Charter Construction: Building a Strategic Recruitment Approach.

charter construction team gathering at a job site
charter construction logo white

Building the Next Generation of Company Leaders

Charter Construction, founded in 1978, has established a reputation as one of Nashville’s top commercial concrete contractors. The company is committed to excellence and creates a supportive culture that invests in the personal and professional growth of its team. As Charter continued to expand, its leadership saw a key opportunity to focus on developing the next generation of industry leaders.

As their marketing partner, Green Apple Strategy worked closely with Charter’s leadership to develop a robust recruitment strategy. Through these collaborative conversations, the idea for an industry-leading internship program emerged—one that would allow Charter to recruit top talent to mentor and shape future leaders within the company. 

– Opportunity –

Building a Comprehensive Internship Program

Charter Construction’s growth has always been supported by hiring good people and fostering a culture where its team can thrive. However, like many companies in today’s competitive market, it faces ongoing hiring challenges. During a strategy session with Green Apple, Charter’s leadership expressed a desire to strengthen its hiring process by securing the “best of the best” from the next generation.

Green Apple saw an opportunity to level up Charter’s hiring strategy and developed a recruitment strategy that included a stronger internship program. The new vision focused on building an intentional mentorship program that would serve as a key component of Charter’s internship program. This would enable Charter to develop even stronger relationships with entry-level talent, laying the groundwork for future growth. A new approach would also help Charter retain top performers and foster a culture of internal promotion, building strong leadership and institutional expertise as the company grows.

Green Apple took the lead in structuring the program by defining the mentorship roles and determining how many interns each department would take on. Dedicated program managers for both the office interns and field interns ensured that each intern gained valuable, hands-on experience during their time at Charter. The plan featured a clear onboarding process, structured mentorship, and a tailored internship checklist. This checklist ensures that interns gain meaningful, hands-on experience while making their time at Charter both valuable and rewarding. Weekly check-ins, guided mentorship, and a final project assignment were also added to the program so that each intern finished with a solid understanding of the industry.

– Elevating Outreach –

Charter’s Strategic Recruitment Approach

Once the framework for the internship program was in place, Charter Construction needed to find creative ways to promote it and attract top students from target universities. Green Apple took the lead in developing a strategic plan to enhance Charter’s presence at career fairs, networking events, and on campus.

This strategy involved creating a range of high-impact marketing materials. From branded tablecloths and banners to custom giveaways and detailed brochures, Green Apple ensured that Charter’s brand would stand out. By showcasing the company’s unique culture and commitment to mentorship, these materials helped differentiate Charter from other companies at recruitment events and attracted attention from top-tier students.

Additionally, Green Apple helped explore innovative ideas such as a co-op program, which would offer students year-round opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the construction industry. By building partnerships with local universities, Charter is offering interns the chance to work in various areas of the company, helping them decide which aspect of the business best aligns with their long-term career goals. 

– Results –

A Partnership for Future Growth

The development of the internship program demonstrates how Green Apple helped Charter think strategically, going beyond traditional marketing to provide holistic solutions that address key challenges. This deep partnership has allowed Charter to focus on what they do best—delivering high-quality construction services—while ensuring they have the tools and talent to continue building their legacy for years to come.

Charter Construction is now equipped to launch its program, attract top talent, and nurture the next generation of leaders, ensuring a strong foundation for future success. The partnership between Charter and Green Apple underscores the value of strategic collaboration and the impact that comes from working with a partner who truly understands and supports every aspect of a business.

– Creative –

What We Did

Employee Recruitment, Program/Operational Development, Messaging Strategy, Marketing Collateral, Website Strategy, Content Development

charter construction career banners

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FAIC: Fueling Retention and Recruitment with a Culture-First Strategy

first acceptance insurance company team with awards

Strengthening Employee Connections through a Strategic Marketing Approach

Following the acquisition of its retail division, First Acceptance Insurance Company was presented with a unique opportunity to reinforce its commitment to more than 700 claims professionals still at the heart of the company. At the same time, the company sought to elevate its recruitment efforts by showcasing the distinctive culture that made First Acceptance an outstanding place to work. 

 

As a long-term partner, Green Apple Strategy worked closely with the First Acceptance Marketing and Human Resources teams to develop an employment marketing strategy that not only engaged current employees but also enhanced recruitment efforts. By aligning HR and marketing, we supported First Acceptance’s employee retention and hiring goals in a meaningful, strategic way. 

– Building From Within –

Empowering Employees to Shape Company Culture

The acquisition opened a new chapter for First Acceptance and offered a fresh opportunity to redefine its brand narrative and employee culture. Recognizing that employees are the most vital part of their company, First Acceptance wanted its employer brand and messaging to be driven by its people. The company understood that by listening to its employees, it could create a more connected and engaged workforce, especially for those working remotely.

To ensure the employee brand reflected First Acceptance’s unique culture, Green Apple Strategy collaborated with the company’s HR team to design and distribute a series of employee surveys. These surveys were created to gather honest feedback from employees across the entire organization about their experiences working at the company, their views on the company’s values, and how connected they felt in their roles.

Green Apple worked hand-in-hand with the First Acceptance team throughout the process. Our goal was to ensure that employee feedback was at the center of the strategy and that everything employee-driven remained true to their voices. This collaborative approach helped us maintain integrity and foster an authentic representation of the company’s culture. It also positioned First Acceptance to build an employee-focused brand narrative that resonated with current employees while enhancing their recruitment efforts.

– Turning Values into Action –

Creating a Culture of Recognition and Engagement

The employee surveys yielded a wealth of insights, which helped Green Apple Strategy craft a clear set of core values for First Acceptance. These values not only captured the essence of the company but also unified employees around a shared identity. Through an employee-driven initiative, we identified four key values that could be remembered by the acronym FAIC—Flexibility, Appreciation, Integrity, and Collaboration.

From this, our team developed the “FAICForward” campaign, an ongoing initiative designed to put these values into action. The FAICForward campaign encourages employees to nominate coworkers who exemplify these values, recognizing and celebrating them for their contributions. This initiative not only promotes greater employee engagement but also creates a positive, celebratory culture across the company. It serves as a reminder to employees of the company’s core values and reinforces a sense of connection among team members.

Beyond internal engagement, the FAICForward campaign also became an essential element of First Acceptance’s recruitment strategy. It highlights the company’s unique, employee-driven culture to potential hires, positioning First Acceptance as a great place to work and setting them apart from competitors in the insurance industry. This blend of employee recognition and culture-focused recruitment creates a powerful tool for both retention and hiring efforts.

– Results –

A Strategic Partnership for Lasting Employee Connections

Although the FAICForward campaign is set to launch in 2025, the foundation has already been laid for its success. The ongoing partnership between Green Apple Strategy and First Acceptance has been key in developing and executing this initiative. Our data-driven approach helped First Acceptance think strategically about using marketing to support an HR-driven initiative, which will impact more than 700 employees across the company.

The trust built between Green Apple and the First Acceptance leadership team allowed us to tackle a new, core component of their business—one that goes beyond traditional marketing. Our partnership helped First Acceptance recognize the value of leveraging marketing expertise to enhance employee engagement and recruitment. Together, we’ve created an employment marketing strategy that not only strengthens employee connections but also supports the company’s long-term growth and success.

By focusing on both employee retention and recruitment, Green Apple Strategy is proud to help First Acceptance Insurance create deeper, more meaningful connections with their employees, setting them up for continued success in 2025 and beyond.

– Creative –

What We Did

Employee and Recruitment Marketing Strategy, Brand Messaging Strategy, Employee Surveys, Employee Engagement Campaign Development, Video Scripting and Production, Web Design and Development, Social Media, Email Marketing

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Urban Sweat: Strategic Identity for Long-Term Franchise Success

urban sweat sauna ice bath

A Strategic Approach to Acquisition and Growth

Urban Sweat, an emerging wellness provider with two Nashville locations specializing in infrared sauna, red light therapy, and cold plunges, faced an exciting opportunity when Founder and CEO Kristen Nicholson was poised to acquire another group, adding nine new locations to its portfolio. The acquisition of CYL, a Green Hills sauna studio and franchise brand with nine units operating across Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma, served as the largest acquisition in Urban Sweat’s history. Recognizing the need for a strategic approach that would seamlessly integrate these new franchises while preserving the brand’s identity, Nicholson turned to Green Apple Strategy. 

 

Green Apple worked closely with Urban Sweat to develop a comprehensive communication, marketing, and PR strategy. The goal was not only to make the transition smooth but also to position Urban Sweat as a national industry leader, setting a new standard for self-care and wellness.

Opportunity: Strategic Communication for Franchise Success

When Urban Sweat decided to expand, it wasn’t just about adding new locations; it was about ensuring that everyone involved in the acquisition—especially the new franchise owners—felt supported and excited about joining the Urban Sweat family. Green Apple Strategy began by partnering with Kristen Nicholson to develop a strategic communication plan that would help new franchise owners transition into the Urban Sweat brand with confidence.

The first step involved creating an Acquisition Marketing Strategy that outlined the strategic approach for all communications. All steps and assets introduced the Urban Sweat brand, outlined the benefits of being part of a growing wellness empire, and showcased the resources and support the new franchise locations would receive as members of the Urban Sweat family. It wasn’t just about welcoming them—it was about making them feel that they were joining a brand that had their long-term success in mind. This process reassured new franchise owners that Urban Sweat was not only a business opportunity but also a community of entrepreneurs empowered to succeed.

Green Apple extended this strategic communication plan to include other key stakeholders, such as existing Urban Sweat employees and the loyal members and guests at both current and new franchise locations. Clear and thoughtful communication was vital to ensure a smooth transition, building excitement about the expansion and ensuring that the Urban Sweat brand remained cohesive and unified throughout the process.

Opportunity: Positioning Urban Sweat for Long-Term Growth

Beyond the acquisition, the real opportunity was in positioning Urban Sweat as the leading brand in the recovery studio space, not just in Nashville but across the nation. The acquisition allowed Urban Sweat to step into the spotlight as an industry leader, offering a comprehensive recovery and wellness experience designed to enhance health, longevity, and social self-care.

Green Apple Strategy crafted a messaging framework that encapsulated the essence of the Urban Sweat brand and could be applied to each new franchise location. This framework emphasized Urban Sweat’s commitment to offering transformative wellness experiences and creating a vibrant community that empowers people to live life to the fullest. By aligning the messaging across all franchises, Green Apple ensured that the brand’s core values were clear, consistent, and compelling in every market and location. 

With the internal communication and messaging in place, the next step was to make the acquisition public. Green Apple developed a multi-state PR Strategy that included an in-depth media push, starting with Nashville and expanding to the markets of the new franchise locations. The PR Strategy centered around highlighting Kristen Nicholson’s leadership and Urban Sweat’s vision, showcasing the brand’s growth as a significant milestone in the wellness industry. This approach not only amplified the brand’s reputation but also positioned Urban Sweat as a trendsetter in recovery and self-care, capturing the attention of media outlets and consumers alike.

Results: Strategic Partnership and Turnkey Support

By providing strategic thinking and turnkey support across all aspects of the acquisition, Green Apple ensured that Urban Sweat and its new franchise locations were well-prepared for the transition. From internal communications with franchise owners and employees to external PR campaigns, Urban Sweat had the tools it needed to manage the acquisition with confidence and focus on continued growth.

Through Green Apple’s targeted PR efforts, the acquisition generated substantial visibility, securing 339 unique article placements and reaching a potential audience of over 201 million. This coverage spanned Nashville and multiple major business markets, positioning Urban Sweat as a rising leader in the wellness and recovery industry.

The result is that Kristen Nicholson and her team can concentrate on what they do best—leading their organization and empowering new franchise owners—while Green Apple handles the strategic PR execution. With a solid foundation of brand messaging and communication in place, Urban Sweat is now poised for continued success as a national leader in the recovery and wellness industry.

Client Testimonial

“I truly appreciate Sam and the Green Apple team for their guidance during the rollout. Their support allowed me to focus on other changes without the stress. It felt great to know I could trust them to handle their responsibilities with expertise and care.”

What We Did

Acquisition Marketing Strategy, Messaging Strategy, Public Relations, Website Audit & Recommendations, Strategic Content Development, Email Marketing, Social Media, Pitch Deck Design & Development

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The Gardner School: Expanding with Intention: A Playbook for Market Growth.

Growing in New Markets

Green Apple has been The Gardner School’s full-service marketing partner since 2014. During that time, the school has grown from eight locations in four states to over 30 locations across seven states and continues to grow each year. 

Over the years, Green Apple has become a true extension of The Gardner School’s team, cultivating a deep knowledge of the brand, collaborating around new opportunities, and tackling numerous challenges together.

– Opportunity –

Supporting Expansion into New Markets

As one of the nation’s leading early childhood education centers, The Gardner School takes a strategic approach to entering new markets and launching new schools. Green Apple has spearheaded all marketing and promotional strategies for each expansion, executing detailed market research, targeted advertising, engaging digital campaigns, and designing marketing collateral tailored to each new target market. 

– Tactics –

Learning and Growing Together

After nearly a decade, we’ve gained valuable wisdom about launching new schools, but the landscape of early childhood education has changed dramatically since our partnership began. Together, we’ve adapted our tactics to achieve the most effective approach possible.

For each new school launch, the Green Apple Strategy team customizes each launch campaign to include local engagement opportunities, a public relations push, and comprehensive traditional and digital advertising to reach even more families at a lower cost per engagement.

– Results –

A Fruitful Partnership

Green Apple Strategy is proud of the partnership we’ve built as The Gardner School has grown. Through this partnership, meetings feel less like formal interactions and more like collaborative brainstorms where we can suggest ideas, work through challenges, and implement solutions to support their growth. As they’ve expanded throughout the country, we’ve helped them achieve major wins, including:

  • 3 market expansions with 26 new schools
  • 235.52% growth in website sessions since 2016
  • 253.9% annual growth in organic social media engagement in 2023
  • Over 75,000 views of TGS’s top five thought-leadership blogs in 2023
  • An email newsletter open rate of 58.6%
    • More than double the benchmark open rate for early childhood education

Client Testimonial

“The Green Apple team is a trusted partner in our marketing activities and goals. Their team of experts consistently works to exceed our expectations to provide insightful solutions to engage and connect with families. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication.” — Joy Haynes, The Gardner School

Client

Praise

COO
Green Apple has successfully implemented various strategies and projects that have both increased our brand recognition and directly driven business to our organization. Our dedicated Green Apple team is knowledgeable in what they do, produces quality work on time, and is flexible in pivoting to our ever-changing priorities. We’ve been very happy with the results of our relationship together and would highly recommend their service.
Charlie Kunberger
ATECH

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ATECH: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities: Marketing a New Business Model

Transforming Pandemic Obstacles Into Opportunities

Since 1990, ATECH has served as an equipment repair company for thousands of restaurants and commercial kitchens across Tennessee. When COVID-19 brought the restaurant industry to a halt, ATECH needed a new way to generate revenue and retain employees. Green Apple stepped in as an agile marketing partner to help the company codify and promote a new planned maintenance service offering.

– Problem –

Navigating a Trickle Effect of Challenges

ATECH has decades of experience as a successful commercial kitchen equipment repair. Like others in the restaurant industry, their business came to an abrupt halt in March 2020. The restaurants they served shut down for weeks during the early days of the pandemic. Even when restaurants reopened, the need for equipment repair was still on the decline. ATECH’s leadership team realized they needed to find a solution.

– Solution –

Overcoming Obstacles with Agility and Creativity

The team at ATECH quickly identified a new business opportunity — offering planned maintenance services for restaurants and commercial kitchens — and turned to the Green Apple team for help. Our team designed and implemented a comprehensive marketing strategy that promoted the new service to current clients and potential customers.

This included a website redesign, marketing collateral, local SEO, and lead generation campaigns to drive business for planned maintenance. The effort led to tremendous growth and new business opportunities, which created a new challenge: staffing all their planned maintenance requests. Green Apple then pivoted to support ATECH’s new HR needs. Our team worked alongside ATECH to implement an additional marketing strategy for recruiting employees. Our strategy included event planning, tradeshow campaigns, technician spotlights, and social media management.

– Results –

A Bright, Sustainable Future

By serving as an agile marketing partner, Green Apple has been able to support ATECH’s most pressing business needs. As a result, the team at ATECH has experienced: 36% increase in revenue YoY 73% increase in their planned maintenance business 27 new hire applications Today, ATECH’s business is stronger than ever with a more sustainable business model and growing team. Together, ATECH and Green Apple have learned that marketing can play a helpful and important role in supporting any area of a business — from operations to HR. Whatever unexpected challenges might come next, the two teams are confident in their ability to work together and find new opportunities for growth.

– Creative –

What We Did

Marketing and Sales Strategy, Graphic Design, Event Planning, PR, Blogging, Email Marketing, Social Media, Video Scripting and Production, Employee and Customer Spotlights, and Recruitment and Operations Strategy.

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