitzgerald will officially take over on December 1 of this year.
With so much growth and accomplishment, Hurt took a moment to reflect. ““It has been an amazing journey. I have grown with the North Nashville community and learned so much along the way. Our board of directors is completely supportive, and I appreciate all who have served this great organization…we accomplished so much in developing and nurturing this rich, vibrant and historic area of Nashville. I will be forever grateful to the J.U.M.P. team for the experiences and lessons you have given me and my family along the way.”
The growth that J.U.M.P. has seen since Hurt took over is undeniable. She was able to lead the elevation of the organization from a group of concerned business owners, residents and developers into a nonprofit organization committed to cooperative economic development in North Nashville. Even with this growth, the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership has been able to keep the essence of Jefferson Street at its core. Sticking to the roots of why it all began.
Hurt will still continue to be a community staple as she will not leave her executive director role with Street Works, a nonprofit working to eliminate the HIV/AIDS epidemic by providing free, confidential HIV testing and supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS.
duGard Communications has been honored to work so closely with Sharon Hurt over her years of leadership and our company has learned as much from her as the rest of the Nashville community.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
21st Annual Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues Festival
By: Emma Vondra
The 21st annual Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues music festival once again had the city of Nashville on their feet ready to dance the night away. After the 2020 celebration was held virtually, the festival was back in person on July 24, with this year taking place at Fisk University.
This event is held annually to benefit the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, a non-profit organization with the mission to promote cooperative economic development in North Nashville. For 21 years now, this event has brought together thousands of concert-goers through the sounds of jazz, blues, funk, gospel, soul and R&B. The event pays homage to the historic treasures and challenges that make the Jefferson Street community a unique and vital part of Nashville. This year’s ticket proceeds went to the Fisk Jubilee Singers in honor of their 150th anniversary.
Those who attended were blown away by a lineup that was headlined by the Grammy and American Music Award nominees After 7. 2021 marked this R&B group’s 32nd year together, with a new album also on their horizon.
Lively music was not the only thing happening at Fisk University this evening. It was a true family-friendly community event, with food trucks, local vendors, a kid’s corner with bounce houses, and more!
dGC played a large role in the behind the scenes hard work that made this event such a success! The day of the event, dGC team members and interns were able to travel to the festival to help make the magic happen.
To see highlights from the 2021 Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues festival, click on the link to head to the event’s Facebook page.
by perri | Dec 3, 2021 | Blog, Client News
Renewal House Major Funding Milestone Achievement
By: Emma Vondra
Renewal House, the only long-term substance use disorder treatment program for women and their children in Middle Tennessee, checked off a huge milestone in 2021 by fully funding their 35,000 square foot expansion project. On the year of their 25th anniversary, they are able to take the steps to double the reach that they have in their Nashville community. This is no small feat and the families of Nashville will be the ones benefiting from this hard work.
Throughout the course of a year, Renewal House works with over 500 women and children through different supportive programs. The need for this expansion is great as the organization has an average wait list of more than 60 women in need of family residential services at any given time. Its ongoing expansion project, which includes 34 new apartments, will double the capacity of services to women and their children.
This announcement comes at the time of year where thankfulness is on the minds of many. “Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the blessings we have received this year,” said Pamela Sessions, CEO of Renewal House. “We are thankful for the support of the Middle Tennessee community, and we are overjoyed to share the news that our expansion project is now fully funded, with help from so many who care about building a brighter future for women and children in our community. We are thankful for your support and excited at the opportunity to more than double our services when construction is complete.”
To be able to watch the hard work of Renewal House payoff for the women and children of Nashville is a bittersweet moment for the dGC team as we are able to see the determination and passion for the cause in the work that we do with them every single day.
To see all that Renewal House does for the Nashville community, head to their website at https://www.renewalhouse.org.
