Building a Business With Your Daughter: Mark McNeely on Starting Over

What separates a PR firm that lasts 45 years from one that fizzles out? Mark McNeely, founder of McNeely, Pigott & Fox and now a Partner at McNeely Brockman PR, breaks down the campaigns, crises, and hard calls that built his career, including the seven-year fight to legalize wine sales in Tennessee grocery stores and the decision to go into business with his daughter. This conversation is for agency owners, founders, and marketers who want the real story behind sustained success, not the highlight reel. You'll walk away with practical lessons on credibility, crisis leadership, and building a business that can survive you. Episode Highlights 00:00 – Mark opens with the philosophy that's guided his entire career: honesty isn't the best policy; it's the only one 09:59 – The bad press release that planted the seed for starting his own firm 24:18 – Bootstrapping McNeely & Associates on $11,000 and a home equity loan in year one 26:22 – The Nashville landmarks his firm helped shape, from Bridgestone Arena to Nissan Stadium 36:29 – The seven-year campaign to get wine into Tennessee grocery stores — his proudest professional win 40:31 – Why he chose his daughter, Kelly, as his partner in launching McNeely Brockman PR 53:14 – The three rules he gives every young PR professional he mentors 55:18 – Leading through crisis: 9/11, the 2008 recession, and a half-million-dollar theft Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-po... Connect With Mark McNeely:   / mark-mcneely-1002a15   | https://www.mcneelybrockmanpr.com/ Connect with Mark Scrivner:   / markscrivner   | https://snapshot.agency/health Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health Snapshot Health | Behavioral Health Marketing Built for Growth and Impact Snapshot Health is a strategic growth and marketing partner for behavioral health organizations nationwide. We help treatment centers, mental health providers, and recovery programs grow responsibly by aligning brand, digital strategy, and patient acquisition with clinical integrity and long-term outcomes. Our team specializes in performance-driven marketing for behavioral health, including SEO, paid media, branding, marketing strategy, website development, and admissions enablement. We focus on attracting the right patients, improving conversion, and building scalable systems that support sustainable growth. Snapshot Health brings deep expertise in compliance, ethics, and trust-based marketing. We partner closely with executive teams to drive predictable admissions growth while protecting reputation, mission, and quality of care. Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-po... #TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #PRAgency #AgencyGrowth #CrisisManagement #Entrepreneurship