Meet Megan Nivens-Tannett of Flourish

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Nivens-Tannett.

Hi Megan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born in Stamford, CT, my family moved down to Florida when I was a child and I spent most of my years in sunny Clearwater. After high school, I attended the University of Central Florida, where I majored in hospitality management. Although my career path in hospitality was very limited, it was a great fit for where I was at that time and taught me so much that I still lean on today.

My professional journey began in the dynamic world of non-profit management, where I opened the first North Alabama office for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. This role was a profound learning experience, sharpening my skills in advertising, communications, and public relations as I navigated the challenges of wearing multiple hats for about two and a half years.

Following this, I embarked on an exciting chapter with New York-based advertising agency McCann Erickson (who, funny enough, heavily influenced the show MadMen), where I supported the US Army account for about five and a half years. I played a pivotal role in supporting all facets of US Army Advertising & Public Affairs across the East Coast, contributing to high-impact projects and campaigns that supported the Army’s recruitment missions for USAREC & ROTC Commands.

My career then took a turn toward the technology sector, where I served as the Director of Marketing for an Internet of Things (IoT) firm. My three-and-a-half-year tenure here was marked by innovation and strategic growth, even amidst organizational changes, including multiple layoffs, one of which eventually included my position.

During this period, I also faced personal challenges, navigating a difficult divorce. This phase was a test of resilience and a moment of introspection, leading me to reconsider my professional path. Inspired by my daughter, then eleven, who encouraged me to pursue my aspirations independently, I embraced the challenge to forge my path.

With nothing left to lose and fuelled by her faith in me, I launched into entrepreneurship with her by my side, and together, we started Flourish. We created the first website together, developed the name, filed the paperwork, etc. It was honestly more of an “us against the world” type of scenario that we needed at that time. We were both experiencing a lot of personal pain, and this outlet was just what we needed as a distraction.

Turns out, that distraction was what our community needed and we’re about to celebrate our 6th year in business! Since we’ve been in business we’ve won countless awards, and have been nominated for prestigious recognitions such as the Best Places to Work and Small Business Awards; something I never would have imagined.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think “smooth road” and “entrepreneurship” belong in the same sentence…and to follow this path, you have to be OK with that.

I had no clue what I was getting myself into, so I’ve made MANY mistakes along the way, but those mistakes have taught me more than a ‘smooth road’ of a job would have ever taught me. The pandemic was tough. We were in growth mode just before the pandemic hit (I hired my first employee in early 2019 and two additional employees in the Fall of 2019). Additionally, we were the new agency on the block and still trying to figure things out.

We took a big hit financially but overcame things quickly with the PPP funding. We decided that if we were going to go down during this time, we were doing it on our terms: with that, we scrambled to develop and launch a series of workshops and virtual webinars that helped local business owners with the resources they needed during this time. We taught classes on social media engagement, how to bring your business online, how to nurture your customer relationships, and much more.

This effort put Flourish on the map, so to speak, strengthening brand awareness in our community and establishing our company as an SME in this area. This has benefited our business 10x over and we’re still asked to do workshops at least 1-2 per month.

Not to sound cheesy, but you don’t know what you don’t know, and there’s A LOT to know when you start a business and begin hiring employees. I quickly realized that I needed help, and began surrounding myself with people who were way smarter than me in their respective areas. Do I need to be CFO-ready to run a business?

Not necessarily, but I better have someone solid in my corner that I can trust. The same thing goes for operations, legal matters, compliance, etc. I’m extremely lucky to be in Huntsville, as we have so many resources that are designed to help entrepreneurs succeed. Once I tapped into these resources (and were honest with myself), things began to run more smoothly for me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Established in 2018 in Huntsville, AL, Flourish is a comprehensive strategic marketing and public relations agency serving a diverse portfolio of clients across the defense, aerospace, cybersecurity, biosciences, IT, and nonprofit sectors. With a focus on empowering small to medium-sized enterprises, we are committed to enhancing their brand visibility, fortifying community engagement, enriching digital interactions, and advancing their communication strategies.

Unlike traditional marketing companies, we’re a strategic growth partner, working closely with our clients to evaluate their ambitious objectives and deliver highly effective marketing plans to achieve them. Our comprehensive strategies encompass internal communications, brand enhancement, brand awareness, employee recruitment and retention programs, digital marketing, public relations, and more.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
You can’t win in this business without risk-taking – plain and simple.

However, sometimes those risks can get you into hot water, too! I’ve certainly made my fair share of mistakes along the way, but it is all about how we react to the situation that counts. My motto from the very start has always been, “If it doesn’t make you want to vomit just a bit, it’s probably too safe.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.flourishconsultingservices.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourishconsultingservices/

Image Credits
Flourish