Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace A. Gray.
Hi Candace, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I always joke that as a Gemini, there are two entities warring (well, less warring and more comingling and dancing) inside of me. There’s one poised and polished, ready to get down to business. The other is an artist prepared to sing, entertain, write, and party! To that end, I’ve always believed in multiple streams of income. My mother, who is now looking down on us from heaven, used always to say, “Never rely on one thing to sustain you.” That mantra has guided my career paths as a marketing and communications professional and a professional singer.
As a communicator, my career began in Cambridge, MA, at Feinstein Kean Healthcare, a Healthcare Public Relations (PR) agency, part of the Ogilvy PR Worldwide brand. As a Boston College senior studying Communications with a focus on Public Relations, I landed a paid internship at Brodeur Worldwide that helped chart my course into PR. I put into practice the concepts I’d learned in college and obtained new skills and knowledge about publicizing a company, working with emerging technologies, clinical trials, and more. But on a lunch break one day, my best friend made me enter this karaoke contest to become the Boston Idol – and I won! The win clinched a guaranteed audition spot for the second season of American Idol. (Quick aside – I had been singing since I could talk! And seemingly always had to choose between practicality and passion growing up – White Station High or Overton High? Boston College or Berklee College of Music? Practicality always wins, but passion has a way of bubbling up at the most amazing and appropriate times!) After a few more years of brutal winters in Boston, it was time to head back home to Memphis, TN, and then to Los Angeles to become the next American Idol (AI). Well, that didn’t quite happen. 🙂 Ruben Studdard, AI Season 2 winner, saw that I went back home, and thankfully, God would allow me to land a job at one of the best full-service agencies in the region, Archer Malmo.
Archer Malmo was where I expanded my skill set and learned the importance of client services, relationship-building, project management, branding, marketing, and corporate communications. I became adept at teaching industries quickly and motivating creative teams to do their best work for clients. After serving local, regional, and national clients like ServiceMaster, Independent Bank, AutoZone, the YMCA, Verizon, and more, I took a little leave of absence to tour the country with a band called Free Sol. (And Candy Fox was born. We were a pretty excellent hip-hop collective, with thousands of fans who supported our album 11:11. But not knowing where my next paycheck was coming from, as an artist only, was a little scary for me, and after a year on the road, I went back to Archer Malmo. After being back a few years, I released my solo album, Soul Stir by Candy Fox.) After spending a collective eight years of upward mobility at Archer, I wanted to experience what the client side of the business had to offer and began the second half of my career at FedEx Services, an operating company of FedEx.
For the first couple of years at FedEx Services, I led corporate communications initiatives for Information Technology (IT) SVPs, building trust among leadership and motivating thousands of employees to do their best work as happy and engaged employees. I then transitioned to FedEx Brand & Reputation, where I led the FedEx Speakers Bureau. Cross-operating company teams for Fred Smith’s “From the Chairman” channel and Corporate and Social Responsibility communications was integral in increasing affinity for the FedEx brand and strengthening its corporate identity. I had no way of knowing that my dream position would come into view after almost five years into my tenure there. I was able to pair acquired skills and expertise with dutiful service as the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications for Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools. The non-profit school system, comprised of five charter schools (PreK-12), is located in the South Memphis neighborhood of Westwood, where my family hails.
For nearly four years at Freedom Prep, I had the distinct pleasure of reestablishing my PR foundation, cultivating a winning culture, and serving the community, employees, and students, all in the name of choosing the #1 charter school in the city for education and employment. I thrived at telling incredible stories and positively impacting the community through meaningful work. One of the most amazing stories: 100% college acceptance 3 years in a row! A lot happened during my time at Freedom Prep: I met my now husband, my mother passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, I experienced the loss of an unborn child, we bought our first home, and I experienced the joy of welcoming our one and only son into our lives. (Was I still singing? Absolutely! I shared the stage with incredible artists from all genres, like Jennifer Holliday, Kurt Carr, Richard Smallwood, 8Ball & MJG, Al Kapone, Charelle & Alexander ONeal, Howard Hewett and Shalamar, Reba Russell, Garry Goin, and the list goes on.)
When our son came along, I experienced a change I couldn’t quite explain. My work was still important, but my family became my priority. I was no longer interested in climbing the corporate ladder or singing on the big stage. I wanted more flexibility to be with my family and to meet their needs. And God granted my wish. As the global pandemic was taking off, so was my boutique communications agency, CG Comms Group.
As an entrepreneur, I have experienced great success and growth serving clients in architecture, parks & recreation, education, city government, and supporting lifestyle brands. As the Founder and CEO of CG Comms Group, after 20+ years in the marketing & communications game, I now have the flexibility and ability to choose my clients and work. And I can sing whenever I want, go on field trips with my son’s class, spend the weekend glamping in our RV, and do whatever else I want. This includes volunteering with the Junior League of Memphis, where my “free” time is spent these days.
Freedom comes with entrepreneurship, among other valuable lessons and learnings. And I can’t wait to see what happens next! This is where I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Losing my mom in 2016 and my grandmother three weeks before her is, by far, the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. They were both my north star. But I looked to my mom for guidance and love. She even sorted through my mail for me. I never thought I’d have to raise a child, navigate running a business, be a wife, and more without her or both of them, but I am blessed to have had their unconditional love for many years and their teachings that live on today. Another area I currently need help with knows when to scale my business. At times, the amount of work is overwhelming for me, my part-time associate, and my intern. But with the uncertainty of the world and markets, predicting what will happen in 3-, 6-, or 12 months is challenging. So, my husband, who is truly my everything and an entrepreneur. I bounce ideas off each other all the time. It is beneficial to have a spouse who has navigated some of the same challenges and understands trying to balance everything! Lol! 🙂
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us more about your business.
CG Comms Group is a boutique communications agency that can scale up or down based on clients’ needs. We have a “group” of marketing and communications professionals waiting to serve clients from all brand types and walks of life. We have created a safe space where non-profits, small businesses, MWBEs, lifestyle clients, and more can grow their brands and reach new heights. We are here to amplify the voices and tell our client’s stories to ensure they reach their target audiences.
My agency background laid the foundation for our ability to see a communications problem, analyze the market conditions and make a recommendation that best serves our clients. I’m most proud of our ability to quickly learn an industry and use data to inform our recommendations for a range of clients and their businesses. I’m also proud of simply growing the business for almost three years with very little investment. We all know it takes money to make money. But my business has grown by the number one marketing tool: word of mouth. And I’m so proud of having such an excellent reputation that speaks for itself.
We are also accepting new clients. So if readers would like a free consultation, all they have to do is mention this article when emailing candaceagray@yahoo.com, and someone will return their email asap.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 global pandemic has taught me that creativity in business is a must! If you continue to do things “the way they’ve always been done,” you will get left behind. From learning how to navigate in a primarily digital world to experiment in other areas you might not be comfortable in, COVID-19 pushed us to get out of our comfort zones. As an extrovert, COVID-19 was really tough for me. I missed seeing my friends and family; clients missed being on stage. But I had to figure out another way to make it, another way to be ok. That’s one of the lessons I learned – self-care. Finding different ways to fuel the energy I was getting from people was challenging, but I made it happen. I learned more about myself during the pandemic – that I could do hard things – that what doesn’t kill me truly does make me stronger. I also learned that therapy in uncertain times is quite helpful. For some, there is a negative stigma associated with treatment, but I’m here to advocate for all those who have ever felt a little off. There is nothing wrong with talking it out with a therapist. There are so many free resources out there. Just check it out when you have a chance.
Contact Info:
- Website:Â www.cgcommsgroup.com
- Instagram:Â @cgcommsgroup and @candyfoxmusic
- Facebook:Â @cgcommsgroup and @candyfoxmusic
- SoundCloud:Â https://soundcloud.com/candy-fox-music
- Other:Â https://music.apple.com/in/artist/candy-fox/1534372061
