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Press Releases
April 19, 2012 - PRSA-Nashville
Southwestern Advantage was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America – Nashville Chapter at the 26th Annual Parthenon Awards in Nashville in two areas. The Parthenon Awards recognize Middle Tennessee’s public relations practitioners and the quality and results of their work throughout the previous year. The first award was for the Share the Advantage program in the Public Service category. Taking home the top prize was no easy task, as this partic... Read More
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Take the Stairs book #1
Southwestern Consulting’s Rory Vaden’s new book, Take the Stairs, hit the #1 spot worldwide in all categories including the Best Sellers in Books category on Amazon! It was also #1 on the Barnes and Nobles listings in all categories. In Take the Stairs, Rory focuses on the importance of self-discipline in a world of “short cuts” and “quick fixes.” Rather than taking the escalator, successful people “take the stairs” to where they want to ... Read More
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Trinity Taylor, MTSU - senior: Marketing
From over 2,700 college students, Middle Tennessee State University senior Trinity Taylor was honored as the 2011 Student Excellence Award winner by Southwestern Advantage™ in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the award and recognition, Taylor, a Chapel Hill, TN native, will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for further educational purposes or donated to an organization of her choice. Independent judges rank qualifying students in the categories of academics, Southwestern Ad... Read More
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Great American Opportunities, Inc. aquires QSP, Inc.
John Davis, President of Great American Opportunities, Inc., and Henry Bedford, CEO of Southwestern/Great American, Inc. announced the acquisition of QSP, Inc., QSP Canada and eFundraising last week. All QSP assets and business will be part of the deal. The QSP sales force will be combined with the current Great American sales force and they will work to redefine sales territories in the coming months. "The acquisition will provide an even greater opport... Read More
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Southwestern Advantage to appear on TODAY Show on December 12, 2011
Southwestern Advantage had the privilege once again this year to take part in the TODAY Show’s annual Holiday Toy Drive. This was Southwestern’s 7th year to participate. Former Southwestern Advantage Dealer, and now Southwestern’s current Online Product Manager, Haley Price appeared on this morning’s program with Al Roker, Natalie Morales, and Savannah Guthrie to explain our company’s donation of over $1 million in educational software games to the 18... Read More
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Student dealers make a difference
On the most recent company-wide incentive trip, the Southwestern Advantage dealers went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The trip featured three days of ‘Share The Advantage‘ service projects that allowed each sales group to give back to the local community. Day 1 Summary – RISE Orphanage - The Standard sales group The first day of service projects belonged to The Standard organization. The group began the day at Wal-Mart to participate in a “Battle of th... Read More
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50 years with the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. In 1961, Southwestern, along with 509 other Middle Tennessee businesses pledged $50,200 for the first year’s operating budget for the new charter of incorporation for a Better Business Bureau as approved by the Tennessee Secretary of State. Fifty of the businesses remain with 15 recognized at a banquet to celebrate the milestone. Each business was presented with a plaque honoring the 50 years of ... Read More
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Nashville Business Journal; Sept. 16, 2011
Southwestern continues to grow their family of companies. The Nashville Business Journal has ranked Southwestern Company in their Top Private Companies Ranking for 2011. Southwestern has been ranked #23 with a 20.07% growth in revenue from 2007 to 2010 and is recognized by the Business Journal as one of the “25 Fastest Growing Private Companies.” The corporation is one of the largest private companies in Middle Tennessee and is also ranked #21 for 2010, up from... Read More
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Working with inner-city Miami youth
On June 5, Southwestern Advantage executives and hundreds of other direct selling executives converged on the YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade by the busload. The charitable event was sponsored by the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF). It has become an annual event for direct selling executives to come together with time and resources to assist in a community effort and give-back in the city hosting the annual conference that particular year. This year, Miami was ... Read More
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Trey Campbell a finalist for the 2011 NELA Award
Trey Campbell, Southwestern Company's Director of Communications, is a finalist for an award from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. The Nashville Chamber and Young Professionals Nashville announced finalists in 14 industry categories for the 2011 Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards. This region-wide recognition honors young professionals under the age of 40 with significant contributions to their profession and the community. Campbell is one of five finalist in the "Public Relations, A... Read More
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Fifth award for consumer blog
Southwestern Company’s consumer blog was recognized as one of the Achievement in Marketing (AIM) award winners by the Nashville chapter of the American Marketing Association (NAMA). The awards are a celebration of the work the elite marketers in Middle Tennessee produce, and more importantly, the results they achieve. The event took place at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The blog, www.southwesterndifference.com, won the top award in the “Online Blog” ... Read More
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Southwestern Advantage recognized by local PR society
Southwestern Advantage has been recognized with two Awards of Merit at the 25th Annual Parthenon Awards by the Public Relations Society of America - Nashville Chapter (PRSA-Nashville). The annual awards recognize the best public relations programs and projects in Middle Tennessee. The annual ceremony, hosted at the Aerial in downtown Nashville, acknowledged excellence in all aspects of public relations, including programs and projects ranging from overall communications camp... Read More
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For every subscription of Southwestern Advantage Online a student dealer sells, one will be donated.
One of the traits that has always defined the Southwestern Advantage Internship Program and the student dealers is service, and specifically, being service-minded towards others. Recently, Southwestern Chairman and CEO, Henry Bedford, came to a realization while watching the documentary Waiting for “Superman.” There are better ways to learn and better ways to teach. But not everyone has access to the tools and people that can improve their education and, in turn, their futu... Read More
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Partnership Announcement
One of Nashville’s oldest companies has teamed up with one of Nashville’s hottest online companies. The two companies with not much in common on the surface have formed a partnership because of their common audience – college students. Southwestern helps young people achieve their goals through running their own business during their summer break to offset their college education. Uloop helps young people fulfill needs they have while on campus during the school year.... Read More
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United Way of Metro Nashville Honors Southwestern Company
Southwestern was recognized by the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville at company headquarters in Nashville for the results of the 2010 corporate giving campaign. On hand to present the awards to members of the 2010 United Way Committee and Henry Bedford was Nicole Langlois, our United Way Campaign Representative and six other representatives form United Way. The campaign was a success, chaired by Southwestern Business Resources Career Counselor and Southwestern alum Shayne Merrick. ... Read More
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Part of a citywide awareness campaign for public school system
Southwestern has joined with ONE NASHVILLE as an endorsing partner. ONE NASHVILLE is a citywide public awareness campaign created by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to bring together people, organizations and businesses with a common commitment- to make Metro Nashville Public Schools the best in the country. The belief is we can achieve that goal if the entire city gets involved to support Metro Schools. Now is the time for each of us to do his or her part to make Nashville’s school... Read More
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Jill Poston takes top honor at company awards banquet
Out of over 2,800 college students, Clemson University graduate Jill Poston was honored on Jan. 15, 2011 as the 2010 Student Excellence Award winner by Southwestern Company in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the award and recognition, Jill will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for educational purposes or donated to a non-profit or charitable organization. Independent judges rank qualifying students in the categories of academics, Southwestern sales and recruiting achievements, ... Read More
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Nashville Business Jouranl 2011 "Forty Under 40" Awards
Southwestern Company's Trey Campbell has been selected by the Nashville Business Journal (NBJ) as a "Forty Under 40" winner for 2011. The third annual Forty Under 40 publication and awards luncheon celebrates 40 professionals under the age of 40 for their contributions to their companies and communities in Middle Tennessee. Each winner will be featured in an upcoming special feature of NBJ. For a complete list of the 2011 winners: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/feature/nbj... Read More
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Newly created corporate position
Chris Layfield has been appointed to the position of Corporate Director of Advertising and Marketing at Southwestern/Great America, Inc., parent corporation to Southwestern. This new role was created to advance the brand and raise awareness of Southwestern and its family of companies on the web and through other media. Layfield will serve the needs with the Southwestern summer sales program and work to coordinate a consistent message with all the businesses within the corporate family. &n... Read More
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2010 TODAY Show Toy & Gift Drive; Dec. 13, 2010
Nashville’s Southwestern Advantage has been asked by the NBC’s TODAY Show to appear on December 14 in response to a large donation of educational products. 2010 marks the 17th Annual TODAY Show Holiday Toy and Gift Drive. This year, through the Washington, DC-based trade association, the Direct Selling Association (DSA), 41 direct selling companies donated more than $16.5 million worth of product, gifts, services and cash to the cause. In the seven years of participati... Read More
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2010 TODAY Show Toy & Gift Drive
Forty one direct selling companies donated a total of more than $16.5 million in products and cash to the Toy Drive. Of the 41 participating companies, at least 10 will be featured in their own spots on the TODAY Show during the holiday season. In its seven years of participation, DSA member companies have donated more than $70 million in products, services and cash to the Toy Drive. Southwestern Company was a large contributor to this cause and will be recognized in the near fu... Read More
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Consumer blog recognized by IABC-Nashville; October 13, 2010
Southwestern Advantage was presented with the prestigious Gold Pen Award by the Nashville Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for our consumer and PR blog, Southwestern Difference. Southwestern Difference was established in late 2008 for the purpose of educating consumers about direct selling and has a three-fold mission: 1) to differentiate between legitimate direct sellers and disreputable ones 2) to educate ... Read More
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Profiled on Forbes.com
In an annual survey, CollegeGrad.com polls employers about the number of interns they plan to recruit, typically for the summer months. For 2010, Southwestern Advantage moved into the #1 position, up from #2 in 2009. Southwestern Advantage projects 2,750 interns from nearly 350 college and university campuses in North America and Europe. Southwestern Advantage and the rest of the companies making the top ten are profiled on Forbes.com and featured in an accompanying arti... Read More
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Student dealer, commuity safety as impotant as ever with Southwestern Company
Nashville, TN – Southwestern Advantage, recently honored with the Century Award from the Direct Selling Association (DSA) for its contribution to the industry for 155 years, has strengthened their resolve to the continuous promotion of safety to the independent student dealers who sell their educational products, the communities they serve and the overall improvement of the image of direct selling. For generations, Southwestern Advantage has always put a priority on student safety by condu... Read More
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Southwestern Advantage - honored by the Direct Selling Association
Nashville, TN – Southwestern Advantage was honored in San Francisco at the Direct Selling Association’s (DSA) 2010 Annual Meeting and 100th Anniversary Celebration with the organization’s Century Award. The meeting closed with a black-tie Centennial Celebration Banquet in which Southwestern Advantage and three other companies were honored for the contributions they have made to the direct selling industry as a whole and to the DSA as an association in the 100 years since it was... Read More
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Southwestern Advantage was honored with two Awards of Merit at the 24th Annual Parthenon Awards by the Nashville chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Southwestern Advantage was honored with two Awards of Merit at the 24th Annual Parthenon Awards by the Nashville chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The awards recognize the best public relations programs and projects in Middle Tennessee. The annual ceremony, hosted at the Hutton Hotel, acknowledges excellence in all aspects of public relations, including programs and projects ranging from overall communications campaigns to social media projects and annual repo... Read More
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Southwestern Chairman and CEO, Henry Bedford, was recognized at the inaugural, Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter, as the recipient of the Safe Haven Hero Award.
Southwestern Chairman and CEO, Henry Bedford, was recognized at the inaugural, Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter, as the recipient of the Safe Haven Hero Award. Befdford was instrumental in the development of Saint Patrick’s Family Shelter, now known as Safe Haven Family Shelter. His drive to help people in challenging situations, led him to his involvement of the capital campaign in 1990 to build Saint Patrick’s Family Shelter. After he led the ... Read More
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Maryville College student overcomes adversity to turn life around
Out of over 2,600 college students worldwide, Bobby Nicholson has been honored as the 2009 Student Excellence Award winner by the Southwestern Advantage in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the award and recognition, Bobby will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for further educational purposes or donated to a non-profit or charitable organization. Nicholson, originally from Farragut, Tennessee, has overcome adversity to be where he is today. “People look at Bobby a... Read More
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For the second year, Southwestern Advantage asked student dealers to nominate their host families for the prestigious “Host Family of the Year” Award. This year's winners hailed from Pittsfiled, MA and Mesa, AZ
For the second year, Southwestern Advantage asked student dealers to nominate their host families for the prestigious “Host Family of the Year” Award. The company was flooded with entries. With both an alumni category and another for non-alumni hosts, it was difficult to narrow the field and choose a winner. During the summer, host families serve as a home-away-from-home for the students who relocate to another region of the country to run their sales business. T... Read More
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National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators recognize www.southwesterndifference.info
Southwestern Advantage was honored with a national ACE Award at the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrator's (NACAA) 34th Annual Conference on June 29 in Madison, Wisconsin. The recognition was for Southwestern's consumer awareness blog, www.southwesterndifference.info, which sets out to educate about door-to-door safety, the dangers of traveling sales crews and to distinguish between legitmate and disreputable door-to-door... Read More
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To be featured on Forbes magazine online
Southwestern Advantage has been recognized by CollegeGrad.com in their annual Top 10 list titled “Top Intern Employers for 2009." Southwestern achieved a ranking of #2 in the list, behind Walgreens, which is based on number of internships filled in a given year. In an e-mail from Andeola Ogunwole, PR and Marketing Director at CollegeGrad.com, she states: “As you may know, each year CollegeGrad.com conducts not only a survey of top employers to create an ... Read More
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College students choosing to stick around summer internship program to outlast sluggish economy and set themselves apart in the job market.
While the state of the economy may seem like a wet blanket, it has not dampened the spirits for thousands of college and university students who will try their hand at running a business this summer with hopes of financial success. Recruiting projections point to an increase in student dealers who will participate in Southwestern Company’s summer sales program, a long-time staple in downtown Nashville, Tennessee around Legislative Plaza and in the direct selling industry. Thi... Read More
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Southwestern Advantage Receives Awards from Nashville’s Public Relations Society of America
Southwestern Advantage was recognized at the Public Relations Society of America – Nashville Chapter’s 23rd Annual Parthenon Awards in several categories. The Parthenon Awards can be compared to the Academy Awards of the Middle Tennessee PR industry. It’s a who’s who of agencies, nonprofits, corporations and solo practitioners, all vying for bragging rights in over 30 categories. Southwestern Advantage earned top honors in the followi... Read More
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Southwestern Company Legend, Dortch Oldham, passes on February 26, 2009
On Thursday morning, February 26, 2009, one of the greatest pillars in the history of Southwestern Company, Dortch Oldham, passed away. He was 89 years old. Dortch grew up on a farm north of Nashville, and heard about running his own summer business selling books from a friend. In an interview in Nashville several years ago, Oldham recounted, "He told me you could make as much as $200. That was during the Depression, and I was on the farm - that was real money to me." He began ... Read More
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Southwestern District Sales Manager Matt Ross is recognized as the 2008 Excellence Award Winner
Matt Ross, District Sales Manager, has been recognized as the Southwestern Company’s Excellence Award Winner for 2008. This prestigious company award promotes stiff competition between Southwestern sales managers and leaders from all over the world. The award serves as the "best of the best,” as it ranks five key markers of business success. Ross was in competition with over 30 sales managers throughout the world. Ross, from Durham and a graduate of the Unive... Read More
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Out of over 2,500 college students, recent University of Miami’s graduate Valerie Wasveiler was honored as the 2008 Student Excellence Award winner by the Southwestern Company in Nashville, Tennessee.
Out of over 2,500 college students, recent University of Miami’s graduate Valerie Wasveiler was honored as the 2008 Student Excellence Award winner by the Southwestern Company in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the award and recognition, Valerie will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for further educational purposes or donated to a non-profit or charitable organization. Wasveiler, who moved to the Miami area from Caracas, Venezuela at age 10, graduated last May with majors in In... Read More
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Tim and Nancy Timmons of Rusk know what it’s like to be hospitable hosts, but roles were reversed when they found themselves being hosted by the Southwestern Company and its Chairman and CEO, Henry Bedford, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tim and Nancy Timmons of Rusk know what it’s like to be hospitable hosts, but roles were reversed when they found themselves being hosted by the Southwestern Company and its Chairman and CEO, Henry Bedford, in Nashville, Tennessee. Long-time hosts for exchange students with the Lions Club and a five-time summer host family for college students participating in Southwestern’s summer sales program, The Timmons’ were recipients of an all-expense paid trip to Nashville courtesy of ... Read More
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recognize legitimate door-to-door sales people
Summertime Safety Advice: stay cool, wear protective clothing, recognize legitimate door-to-door sales people Summertime has several certainties: extreme heat, pesky mosquitoes and door-to-door sales calls. Some consider this a triple-threat. While the heat and mosquitoes can prove sometimes unbearable, the knock on your door does not have to be. With a smile, a little patience and a willing ear, you may be surprised to find an opportunity, rather than a nuisance, knocking at your door. &... Read More
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WINS PRESTIGIOUS COMPANY AWARD
EDINBURGH MAN TOPS IN COMPANY, WINS PRESTIGIOUS COMPANY AWARD Robin Mukherjee, President of International Sales, has been recognized as the Southwestern Company’s 2007 Excellence Award Winner. This prestigious company award promotes stiff competition between Southwestern sales managers and leaders from all over the world. The award serves as the “best of the best,” as it ranks five key markers of business success. Mukherjee is now the recipient of the award twice, as he previo... Read More
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ABLE TO PAY FOR TUITION UP-FRONT, SAVE OVER $100K
UT STUDENT WINS AWARD & SCHOLARSHIP - ABLE TO PAY FOR TUITION UP-FRONT, SAVE OVER $100K - UT RANKS #3 WORLDWIDE IN STUDENT GROSS PROFIT FOR SUMMER PROGRAM Out of nearly 3,000 college students, the University of Texas’ Jeff Armstrong was honored as the 2007 Student Excellence Award winner by The Southwestern Company in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the award and recognition, Armstrong will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used for educational purposes or donated to a non-profi... Read More
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Nashville Business Journal Awards
Southwestern Advantage was recognized last night by the Nashville Business Journal (NBJ) at the 19th Annual Best in Business Awards as the 2006 winner in the large company category. Each year, the Best in Business Awards program spotlights some of the most dynamic and unique Middle Tennessee companies able to maintain an accelerated growth pattern and leave their distinct mark on the community. Other finalist included National Renal Alliance, NovaCopy, Inc., and Smith Seckman Rei... Read More
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