American Marketing Association Nashville Unveils 2024-2025 Board of Directors

Nashville, March 1, 2024 – The American Marketing Association Nashville Chapter (AMA Nashville) is pleased to announce its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term, ushering in a dynamic team of industry leaders poised to drive innovation and excellence in marketing.

The incoming board members bring a wealth of diverse experiences and expertise, reflecting the vibrant and evolving landscape of the marketing industry. As the chapter continues its mission to connect, educate, and elevate marketing professionals, the new board is committed to fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth within the local marketing community.

Appointments for the 2024-2025 term include:

President - Caleb Spencer
President-Elect - Jacqui Hayes
Secretary - Teresa Sosa
Treasurer - Kelly Polk
VP Membership Engagement - Katie Peninger
VP Programming - Angela Hardison
VP Special Events - Joy Lewis Hassler
VP Communications - Dr. Contrecia Thorpe
VP Sponsorship - Brent Snyder
VP Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Edwin Acevedo
VP-Elect Programming - Kathy Devine
Collegiate Relations Chair - Sam Eaves
Hospitality Chair - Larken Lech
Hospitality Chair-Elect - Dana Taft
Marketing in Healthcare Chair - Paula Milam
Marketing In Manufacturing Chair - Lori Whitbey
Mentorship Chair - Abigail Hammer
Research Chair - James Doyle
Young Professionals Chair - Lauren Bellflower
Immediate Past President / Historian - Jennifer Renshaw
Immediate Past President / Historian - Ilex Pounders

Newly elected President and Founder of Brand Activator, Caleb Spencer, shares his excitement for the new board, "I look forward to leading our dynamic community towards new horizons in marketing, starting this July. Let's continue to amplify our impact in the Nashville area and make the 2024-2025 term an inspiring chapter in the AMA Nashville legacy!"

For more information about the American Marketing Association Nashville Chapter and to connect with the newly appointed board members, please visit https://amanashville.org/

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About AMA Nashville:
The American Marketing Association Nashville Chapter is a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching, and study of marketing. The chapter provides a platform for networking, education, and professional development to empower marketers in Nashville and the surrounding areas. 

Media Contact:
Vannesia Darby
VP of Communications, 2023-2024
communications@amanashville.org

[PODCAST] Courtney Grimes Explains Why Marketing Matters in the Mental Health Space

We recently spoke with Courtney Grimes, licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist at Symmetry Counseling following her recent appearance on a Nashville AMA Special Interest Group panel on healthcare. Entitled “Breaking the Silence: Giving a Voice to Taboo Health Issues,” the discussion focused on how to best communicate and educate the marketplace about mental health issues and their treatments.

After battling her own struggle with eating disorders, Grimes has dedicated the rest of her life and her work to shattering the misconceptions surrounding addiction disorders and instead shining a light on the shadows, or “mental health black holes” as she calls them.

“Silence breeds shame,” she says. “The longer people don’t talk about these things, the longer all of these things stay in shadows, the more shame is bred around these issues.” Grimes wants to give a voice to those who don’t have one, in hopes that by doing so the conversation around mental and behavioral health will become less “taboo” and those suffering will be able to recover faster.

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Marketing for Mental & Emotional Health Education

Grimes believes there are five basic areas of human health – physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual – but stresses that the lack of open dialogue around specifically two of those, mental and emotional, has prevented healthcare professionals from reaching those in need the most. Through pointed marketing campaigns, however, Grimes believes we can educate the communities around us, while also attracting and encouraging patients to seek out help.

For small practices like hers, Grimes says the best way to market mental and behavioral healthcare is eye-ball to eye-ball. Successful campaigns she believes have worked include, direct contact with people in the community, informational panels and having open, public discussions so people can simply learn.

“That marketing tactic not only busts up the stigma,” Grimes says, “but allows people to come forward and seek the services that we offer.” She says educating the community also allows them to “understand behavioral and mental health issues affect everyone, absolutely everyone.”

Things to Watch Out for When Campaigning and Advertising

While Grimes wants to educate communities about the global reach mental and behavioral health disorders has, she warns that branding and choosing proper platforms to share your message is critical.

Recently, a company she works for went through a rebranding campaign of their own - changing their name from the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee to simply “Renewed.” “You want to make your name, your message, your colors, your logo, everything needs to be very warm and inviting,” she says. “Everything needs to be very approachable, non-threatening, non-clinical.”

As for social media platforms, Grimes claims they can be very effective, but require special attention in particular in healthcare spaces that deal with addictions. “You have to be very  careful [not to] be triggering to folks who follow you,” Grimes says. “I highly recommend running things by a professional, a clinician, to make sure your target audience is not being negatively affected by your message on a social media platform.”

For more marketing tips in the mental and behavioral health spaces, listen to Grimes complete interview on this episode of Moving Forward with AMA Nashville.

Moving Forward with AMA Nashville is brought to you by Relationary Marketing, specializing in turn-key B2B podcast production, and Astute Communications, a web design and digital marketing agency.