Nancy VanReece

Strategist | Way Maker | Artist

Madison, TN

IT STARTS WITH A PROMISE - AND ALWAYS HAS A STORY

FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP

HON. Nancy VanReece

Vision  

Tenaciously driven to realize community potential. 

Known for balancing sustainable community growth in business, nonprofit, housing, and the arts so that change happens for people and not to people. I seek to bring local, regional, national and international resources together as a facilitator for communities as they navigate the balance of culture and growth. 

SKILLS

  • Highly Skilled Negotiator

  • Crisis Management and Media Relations Professional

  • Strategic Digital and Analog Communication Specialist

  • Captivating Public Speaker for audiences up to 20,000

  • Participation and decision-maker for 3 Billion Dollar Government Budgets

  • Government Relations Specialist in Metropolitan Planning, Zoning, Convention & Tourism

  • Salesforce and NetSuite Sales Management, Award Winning Prezi Designer & Digital Media Strategist.

    Experience

VICE PRESIDENT STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT

LDG Development, LLC - Louisville, KY  (Nashville, TN office)  | 2022-

Working to establish long term relationships with the artist communities and policy makers in every LDG Development neighborhood nationwide. Focusing on engagement of local artists in the place-making and resident services. Assisting development managers with policy maker engagement.

METROPOLITAN COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 8 | 09/2015 - 08/2023
Nashville & Davidson County Metro Government - Nashville, TN

Affordable Housing
1.    Achieved 34% of all new housing in District at affordable and workforce rates.
2.    Negotiated urban planning designs to create sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods.
3.    New sidewalks are required on all new developments to create more walkable communities
4.    37-acre town center development ( Madison Station ) Created community and planning department approval to transform an aging shopping center Up to 1.75 million square feet of potential business and retail. Includes 1,700 mixed-income residential units and sustainable Community Green Space. Read More

Music City Solar
Negotiated and secured a renewable Nashville powered by community. What was once a landfill is now the site of Nashville’s first solar park.17,020 panels available to participating customers, offering clean, efficient, maintenance-free energy. Video

Secured the remaining 60% of District 8 for annexation into the Urban Service District (USD).
1. Brought 971 energy saving LED streetlights to the Madison suburb.
2. Trash and recycling services are no longer privatized. Resulting in 20,000 more homes recycling that were not before.
3. New sidewalks are required on all new developments to create more walkable communities

Brought diversity to the conversations 

Elected to be the first Chair of the historic formation of the LGBTQ Caucus of the Nashville Metropolitan Council. #LGBTQCaucus_Nash

Spearheaded the COVID-19 Response for Nashvillians 65+ Task Force

Mayor's Diversity Council Advisory Committee. Mayor's Council on the State of Women. 

Scholarship founded at nonprofit, Neighbor to Neighbor.

Recruited National Public Radio and Television Program

Two-year negotiation with a multinational corporation, a Congressman, a State    Representative, and several nonprofits to secure real estate. Resulted in up to 100 year-round jobs at The Roots Barn, a sustainable reoccurring donation to historic preservation and budget for nonprofit programming that serves well over 20,000 people. This project is the cornerstone of new housing and street plans poised to solidify Madison as an epicenter of life, work, arts and travel destination area for years to come.

VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Roots Productions, LLC - Nashville, TN  | 2021

Served 28 weeks to set Public Affairs Strategy and garner underwriting support. $400,000.00 raised

VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Batch USA, LLC - Nashville, TN | 10/2016 - 05/2021

Successfully pivoted services in the age of COVID-19, landing the fifth-largest deal in the history of the company and by providing corporate gifts for new and loyal customers in lieu of conferences and as a way to keep employees motivated working from home. Company year over year growth exceeded expectations.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 

Parachute Media, LLC - Nashville, TN | 10/2015 to 09/2016

Increased business revenue by 198% in only 11 months.

Grew staff by 300%

Long-term accrued value of client achieved 400% growth

SR. LICENSING EXECUTIVE

Broadcast Music Inc. - Nashville, TN | 09/1998-09/2009

Music licensing facilitator for Fortune 300 corporations and Top 100 Healthcare Systems in the United States.
$5 million dollars secured for songwriters accrued each year. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Nashville Shakespeare Festival - Nashville, TN  | 02/2007-09/2009

Grew $158,000 annual budget to $381,000-year budget while operating in the black during the 2008 recession.
Founded the Winter Shakes programming at Belmont University in 2008.
Produced 8 union-negotiated events in three years. 


SR. SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST AND WEBSITE MANAGER
Nashville Symphony & Schermerhorn Symphony Center - Nashville, TN | 10/2011 - 07/2013

Developed & Delivered online communications strategy on 11 platforms increasing audience engagement to over 500 conversations a week.
Over 16,000 tweets and 2,200 Facebook posts later — totaling 204 million impressions
Success drew the attention of the New Yorker Magazine, American Way Magazine, and the League of American Orchestras. 


OWNER, PRINCIPAL
Carpe Diem Management - Nashville, TN

Brand Advocate and Strategic Visionary Consultant

Education and Training 

Harvard Kennedy School - Cambridge, MA
Certificate of Completion, St. Executives in State & Local Government - 7/2022

During this rigorous and highly interactive program VanReece wa challenged to think critically, in order to identify feasible solutions to the world’s most complex problems. Hands-on learning with faculty, colleagues, and visiting policy experts provided new perspectives on the challenges faced every day. I t resulted in a renewed sense of passion for work, a fortified commitment to the public interest, and a practical framework for effecting change within both the public and private sector.

Progressive Governance Academy - Washington DC 11/2019
RE: Progressive Governance Academy (PGA), a newly-launched pilot project with the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and Local Progress to build and develop the leadership and governance skills of progressive state and local elected officials across the country. 

Baylor University - Waco, TX 

Radio And Television
● Music Director at KWBU - Radio 1982-1986 

Honors 

  • Leadership Tennessee Class VIII 2021, competitive selection for a program designed to bring leaders representing the geographic and professional diversity of TN. LT will facilitate collaborative conversations around critical issues and encourage action at a statewide level. ● Women of Influence Award 2020 (Public Policy), awarded by the Nashville Business Journal ● N-CHARGE Person of Influence - NFocus/Nashville Post Magazine ● Steine Public Leadership in the Arts Award , given by Nashville Arts Coalition, the award acknowledges the commitment of a citizen or elected official for supporting arts funding as a major economic driver of Nashville's vitality.

  • Outstanding Local Leadership Award from the National League of Cities for LGBT Leadership ● Certificate of Appreciation for Community Service from the State of Tennessee and Governor Bill Haslam ● Community Advocacy Excellence Award from the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ● Community Service Medal Woman of Honor from Davidson County Democratic Women ● Outstanding Advocacy from the National Chapters of PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

  • Social Media Strategist of the Year Finalist from Nashville Technology Council ● Promoter of the Year from Cashbox Magazine for Independent Radio Promotion ● Award of Excellence - ADDY award for Print Advertising

Volunteer Projects 

Madison Rivergate-Area Chamber of Commerce - Board Chair 2024

Arts  & Business Council - Nashville - Board Member 2021-2023
Mayor's Council on the State of Women Legislative and Policy Committee
July 2019 – 2021 
Pride Study of LGBTQ Health of Stanford University and All of Us Research Program for the National Institue of Health National Ambassador
May 2018 - October 2021
Amqui Station and Visitor's Center | Discover Madison, Inc. Board Member, Farmers Market Manager June 2014 – August 2016
Tennessee Equality Project / Tennessee Equality Project Foundation Founding Member and Board Member 2008-2009 NAPP / Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce Founding Member and Board Member 1998 - 2000
American Advertising Federation of Nashville Board Member and Diversity Committee Chair July 2016 – Jul 2017
The Brooks Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - Member of the Advisory Board January 2011 - December 2013 

“As a newly formed, public-facing enterprise, our organization benefited from Nancy’s deep understanding and valuable experience in Public Affairs. She established community relationships — public and private, near and far — that will prove critical to our company’s success.
She is a positive and dynamic contributor.
Nancy defined the important role of Vice President of Public Affairs and Business Development beyond the scope of our expectations and executed the complex nature of this dual role seamlessly and with utmost professionalism.”
— Fred Kennedy, Harken Hall
“What can Nancy NOT do? Seriously - she approaches any role, job, task, or initiative with integrity, authenticity, and passion. She’s not afraid of the hard work needed to get the job done and is quick to look for wins for all parties. She also shows up with her community. Nancy is not merely well connected; she’s deeply connected and brings that network to any opportunity that has a chance to make the world better. ”
— Sam Davidson, Co-Founder Batch USA, LLC
“I worked with Nancy for 4 years and I can attest that she is a life-long learner, leader, and relationship builder. Nancy has never met a stranger. I’ve probably sat in over 100 meetings with her and she’s always found something to connect with the person across the table- “a virtual connector of dots.” That takes both empathy and emotional intelligence. Nancy is thoughtful in her approach to everything she does which makes her excellent at business development. She is able to think strategically at ten-thousand feet while being detailed oriented in the execution of tasks. Ideas are nothing without execution and Nancy balances those effortlessly. Having Nancy is your corner is nothing short of incredible.”
— RYAN CARTER, FOUNDER/CEO PARCHUTE MEDIA, LLC
“Nancy did a spectacular job rebuilding MDSave’s social media presence. One heck of a turnaround job. She was creative, reliable and has a solid work ethic. She came to the table with fresh ideas, was always on time and always kept a great sense of humor.”
— Chad Blackburn Vice President Business Development MDSave,Inc.

"I came to Nancy because I wanted to build my brand through blogging/social media and had zero knowledge about how to do it. She was the perfect person for the job. Her blend of social media expertise and calm, positive demeanor was exactly what I needed. 

Consultant/coach/patient trainer, she helped me create a path to launching my blog and gave me skills along the way. She made me feel like what I wanted to achieve was possible, and then got me there. There is lots left to do, but I feel confident that we will partner to achieve the long term results I'm hoping for."

- Lisa Pote, Consultant

“Nancy VanReece is the real thing. She knows how to build an effective social media brand/platform. Even better, she makes this complex, arcane world accessible (and dare I say FUN) for her clients. She stands on the valuable ground where social media, branding and marketing intersect. I’m incredibly relieved to have her on my team!”
— Amy Lynch, Generational Edge
“What can be said about Nancy VanReece that you may not already know? There is a general consensus (and a look at her LinkedIn recommendations confirms this) regarding her wide-ranging talent for just about everything at which she tries her hand. As communications director at the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF), I was responsible for helping to coordinate a statewide summit featuring thought leaders and communications experts in the non-profit arena. During the planning phase for the event, when charged with finding a presenter for the topic of social media engagement, I knew immediately that Nancy was the best possible choice. Nancy is on the cutting edge when it comes to helping organizations create comprehensive social media engagement strategies. Her presentation at the Tennessee Executive Residence was eloquent, sleek, articulate and – most significantly – effective. Our attendees left the summit invigorated with a real sense of how to implement Nancy’s ideas and reach more of their constituents in the ever-evolving ecosystem of social media platforms. I cannot recommend her highly enough, and I hope to work with her often in the future.”
— Kirk Graves, Communications Director, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation
“Nancy has completely transformed our social media program, creating a viable and robust presence for us across a variety of platforms, from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to Google+ and Pinterest. She has played a critical role in upgrading and maintaining our website, and she piloted the launch of the Nashville Symphony’s mobile app, which today has been downloaded more than 5,000 times.

Nancy’s commitment to the job has been beyond compare, as she has spent countless evenings tethered to her iPad, monitoring and responding to the outpouring of feedback we receive through our social networks. Day in and day out, she has created, organized and posted dynamic content that represents the full breadth of who we are and what we do here at the Nashville Symphony — our concerts, our musicians, our education programs, you name it. We are a better institution for all of the incredible work that she has done, and she’ll be greatly missed.

In her own words: “I have enjoyed my nearly two years with the organization. Over 16,000 tweets and 2,200 Facebook posts later — totaling 204 million impressions — we have grown a great community on 11 platforms having 500+ conversations a week. I look forward to working with new clients as effectively!””
— Sr. Director of Marketing|Communications, Nashville Symphony
“Nancy put together a intensive 2 day workshop for Engage Kingsport and Kingsport Cultural Arts. The workshops gave individual artists the confidence and tools they need to enter the Social Media world as well as helped regional arts organizations refine and enhance their current social media strategies.”
— Bonnie Macdonald, Director, City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts
“Nancy was fun and informative. As the Luncheon Keynote Speaker for the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare, Nancy provided great insight to a representation of over 20 different social service agencies. Her presentation spoke to each agency and everyone left with a more forward thinking mindset of social media and how it can be most effective and beneficial in telling their agency’s story! We loved Nancy!”
— LaTamera Woodley, LAPSW