We provide strategic communications counsel for a wide range of situations: 

• Reputation Management - Preventing a tarnished reputation (or bouncing back after damage has been done)

• Crisis Preparedness - Assessing vulnerabilities and creating crisis communication plans 

• Crisis Management - Weathering a disaster, public scandal, legal issue, etc.

• Brand Building and Positioning - Crafting a compelling narrative and image to build or reposition your brand 

• Mergers or Acquisitions - Managing complex communication challenges related to employees, customers, and shareholders

• Leadership Changes - Conveying the appointment of a new CEO or significant management shifts

• Launches - Creating support for new offerings or initiatives 

• Market Entry or Expansion - Building a presence in the new area 

• Public Policy and Advocacy - Crafting persuasive messages to engage with policymakers and mobilize public support 

• Transformation - Fostering understanding and adoption of new systems or processes

• Employee Engagement - Enhancing internal communication to boost morale, productivity, and culture

• Strategic Partnerships - Evaluating, forming, and announcing strategic partnerships or alliances with other organizations 

• Fundraising and Stakeholder Relations - Creating persuasive campaign materials and maintaining transparent communication

Jenny Barker is a highly respected communications strategist with over 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, employee communications, and branding.

As the founder and principal of Gray Owl Strategy LLC, she provides strategic counsel to executives, specializing in reputation management and change communication. With a diverse background spanning industries like healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, finance, aviation, and manufacturing, Jenny is known for her versatility in tackling high-stakes challenges across various sectors.

Jenny also serves as a senior consultant at the Institute for Crisis Management, where she helps organizations develop effective crisis communication strategies, providing guidance on prevention, response, and recovery.

Throughout her career, Jenny has worked with some of the world's most well-known brands, including the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Association (CMA), the Radio City Rockettes, Madame Tussauds, and DreamWorks Animation. She has also collaborated with industry giants like Pepsi, Starbucks, and Jack Daniel's and major sports organizations such as the SEC, NBA, and MLB.

Her deep expertise is rooted in a career that spans both agency and corporate roles. She oversaw communications for HCA Healthcare's flagship hospital—TriStar Centennial Medical Center— and served on the executive team at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, one of Marriott International's largest properties. These roles honed her ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes and fostered a deep passion for business.

A graduate of Lipscomb University, Jenny holds the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation and is a Fellow of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), a distinction earned by fewer than 2% of PR practitioners. She has received multiple awards for her work, plus leadership honors from the Nashville Business Journal and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Jenny believes in service above self and has held volunteer leadership roles in several nonprofit organizations, including PRSA, the Junior League, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Oasis Center, and the Rotary Club of Nashville.

Outside work and volunteering, Jenny enjoys supporting her daughter's volleyball team, going on motorcycle and general aviation adventures with her husband, hiking with her dog, and savoring a good book or podcast.