The Spark: Nashville Creative Secrets

Creative Assembly
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Biweekly

The Spark Podcast amplifies Nashville's creative voices, showcasing diverse talents and fostering growth through shared journeys. By exploring the unique experiences and stories of the city's agency owners, innovators, and creators, the podcast inspires connection and collaboration, reflecting Nashville's rich creative culture. Mission Statement Our mission is to amplify Nashville's diverse creative voices, foster growth through shared journeys, and inspire a city that thrives on collaboration. The Spark Podcast is more than a platform—it's a gathering place for stories that uplift and connect Nashville's creative heartbeat. Together, we celebrate what makes our city unique, cultivating a vibrant community where creativity thrives.

  1. 5d ago

    Building a Business With Your Daughter: Mark McNeely on Starting Over

    What does it actually take to build a PR agency from a card table to an industry landmark — and then do it all over again with your own kid? Mark McNeely spent 45 years answering that question. A former newspaper reporter who covered a corrupt governor and got tired of laughing at bad press releases, McNeely bootstrapped McNeely & Associates on $11,000 and a home equity loan, grew it into McNeely, Pigott & Fox — one of the largest independent PR firms in the Southeast — and then walked away to build McNeely Brockman PR with his daughter, Kelly. In this episode, he shares the campaigns he's proudest of, the crises that nearly broke him, and the mentors who shaped how he leads. Founders, agency owners, and marketers will walk away with hard-won lessons on credibility, succession, and building something that outlasts you — covering agency growth, crisis management, family business, mentorship, client trust, and legacy planning. Episode Highlights 00:00 – Mark opens with the philosophy that's guided his entire career: honesty isn't the best policy; it's the only one 09:59 – The bad press release that planted the seed for starting his own firm 24:18 – Bootstrapping McNeely & Associates on $11,000 and a home equity loan in year one 26:22 – The Nashville landmarks his firm helped shape, from Bridgestone Arena to Nissan Stadium 36:29 – The seven-year campaign to get wine into Tennessee grocery stores — his proudest professional win 40:31 – Why he chose his daughter, Kelly, as his partner in launching McNeely Brockman PR 53:14 – The three rules he gives every young PR professional he mentors 55:18 – Leading through crisis: 9/11, the 2008 recession, and a half-million-dollar theft Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  Connect With Mark McNeely: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcneely-1002a15/  | https://www.mcneelybrockmanpr.com/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care. Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #PublicRelations #NashvilleBusiness #FamilyBusiness #AgencyLeadership

    Building a Business With Your Daughter: Mark McNeely on Starting Over

  2. Sep 3

    The Big Picture, One Small Detail at a Time: Kindra Svendsen on Agency Leadership

    What actually keeps an agency team together for over a decade? Mark Scrivner sits down with Kindra Svendsen, VP of Agency Services at Speak, to unpack the leadership philosophy and culture-building strategy behind one of Nashville's most established creative agencies. Kindra shares her journey from brand marketer to agency leader, why "shiny ball syndrome" derails good strategy, and how storytelling drives every piece of client work at Speak. The conversation covers what it means to lead with trust, why niching down accelerates agency growth, and how AI is reshaping (and complicating) the marketing industry. Listeners will walk away with practical insight on leadership, client relationships, agency positioning, storytelling strategy, distributed team culture, and navigating AI adoption with clients who don't want it. Episode Highlights 00:00 – Welcome to The Spark with guest Kindra Svendsen, VP of Agency Services at Speak 01:33 – Kindra's journey from brand marketer to agency leader 05:08 – The power of storytelling and finding your "why" 05:59 – Inside Speak's full-service model and specialized client verticals 13:57 – Stop the shiny ball syndrome: why CEOs derail their own marketing teams 18:54 – Empowering leadership: trust your people to grow 20:36 – What 12 years in Nashville has taught her about agency growth 26:36 – The future of Speak: AI, websites, and the next creative shift Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  Connect With Kindra Svendsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kindrasvendsen/ | https://www.madebyspeak.com/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #AgencyLeadership #MarketingStrategy #NashvilleCreative #BrandStorytelling

    The Big Picture, One Small Detail at a Time: Kindra Svendsen on Agency Leadership

  3. Aug 27

    Why Trust Beats Metrics: 5by5 President Josh Miller on Employee Ownership & Agency Growth

    What happens when you build an agency around trust instead of surveillance? Mark Scrivner sits down with Josh Miller, President of 5by5, a Nashville marketing agency that recently transitioned to 100% employee ownership. Josh traces his path from a near-dropout physics major to web developer at Paramore to co-founder and now president of 5by5, sharing the leadership lessons he picked up along the way — including an unforgettable story about integrity from his former boss, Hannah. He digs into why trust, not more analytics, has been 5by5's real competitive edge, how the agency prepared its team to become owners, and how AI is already showing up in their margins. This conversation covers agency leadership, employee ownership (ESOP) transitions, team trust-building, AI adoption in marketing, acquisition integration, and redefining what growth metrics actually matter. Episode Highlights 00:00 – Welcome to The Spark, intro to guest Josh Miller, president of 5by5 02:20 – Josh's winding path into advertising and the agency world 07:34 – The Hannah story: a lesson in integrity from a mentor 12:07 – How stepping back from meetings pushed Josh into leadership 19:24 – Trust as 5by5's "cheat code" for running the business 23:12 – Inside 5by5's transition to employee ownership (ESOP) 33:00 – How AI is showing up in agency efficiency and margins 42:06 – Josh's vision for fixing what's broken in agency life Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  Connect With Josh Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmiller7/  | https://5by5agency.com/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care. Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #AgencyLeadership #EmployeeOwnership #NashvilleAgency #TrustBasedLeadership

    Why Trust Beats Metrics: 5by5 President Josh Miller on Employee Ownership & Agency Growth

  4. Aug 20

    The Historian's Dilemma: Truth, Legend, and Brand Storytelling with Nelson Eddy

    What does a 450-mile canoe trip have to do with becoming one of Nashville's most respected brand storytellers? In this episode of the Spark, Nelson Eddy, former Managing Partner at FINN Partners and official historian for the Jack Daniel Distillery, joins Mark Scrivner to trace a 40-year career that took him from an English classroom to the boardrooms of two agency mergers, the launch of the Nashville Predators, and decades spent safeguarding one of the most storied brands in the world. This conversation covers brand authenticity, mentorship, the discipline of "asking what else," navigating the Nearest Green story with care, and why respecting people is the real secret sauce behind long client relationships. Episode Highlights 01:03 – Mark introduces Nelson Eddy and his background at FINN Partners and Jack Daniel's 02:09 – The 450-mile canoe trip that landed Nelson his first agency job 09:34 – What stayed consistent — and what changed — through two agency mergers 17:06 – Building the Nashville Predators brand from a hockey stick T-shirt to a saber-tooth tiger 26:04 – Becoming Jack Daniel's official historian after 20 years of research 33:16 – Telling the story of Nearest Green, and why patience mattered 47:16 – Nashville's hidden lore, from Sulphur Dell to stone box graves 53:49 – Nelson's closing lesson: respect is the foundation of everything Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Nelson Eddy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelson-eddy-55860515/ Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care. Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #BrandStorytelling #NashvilleCreative #AgencyLife #AdvertisingHistory

    The Historian's Dilemma: Truth, Legend, and Brand Storytelling with Nelson Eddy

  5. Aug 13

    Purpose, Patience, and Employee Ownership with Shannon Litton

    What if the "finish line" you've been running toward as a founder doesn't feel as good as you thought it would? Shannon Litton, CEO of 3LS Professional Services and founder of the Nashville change agency 5by5, joins Mark Scrivner to unpack her path from accidental agency hire to building a Best-Place-to-Work culture and ultimately taking her team from 30% to 100% employee ownership. This conversation is packed with real talk for founders, marketers, and agency leaders on culture-building, communication, and the mechanics of employee ownership. Listeners will walk away understanding how respect-driven leadership, disciplined sales systems, and a clear long-term vision can build both a thriving agency and life-changing outcomes for a team. Topics covered include: agency culture, employee ownership (ESOP), leadership communication, sales systems, mission-driven business, and legacy planning. Episode Highlights 01:33 – Introduction: Shannon Litton, CEO of 3LS Professional Services and founder of 5x5 04:30 – The accidental path into agency life and becoming an EVP at 23 07:01 – Starting over with 5 kids: building 5x5 smarter the second time 17:01 – The secret to Best Place to Work: respect, trust, and the Five Dysfunctions of a Team 21:16 – The lunch conversation that introduced Shannon to employee ownership 26:27 – Surprising the team with 30% ownership on a Disney World trip 29:27 – Going from 30% to 100% employee-owned through 3LS 39:05 – Shannon's mission: helping more business owners consider ESOPs Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  Connect With Shannon Litton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slitton/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #EmployeeOwnership #ESOP #AgencyLeadership #NashvilleBusiness

    Purpose, Patience, and Employee Ownership with Shannon Litton

  6. Aug 6

    Why Brand Personality Beats a Perfect Process with Michael Hutzel

    What actually makes a brand memorable — the process behind it, or the personality inside it? Michael Hutzel, co-founder and creative director of FoxFuel Creative, joins Mark Scrivner to make the case for personality-first branding over checklist-driven process, and to talk through how AI tools like Midjourney have reshaped his creative workflow. Michael also opens up about the mentor who gave him the confidence to start his own shop, and what running a three-founder agency for over a decade has taught him about staying friends while building a business. This episode covers brand voice, AI in the creative process, agency co-founder dynamics, mentorship, presentation skills, and client relationships. Episode Highlights 02:10 – Michael's path from Western Kentucky University's graphic design program into Nashville agency life, and the GS&F mentor who changed his trajectory 12:09 – His core advice for young creatives: know what you love, what you're good at, and what you suck at 17:16 – Why treating branding like a flowchart kills personality and produces sameness 21:33 – Brand personality case studies: Dollar Shave Club, GoDaddy, and Nike 30:25 – Why AI is triggering the same fear response designers once had about social media 36:14 – How Midjourney took a project from a beach-chair voice memo to a finished pre-vis in one hour 41:29 – The "finders, minders, grinders" framework keeping FoxFuel's three co-founders in their lanes 46:10 – Michael's legacy goal for FoxFuel: "do great work with people you love" Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/   Connect With Michael Hutzel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhutzel/  | https://www.foxfuelcreative.com/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #BrandStrategy #CreativeDirection #NashvilleAgency #AIinCreative

    Why Brand Personality Beats a Perfect Process with Michael Hutzel

  7. Jul 30

    Reinvention, Mentorship, and Nashville's Creative Community with Scott Brooks

    How does one person stay creatively engaged at the same agency for over 25 years? Mark Scrivner talks with Scott Brooks, Post-Production Supervisor at GS&F and President of AAF Nashville, about the evolution of interactive media, the mentors who shaped his career, and why he's chosen to stay close to the craft instead of climbing the executive ladder. This episode is for agency leaders, creatives, and marketers who want a real look at career longevity, mentorship, and community-building in the advertising world. You'll walk away with a fresh perspective on what keeps creative careers — and creative communities — thriving over the long haul. Episode Highlights 01:58 – Mark introduces Scott Brooks, President of AAF Nashville and Post-Production Supervisor at GS&F 02:38 – Scott recounts joining GS&F in 1999 and co-founding its interactive division 07:36 – Scott traces the evolution of "interactive" through Flash, Web 2.0, and into video and animation 11:32 – Why Scott has stayed at GS&F for over 25 years — and his retirement plan to move to Greece 19:26 – Leading by action: Scott's philosophy on mentorship over management  23:02 – Rebuilding AAF Nashville's community post-COVID and bringing agency leaders together 47:50 – The Dada Almanac and "friendly anarchy" as a creative philosophy 51:57 – Syd Mead, the futurist behind Blade Runner's iconic designs   Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Connect With Scott Brooks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-brooks-5376894/  | https://gsandf.com/  | sbrooks@gsandf.com  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health  Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/ Books Mentioned in This Episode: The Dada Almanac – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-dada-almanac-atlas-arkhive-1_richard-huelsenbeck/740432/item/38377506 The Official Batman Batbook – https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9780907610977/the-official-batman-batbook/used Raygun: The Story So Far (David Carson) – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785651188 McElligot's Pool (Dr. Seuss) – https://www.abebooks.com/9780394800837/McElligots-Pool-Classic-Seuss-Dr-0394800834/plp Syd Mead book – https://a.co/d/09r3jdzU Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care.  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #AgencyLife #NashvilleCreative #Mentorship #AAFNashville

    Reinvention, Mentorship, and Nashville's Creative Community with Scott Brooks

  8. Jul 23

    Building Culture From the Inside: A Decade at Snapshot and Leading Its Next Chapter with Josh Moquin

    What does it actually take to rise from an entry-level hire to president of the agency you helped build? On this episode of The Spark, host Mark Scrivner sits down with Josh Moquin — newly named President of Snapshot — for a conversation a decade in the making. Josh walks through his unlikely path into the agency world (including how a beer after work and a notepad led him to Snapshot's door), the seats he's held on the way to the top, and the leadership lessons that shaped him along the way. The two dig into what it means to earn a title rather than simply receive one, how Snapshot landed career-defining projects like the Amazon HQ2 pitch and a Major League Soccer client, and what Josh is committed to protecting — and changing — as he steps into his new role. Listeners will walk away with a clear-eyed look at what it takes to build real trust inside an organization, why titles mean nothing without the work behind them, and how to think about growth, culture, and impact whether you're leading a team of five or fifty. Episode Highlights 01:43 – Mark introduces Josh Moquin, newly named President of Snapshot 05:56 – Josh's origin story: how a notepad and a beer after work led him to Snapshot's door 09:24 – The account director role that changed how Josh saw the agency business 15:11 – Why the "no task beneath us" attitude defines Snapshot's culture 21:53 – The three-solutions leadership framework Josh still uses today 28:28 – What Josh is committed to protecting — and changing — as President 34:24 – Behind the scenes of Snapshot's push to bring Amazon HQ2 to Nashville 38:31 – Josh's vision for Snapshot's next chapter of growth Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  Connect With Josh Moquin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-moquin/  | https://snapshot.agency/  Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner  | https://snapshot.agency/health  Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health  Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/  #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #AgencyLeadership #NashvilleMarketing #CareerGrowth #AgencyCulture

    Building Culture From the Inside: A Decade at Snapshot and Leading Its Next Chapter with Josh Moquin
See All (51)

Trailer

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Spark Podcast amplifies Nashville's creative voices, showcasing diverse talents and fostering growth through shared journeys. By exploring the unique experiences and stories of the city's agency owners, innovators, and creators, the podcast inspires connection and collaboration, reflecting Nashville's rich creative culture. Mission Statement Our mission is to amplify Nashville's diverse creative voices, foster growth through shared journeys, and inspire a city that thrives on collaboration. The Spark Podcast is more than a platform—it's a gathering place for stories that uplift and connect Nashville's creative heartbeat. Together, we celebrate what makes our city unique, cultivating a vibrant community where creativity thrives.

Information

You Might Also Like