We Made The List!
I’ve been on lists before. Some good. Some that were not so good. (I’m certain I was on Santa’s Naughty List from 1972-1985.) But this week, we learned that our little ol’ marketing and PR firm Madison+Main made it to the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America!
Patagonia, Microsoft, Intuit. All successful independent small businesses who gained their first national exposure as honorees on this prestigious list in the past. Of the 5,000, only 233 companies in Virginia made the list. Of those, 38 in Richmond – the Capital of Creativity, were recognized.
Our agency opened in 2005. Next month, we’ll have 17 years under our belt – that’s over 5,000 days in the business. We survived the lean years, the Great Recession, and COVID-19.
In January 2020, I turned over the reins of the agency to Molly Whitfield. (She often thanks me for putting her in charge 90 days before the pandemic). I have already received lots of congratulatory messages from folks who have read the news this week. I have also received some gentle ribbing from friends that have noticed that “the more time Dave is on the Tug Life, the better his company does.”
It’s true. There are two BIG reasons for our success. 1) Molly. She’s a fearless leader and tireless advocate. 2) Our team. Their years of dedication to our clients made this possible.
There are 27 million businesses in the United States and .07% made the list. Bold Brands Win. We prove it every day for our clients, and ourselves. You want in?
MONDAY:
SIP ON THIS
Grab your shaker and a glass! Our client A. Smith Bowman Distillery dropped a how-to-make video on their YouTube channel for anyone who’s looking for a new cocktail to try featuring their award-winning George Bowman Colonial Era Dark Caribbean Rum. Check out their easy-to-make recipe for George’s Colonial Punch and let us know how it tastes.
TUESDAY:
MAIN-IACS PLAY DAY
On Tuesday, the Madison+Main-iacs woke up bright and early to celebrate our big win this week with a day of play at our client Compass Entertainment Complex. Our team reached new heights navigating the elevated Ropes Course, hit the Go Karts track, and enjoyed a pizza party for lunch. If you’re looking to organize a corporate outing full of fun, plan your visit to the Northern Neck’s state-of-the-art entertainment complex today.
WEDNESDAY:
A NOD TO NONPROFITS
For National Nonprofit Day, we would like to shine a light on our clients Hitting Cancer Below the Belt and Housing Families First. These Richmond-based nonprofits provide help to our community in their own unique ways. But both share the goal to make life a little better for the ones their causes serve.
THURSDAY:
TAKING TIME TO REFLECT
On Thursday morning, I found myself driving down a winding road in the middle of Amherst County to a place that is not on any map – the Schaar Family Cemetery. It sits on top of a hill between a few small farms on Grandma’s Hill Road. At noon, 50 or so friends, family, and co-workers of Lisa Cash gathered to pay their final respects.
Although I had only employed Lisa for four years, she gave 34 years of service to the Texas Inn. It was her first job and her only job. She waited on me when I was in school. Other relatives worked there on and off, but Lisa stayed…to the end. She was a little lady with a booming voice. She was a kind soul and a no-nonsense kind of gal. She was eager to smile and chat with regulars. Once you met her, you couldn’t forget her. Many in the crowd wore Texas Inn t-shirts. Lisa was buried in hers. She will be missed but never forgotten.
FRIDAY:
MEETING THE GOAL
We love sharing good news. This week, we helped Housing Families First spread the word that they completed their goal of raising $4.4 million for their Opening Doors for Families capital campaign. Now, they will be able to assist an additional 300 people experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing each year. You can read all about it in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Beyond the Battlefield: Redefining Trauma
Fort Monroe Authority
30 Ingalls Road
Fort Monroe, VA 23651
August 20 | 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Take a historical deep dive into topics of mental health struggles in the military from the perspective of lived experiences at Fort Monroe Authority! Join them for their exhibit at the Casemate Museum to explore the lives of four individuals’ stories from 19th-century Fort Monroe. Get your free ticket today!
Dogust Pet Food Drive
Holiday Barn Pet Resorts
Glen Allen & Midlothian, VA
August 26 | All Day
Pups and kitties in need of some good food could use your help! Join Holiday Barn Pet Resorts for the last day of their Dogust Pet Food Drive. All food will be donated to pet food pantries run by local humane organizations. Mark your calendars!
“Don’t go through life, grow through life.“ — Eric Butterworth