At A Glance
  • Learn more about my move to RW Jones Agency
  • Listen to me talk equity in education and transit on Tennessee Voices
  • Read my thoughts on why dedicated transit funding is necessary economic recovery
  • Find out about the COVID19 Small Business Taskforce
  • Watch me on Channel 4 highlight why young professionals are moving to Nashville
  • Learn about me receiving the Nashville Emerging Leader Award
  • Read more about my recognition as a Nashville leader
  • See me present the Trailblazer award to Marilyn Robinson
  • Watch me on NewsChannel 5 discussing Equal Business Opportunity legislation
  • Watch me on News Channel 4 as Mayor David Briley announces the Equal Business Opportunity Legislation
  • Learn more about my appointment as Chair of the Minority Business Advisory Council
  • Check me out talking about the Let’s Move Nashville Plan
  • Read about me joining the Board of Directors for the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Watch me on Urban Outlook discuss public contracting for minority businesses
  • Watch me on Urban Outlook highlight potential programming to increase procurement opportunities for small and minority businesses
  • Check out my nomination as a 2016 Emerging Leader
  • Watch me on the Entrepreneurial Mind
  • Watch Me on Pulling Purse Strings
  • Watch Me on Take 10
  • Check Me out in The Connect Magazine
  • Check Me out in #HERoineLegacy
  • Listen to Me on Nomadic Chick Radio
  • Listen to Me on Common Cent$
  • Metro Nashville Minority Business Advisory Council
  • DENOR Brands + Public Relations
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  • Who Is Ashley?
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Blog

08 Aug Creating the Why in Social Media

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08 Aug 5 Sure Fire Tips to Emerge As Thought Leader on Twitter

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25 Jul Three Tips on How to Do Social Media RIGHT

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03 Jun I’m Buzzing…

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02 Jun I Made My Talk Show Debut!

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24 May The Event Chronicles: The Successful Disaster

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About Ashley Northington

Ashley Northington is an award-winning marketing communication strategist, social policy leader, and entrepreneur. The founder of DENOR Brands + Public Relations, she leverages strategic communications as a tool to battle social inequities through the lenses of high-quality public education and entrepreneurship. A champion of stories that matter, Ashley lives to craft and tell meaningful narratives that influence public policy, programs, and partnerships.

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SWillyerdScott Willyerd@SWillyerd·
13 Jan

[email protected] is launching a new blog on HBCU news. Our #HBCU practice is soon to announce a project that we're excited about. Our practice and project are being led by our managing director @ashnorthington. Stay tuned. #hbcunews #highered #higheredpr https://www.rwjonesagency.com/blog/the-roundup-hbcu-edition-1

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ashnorthington

MarComm strategist + entrepreneur working at the intersection of engaging storytelling and transformative public policy.

Ashley Northington
I love #Nashville. It’s always a pleasure when I I love #Nashville. It’s always a pleasure when I get to talk about a place I love so much and share a little about how I’ve been able to navigate it considering the tremendous growth my beloved city has experienced. I’m honored to have been featured in the Livability Magazine for the Nashville region talking about something else I love - Leadership Connect, a @nashchamber program I participated in as a member of its inaugural cohort (the very best one 😃).
In all of my work, I try my best to align things s In all of my work, I try my best to align things so that it’s meaningful. If you’ve ever been in a workshop with me, you know that when I say ā€˜meaningful,’ I mean in a way that gets you PAID. Now, payment is not always cash. It can be a payment of amplification in message. It can be payment in increased understanding. Or, it can be payment in the form of relationships (which is the REAL currency). All in all, I’m working towards positive change.
In another life, when I first started @denorpr, be In another life, when I first started @denorpr, before I knew what I was doing, when I was doing it for ā€˜FUN’, and before I knew what it could become, I used to help @urbaned with his concerts. One of those was a show with the legendary @erykahbadu!!!! Doing the communications for these concerts is how I got my feet wet in #business. Also, fun fact: my very first #RandB concert was @missjillscott in college. #Throwback #Verzuz #erykahbaduvsjillscott
Me. šŸ™‹šŸ¾ā€ā™€ļø I’m everyone. The truth is Me. šŸ™‹šŸ¾ā€ā™€ļø
I’m everyone. The truth is, I’m usually bubbly, bright, and excited to take on everything in my three prosperity-focused buckets (communications, education policy, economic inclusion policy). But lately, I’ve been WORN. Maybe it’s because I’m stressed about my wedding. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m currently working both ON and IN my business. Or maybe - just maybe - it’s because I’m determined to soldier on despite the recent traumas in #Nashville. Whatever it is, I knew it was getting bad when one of my longtime clients said I seemed off. Either way, I’m committed to being ready to take challenges head on. And besides, you all are NOT ready for what the message on the pic really means. I’ll share that later. šŸ™ƒšŸ™ƒšŸ™ƒ #communicatetowin #liveyourbrand

P.S. This image is also two years old. I told you, I have THINGS.
I’ve got stuff. The image I shared immediately b I’ve got stuff. The image I shared immediately before this one is literally TWO YEARS OLD. I’ve had it since August 2018, and today I decided to share it. This image here is a #throwback from December 2019. It’s after the @nashchamber presented it’s Education Report Card. I was SO proud because the report focused on something I’ve been trying to tease out since I started covering #education as a journalist in 2005. The thing? That the problems that often show up in our #publicschools are not as result of individual #student or #teacher failings. Rather, the issues that crop up and ultimately affect student outcomes are a collective failing of community. Full stop. We have to take responsibility for ALL of our children. It really does take a village and the siloed approach (traditional public, charter, private, etc) doesn’t work. We must and we can do better. #throwbackthursday
I’m moderating a conversation on tomorrow about I’m moderating a conversation on tomorrow about realigning your business, and it caused me to think about one of my favorite quotes. It’s an age old concept, but it’s one many people forget about - especially in times like these. Remember, you do not get more of the pie (pie = money, wealth, rest, success, etc) by doing MORE. You actually get it by doing LESS. It’s #additionbysubtraction. Add more value to what you can do well and leave everything else behind. Don’t get tempted to add on more services and more stuff thinking it’s going to bring you more during this crisis or any other one. Double down on 1-2 things, increase your value, and you’ll get more 🄧 🄧 🄧. #CommunicatetoWin
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of doing a new com On Thursday, I had the pleasure of doing a new communication strategy workshop for the Teach for America policy fellows in New Orleans. The session was titled: Communicate to Win: How to Leverage Your Dominant Communication Style to Gain Support and Launch a Movement. I taught them my eight signature communication avatars, had them take a test to identify their style, and took them through ā€˜The Winning Communication Process’ to learn how to maximize their style and know when to switch to one of the others. It was šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„!
This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of doing a This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of doing a workshop for educators and others interested in running for political office in Baton Rouge. The session was titled: Turning Likes Into Votes: How to Leverage Digital Media to Engage Your Voters. I think it went well.
Woot! Tonight was a real treat for me. I had the Woot!

Tonight was a real treat for me. I had the pleasure of moderating a fireside chat between former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and former Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman. Both shared their insights on the direction of education and why strong school leaders are a primary driver of improved student outcomes. 
I’m proud that Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga is stepping up to fill the gap for exemplary school leaders with its Nashville School Leaders Fellowship. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate tonight, and even more grateful to serve.
I had the pleasure of stopping by the Let’s Talk I had the pleasure of stopping by the Let’s Talk with Ernie Allen Show today to discuss the Equal Business Opportunity Program. We ran out of time, but here’s what I wanted to get across:

1) The EBO program is the farthest we have ever come as it relates to contracting equity in Metro Nashville. We’ve tried several times before and the measures didn’t go far enough. This program - which is race and gender conscious- should yield different results. That is why it’s historic.

2) Though the EBO program is a great start, there is more work to be done to level the playing field. Shifts in bonding and insurance requirements, collaborative and innovative access to capital and credit programs, robust business development programs, clear and transparent and differentiated communication, as well as unbundling of contracts are additional steps that can be taken. We’ve come so far, but we have a ways to go.

3) The work that has been started MUST continue. The work of equity has to be a priority no matter who is in office. For the first time in history, minority and women business owners had a champion to allocate funding for niche and ethnic chambers; allocate funding for a minority led business development center to build capacity in minority businesses; appointed an advisory council to give advice and provide feedback on eliminating barriers to success, and passed groundbreaking legislation on behalf of minority businesses. This is important work. We can’t afford to lose momentum now. We have to keep pushing.

In a time where we’re grappling with how everyone can be prosperous, these measures were designed to do just that.

We must keep pushing. That’s what I plan to do. I hope you’ll stand with me.
Woot! Woot! I had a wonderful time sharing insigh Woot! Woot! 
I had a wonderful time sharing insights on my favorite topic: BRANDING! with the bloggers, podcasters, and brand builders at Blogger Xchange Xpo. 
I’m always humbled when people leave any of my sessions with actionable takeaways, and I’m pleased many of the attendees did.

Leigh Love and Kay Elle put together an amazing event for their community, and I’m proud to see how it’s grown. Kudos to them for a job well done! (P.S. You ladies got it ALL out of me today in not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR!!!! sessions. :-))
I am incredibly honored to be the 2019 Nashville E I am incredibly honored to be the 2019 Nashville Emerging Leader Award winner in the Government and Public Affairs category. 
The NELAS always showcase those who are dedicated to the success of our region. 
I am proud to be recognized among so many talented individuals. 
Thank you to @ypnashville and @nashchamber for celebrating people who serve this community. 
#2019NELAS
I experienced a full circle moment today as the ā€˜Principal for a Day’ at Inglewood Elementary School!

I’m originally from East Nashville, and I attended Inglewood in the Second Grade (and Dan Mills and Dalewood). I had so much fun hanging out with Principal Tracy McPherson and Site Coordinator Cherifa McDowell. I got to observe classrooms, walk the halls, and I sat in on two lesson planning sessions. I especially enjoyed participating in the reading planning, where we went through passages of the book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. 
In short: I LOVED IT!

Inglewood has undergone a major transformation over the past few years, and I’m pleased to see all of their progress. Schedule a visit and check them out. Kudos to The Pencil Foundation for putting together an amazing program!

#publiceducation #education #schools #elementaryschool
You ever meet people who believe ghat because peop You ever meet people who believe ghat because people are of the same ethnicity that they have the same experiences? Yeah, me too. That’s so not true. It’s all about the spectrum. Ethnicity is a spectrum. Experiences are also a spectrum. To #communicate well, the jet is to understand the spectrum, and then communicate accordingly. #business #communicatetowin #branding #publicrelations #marketing
I loved walking in to this surprise! I LOVE flower I loved walking in to this surprise! I LOVE flowers! Thank you so much for the @flwrshop  arrangement, @bohanideas! You all are such a class act! I appreciate it. #awfaw #communication #marketing #branding #advertising #publicrelations #business
This is my personal definition of #branding. This This is my personal definition of #branding. This is what I shared with students last night and it’s a part of what I share with clients over at @denorpr. Even though I’m a words person and I majored in English, I break branding down to a #math problem. Notice how you MULTIPLY #action with the sum of #visuals and #storytelling. Why? Because branding is about consistent action. It’s the process of keeping a promise to your audience. Keeping the promise is how you #LiveYourBrand. #business #brand #communication #communications #communicatetowin
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Ā© 2021. Ashley Northington. | PS