VMLY&R Promotes Teresa Barnhill to Lead Memphis Office

VMLY&R has promoted Teresa Barnhill to lead the agency’s Memphis office, which primarily serves the United States Navy Recruiting Command, Amtrak, FedEx and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Teresa will continue to lead strategy and insights for the United States Navy Recruiting Command client partnership.

As she steps into her expanded role, Teresa will focus on workplace, workforce, marketplace and community development for the Memphis team. Her priorities will include pipeline development and mentorship partnerships with local universities like LeMoyne-Owen College and local charter schools like Memphis Merit Academy.

“I’m thrilled for Teresa to lead our VMLY&R Memphis office. Her passion making our agency thrive across our clients, culture and the Memphis community is inspiring. We know VMLY&R will benefit greatly from her leadership in Memphis and beyond,” said Chris Edmondson, VMLY&R executive director.

Teresa brings nearly two decades of experience developing marketing, creative, and product creation strategies for brands such as Hallmark Cards and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A lover of language, culture, and social trends, she is passionate about developing inspired, data-grounded insights to fuel marketing and creative solutions. Since joining VMLY&R in November, Teresa has led strategy for the Navy client partner and been a key leader in VMLY&R’s Transformation Initiative, which aims to implement integration efforts that combat systemic racism across all areas of the business, both client-facing and internal.

“I’m excited to continue curating and nurturing the culture of the VMLY&R Memphis team,” Teresa said. “Our vision is to be one of the most respected employers in Memphis that delivers the highest-caliber creative and strategic work, and I’m looking forward to delivering on that goal.”

Teresa is a graduate of East Carolina University with a B.S. in English and an M.S. in English and multicultural studies. She also earned a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University. Teresa is the newest board member of Memphis Merit Academy and volunteers as a diversity, equity, and inclusion coach for nonprofit organisations and small businesses in the Greater Memphis area. She lives in Southaven, Mississippi, with her husband, Adrian, and enjoys traveling, refinishing furniture, and nature walks with their dog, Smokey.