Tim Gray didn’t just build a successful creative agency—he rebuilt it from scratch after losing nearly everything.

In this episode of The Spark, Tim sits down with Mark Scrivner to share his journey from backyard concerts at age six to scaling and selling a Nashville agency, surviving a tornado and a pandemic, and ultimately creating a new life and business in the Bahamas.

They explore the realities of scaling, the pressures that come with leadership, and what it means to start over with purpose.

If you’re a founder, agency leader, or entrepreneur navigating growth, reinvention, or burnout, Tim’s story will resonate deeply.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a “red light” moment changed Tim’s path from factory worker to entrepreneur
• Lessons on scaling a creative agency with profitability and sustainability in mind
• The impact of the 2020 tornado and COVID-19 on his business and mindset
• Why scaling down became the path forward—and led to a successful exit
• How Tim’s passion for creativity fuels his next chapter in the Bahamas

Subscribe and follow The Spark to hear more honest conversations with Nashville’s creative leaders.

Learn More & Connect:

Visit Creative Assembly: https://creativeassembly.agency/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-assembly-agency/

Connect with Tim Gray:

Company: https://www.i-mpact.biz/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-gray-b3594720/ 

Connect with Host – Mark Scrivner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner Company: https://www.snapshotinteractive.com Organization: https://creativeassembly.agency/

Lauren Reed didn’t just build a successful PR agency—she built one that could thrive without her.

In this episode of The Spark, Lauren sits down with Mark Scrivner to share how she went from burnout to balance, leading Reed Public Relations through industry shifts, economic shocks, and ultimately, a leadership transition that let her step away for 90 days.

They dive into what it really means to build a sustainable business, how to prepare your team for succession, and why fulfillment doesn’t always come from growth—but from letting go.

If you’re a founder, agency leader, or creative entrepreneur wondering what comes after success, this conversation is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Mark and Lauren navigated major revenue loss during COVID and pivoted their client base

• What it takes to build a values-driven culture that sticks

• Why she gave her future partners full financial transparency before stepping away

• How she’s now empowering women through her next chapter: Wealth of a Woman

Subscribe and follow The Spark to hear more honest conversations with Nashville’s creative leaders.

Learn More & Connect:

Visit Creative Assembly: https://creativeassembly.agency/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-assembly-agency/

Connect with Lauren Reed:

Website: https://www.reedpublicrelations.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-reed-9151183/

Organization: https://thewealthofawoman.com/

Connect with Host – Mark Scrivner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner

Company: https://www.snapshotinteractive.com

Organization: https://creativeassembly.agency/ 

What happens when creative energy meets operational expertise? In the premiere episode of The Spark, Mark Scrivner, founder of Snapshot, and Drew McClellan of the Agency Management Institute break down what it really takes to build—and sustain—a thriving agency. From embracing the messy middle to building systems that scale, Mark and Drew share the mindset shifts and behind-the-scenes habits that fuel long-term success in an ever-changing industry.

Whether you’re leading a shop or dreaming of launching one, this episode brings the fire.

Number Tracking Worksheet: https://3sjez.share.hsforms.com/20oBN8wkXRPau6R8TGBGEtw

The Agency Management Institute: https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/

Build a Better Agency Summit: https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/babasummit/

Sell With Authority: https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/sell-with-authority/

The Agency Edge Report: https://v2.addmaple.com/app/public/dashboard/bc4d8ab5-b15b-4c38-8e90-5e395e494092?inf_contact_key=ac2db4485f5a1d538c3abba64a814730cc0558ed5d4c28cbfab114022b1ec50d

Our Creative Assembly podcast gives the Nashville creative community a platform to tell their story, share what inspires them and offer advice. We believe communities get better when we look out for each other, and this way, we can help people share their stories with our amazing creative collective. Tune in and join the fun.