PERRI DUGARD OWENS | President & CEO of duGard Communications (dGC) – is an experienced communications, public relations and marketing professional and has developed strategies and programs for clients of varying sizes and multiple industries.  She brings proven leadership in developing media relations initiatives, launching major brands, creating measurable results, along with building awareness to achieve goals through various media channels. Her experience includes internal, external and crisis communications, advertising, social media and digital strategy. As a result, Perri has been able to utilize her skills in meaningful ways within transit/transportation, healthcare, non-profit, music/entertainment, tourism, financial services, faith-based and religious institutions as well as several other industries.  She has served in leadership roles that include developing public relations, social media and community building strategies for Armor Concepts, Flyte Time Productions, AECOM, HDRInc., Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Clarksville Transit Authority, East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (Morristown, TN), Johnson City Transit, Let’s Move Nashville and HCA, along with several others.

She has built presence for national organizations, creating the marketing and public relations presence for the National Museum of African American Music, and winning awards for her work with NMAAM. Additionally, her work with NMAAM has resulted in over $2.75 million raised, with direct correlation to communication strategies that she, and her team, designed and executed.  In her first year with the organization, she increased media coverage over 1600% and built media relationships for the organization locally and nationally. She has also served in lead communications roles for non-profits like the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, DCI Donor Services and Southwest Transplant Alliance, the latter of which tapped her to build their PR department, from the ground up, developing and executing a full marketing/communications strategy which garnered a 950% increase in media placement. Additionally, Perri has served as marketing director with HCA’s TriStar Health System, vice president of marketing and communications for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and account supervisor with BOHAN.

Perri earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Central University. She currently serves on the board of directors for Choral Arts Link, Inc., Family and Children’s Service, Metro Nashville Municipal Auditorium (appointed by Mayor Megan Barry) and Nashville Children’s Theater.  She formerly served on the board of directors for Nashville Education, Community & Arts Television (NECAT), Nashville Business Incubation Center, Matthew Walker Health Clinic, Youth Encouragement Services and Safe Haven, among others. Perri has received several honors and was a recipient of The Tennessean’s Top 40 Under 40 award, is an inaugural member of Nashville Emerging Leaders and was named INROADS/Nashville Alumnus of the Year.

To learn more about Perri and what she does at dGC, an award-winning strategic communications firm, head on over to duGard Communications‘ website.