Takes Action Towards Supporting Small Businesses Impacted by the Pandemic, Launches Grant Program Client Town of Waterford Takes Action Towards Supporting Small Businesses Impacted by the Pandemic, Launches Grant Program Year 2022-2023 Scope of Work Project/Program Management | Administrative Assistance Industry Municipal Town of Waterford Town of Waterford Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) Using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Town of Waterford wanted to develop and administer a Small Business and Assistance Program that would provide pandemic relief to small businesses. This was the first program directly supporting Waterford small businesses, and First Selectman Rob Brule along with the Economic Development Commission requested assistance. Our Approach We understood that facilitating a program that adequately supports the unique infrastructures, cultures and processes found within small business models requires many interconnected pieces. We took a well-rounded, innovative and customized approach to implementing operations management services that thoroughly assessed the specific needs of Waterford’s small businesses in order to: Ensure the shared grant materials align with legal requirements, grant information is clearly communicated and promoted to prospective applicants, make sure the application process is conducted as seamlessly and fairly as possible, facilitate communication so that all relevant parties can be kept knowledgeable on awardees and implement administrative support to upkeep maintenance and reporting Our Impact & Client Milestones As of January 2023, BRVC is working with the Town of Waterford to facilitate the second cohort for the program, with the remaining $105,000 ARPA funds. Our Operations Management support enabled us to build the Town of Waterford's first Small Business program, from end-to-end and specifically: Ensure it followed federal/ARPA policy Facilitated community listening via a survey that gathered quantitative and qualitative data from over 50 small business owners, which was not only useful for the creation of the program but also for long-term use by the town Curate and host a virtual round table discussion between town leaders and small businesses impacted by the pandemic, to de-mystify any concerns about the application process Built a user-friendly submission process, which resulted in 9 complete applications Created a user-friendly application rubric for the EDC to award $78,500 in total funding to all 9 applicants

"TAPPING INTO MY SECRET SAUCE helped build confidence and let me know to just be myself because that’s what my audience will love the most. I enjoyed Brianna's course and was able to learn how to better understand my audience. Her course was supportive and encouraging, I appreciated the group setting because it allowed me to listen and pick up from others because we all did things differently." Micha'Angelina Founder

Alexi Paraschos Singer & Songwriter Pays Tribute to the Virtual Weddings of the Coronavirus Client Alexi Paraschos: Video Tribute to Virtual Weddings Year 2020 Scope of Work Brand Messaging Development, Public Relations Industry Entertainment Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) An album release during the beginning of the pandemic lockdown wasn't ideal, yet award-winning artist, Alexi Paraschos' music celebrated love in the midst of challenges. Called "blue-eyed soul for the 2ist century," Alexi Paraschos is an award-winning soul, R&B, and pop singer/songwriter based in Philadelphia. He is known for his smooth tenor voice paired with original, catchy melodies, which give him his unique and captivating sound. Inspired by a trip to his father's homeland of Greece in 2018, Alexi wanted to bring awareness to his project "Love Odyssey," which pays homage to his Greek heritage, and his subsequent wedding engagement to his longtime partner. Our Approach In a 3-month "Love Odyssey" campaign we worked alongside influencer and social media marketing agency, DRTR Agency, to craft a compelling narrative that would not only make R&B fans aware of Alexi, but also listen to the album. To lead our strategy, we leveraged Alexi's existing accolades (i.e. awards, playing at SXSW Music Festival, and successfully kickstarting an East Coast Diner Tour) and notable album features (hip hop veteran, Jadakiss; Grammy-award winner, Chrisette Michele, Natalie Stewart from Floetry and more) to push the leading single, "Mine." Since the release was at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown which halted all performances, music videos and in-person opportunities to generate awareness, we suggested that Alexi (whose wedding was pushed back for the unforeseeable future), spotlight couples who had virtual weddings for the release of the single's video. Our Impact & Client Milestones In addition to a press release, our tailored pitches earned 7 placements on local, regional and national platforms (Estimated impressions: 38M+). 29% of coverage were music reviews, 57% were profiles or features highlighting Alexi's brand story. The "Mine" music video featured 30 newlyweds representing sixteen states, six countries, and four continents. Notable media coverage: New York Times, Philadelphia Magazine, ThisIsRnB, and Soul Tracks. The story was also picked up by NECN (an NBC affiliate).

Alexi Paraschos Singer & Songwriter Pays Tribute to the Virtual Weddings of the Coronavirus Client Alexi Paraschos: Video Tribute to Virtual Weddings Year 2020 Scope of Work Brand Messaging Development, Public Relations Industry Entertainment Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) An album release during the beginning of the pandemic lockdown wasn't ideal, yet award-winning artist, Alexi Paraschos' music celebrated love in the midst of challenges. Called "blue-eyed soul for the 2ist century," Alexi Paraschos is an award-winning soul, R&B, and pop singer/songwriter based in Philadelphia. He is known for his smooth tenor voice paired with original, catchy melodies, which give him his unique and captivating sound. Inspired by a trip to his father's homeland of Greece in 2018, Alexi wanted to bring awareness to his project "Love Odyssey," which pays homage to his Greek heritage, and his subsequent wedding engagement to his longtime partner. Our Approach In a 3-month "Love Odyssey" campaign we worked alongside influencer and social media marketing agency, DRTR Agency, to craft a compelling narrative that would not only make R&B fans aware of Alexi, but also listen to the album. To lead our strategy, we leveraged Alexi's existing accolades (i.e. awards, playing at SXSW Music Festival, and successfully kickstarting an East Coast Diner Tour) and notable album features (hip hop veteran, Jadakiss; Grammy-award winner, Chrisette Michele, Natalie Stewart from Floetry and more) to push the leading single, "Mine." Since the release was at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown which halted all performances, music videos and in-person opportunities to generate awareness, we suggested that Alexi (whose wedding was pushed back for the unforeseeable future), spotlight couples who had virtual weddings for the release of the single's video. Our Impact & Client Milestones In addition to a press release, our tailored pitches earned 7 placements on local, regional and national platforms (Estimated impressions: 38M+). 29% of coverage were music reviews, 57% were profiles or features highlighting Alexi's brand story. The "Mine" music video featured 30 newlyweds representing sixteen states, six countries, and four continents. Notable media coverage: New York Times, Philadelphia Magazine, ThisIsRnB, and Soul Tracks. The story was also picked up by NECN (an NBC affiliate).

My Sister's Keyp'her New York Based Non-Profit Maintains Community Presence with The Launch of a New Initiative for Women of Color Client My Sisters Keyp'her: Community Hub for Women of Color Year 2019 Scope of Work Brand Identity, Brand Messaging Development, Content Creation, Social Media Management, Influencer Marketing, Brand Partnerships Industry Non-Profit, Start-Up Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) Following the success of her 2nd fashion show to raise breast cancer awareness among Black women, Power In Pink founder, Dafina Morris, created My Sister's Keyp'her to expand the ways she could support and uplift Black women. She wanted the initiative to serve as a hub for Black women to enjoy empowering events, engage with educational content and share experiences regarding a variety of health issues. For My Sister's Keyp'her's launch, Dafina wanted to host an intimate conversation for women of color (millennials to early 40s) to relax under the sun, and engage in activities that spark conversations about: balancing "trying to have it all" with self-care, uplifting one another and the power of networking/mentorship. Our Approach Because Dafina had been known for her breast cancer awareness advocacy, it was essential for us to develop solid messaging and consult on identity qualities (i.e. a logo) that clearly defined My Sister's Keyp'her as its own entity. Additionally, it was important that we strategically and gradually introduced this initiative to Power In Pink's audience, with takeaways that still resonated; and didn't cause disassociation with how they've come to relate to the organization within the past 2 years. Our Impact & Client Milestones Through our #PIPShifts soft social media campaign, we produced content that prioritized the transition into My Sister’s Key’pher—and specifically, recaps of the My Sister’s Keyp’her Kickback. 107 posts, 2,199 engagement, 24,733 impressions and 17,984 reach The most effective posts were: a Michelle Obama quote to emphasize self-check-ins—which garnered 43 engagement and 354 impressions; a giveaway The most effective posts in August 2019 were about: a black-owned construction firm An Instagram advertisement garnered 5,694 impressions (89% from the ad), 4,551 unique accounts and 32 visits to the RSVP link. The audience was 100% women, aged 25 - 34, located in New York Brand promotion for the event, specifically, garnered 9,000+ impressions on Instagram Received 15 new newsletter subscribers; and 16 new followers in less than 60 days With the help of BRVC, Power In Pink produced and hosted My Sister’s Keyp’her Kickback in Brooklyn, New York's Prospect Park which resulted in 12 RSVPs, a 58% attendance rate and a positive share of voice on Instagram post-event—from influencers. Coordinated and secured attendance from NYC influencers, bloggers & Youtubers: Quiana from Harlem Love Birds, Nellie from Brooklyn Active Mama, and Netta Woods (collective following of 32,000+) Secured 2 sponsorships with local businesses: Y7 Studio and Effie's Paper Curated gift box for attendees

Cheat Code Cheat Code Celebrates Black History Month By Promoting Financial Education and Delivering Free Stock Certificates to Children Client Cheat Code: Black History Month Campaign Year 2022 Scope of Work Brand Messaging Development, Public Relations Industry Start-Up Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) A cause through their non-profit branch, the NVST Foundation, the campaign aims to generate $100,000 in donations from donors who advocate for financial literacy among marginalized families, create early access to wealth in the form of 1000 Roblox stock certificates, and provide a stepping stone to youth. As seen on Yahoo News, Business Insider, MarketWatch and Earn Your Leisure, Cheat Code is a holistic investment and trading company offering software, courses, community and products that make financial education easy and generational wealth a possibility for marginalized communities. Launched in 2021 by co-founders and entrepreneurs, Francis Kway and Jehu Graham, Cheat Code provides beginner-friendly support that is active, affordable and accessible. Designed for traders of all experience levels, Cheat Code ALGO, Cheat Code Academy and the Cheat Code community of 17,000+ members equip communities of color to invest with ease and confidence. Committed to elevating disenfranchised communities through equitable access to financial education, Francis and Jehu wanted to fundraise $100,000 from donors who advocate for financial literacy among marginalized families, create early access to wealth in the form of 1000 Roblox stock certificates, and provide a stepping stone to youth—with the ultimate goal of interrupting deleterious cycles of poverty. Our Approach To ensure we best positioned Cheat Code's efforts and value in a way that was beginner-friendly, we conducted an audit of their existing online presence as well as a competitive coverage analsysis. Then, we used our findings to help rebrand messaging for the Cheat Code brand, including its products and non-profit entity--NVST Foundation. Finally, we used the messaging to help the Cheat Code update all pitchable assets, structure their Accessible Generational Wealth for Your Legacy campaign, and produce a press release. Our Impact & Client Milestones The distribution of our press release on the wire resulted in their campaign launch receiving coverage on 116 media platforms (Estimated impressions: 95 million), which included: 45 AP outlets Notable media coverage: Yahoo and Market Watch Our tailored pitches, resulted in 4 media placements (Estimated impressions: 657.76K). 25% of the coverage shared the brand's story (vs. solely its products or a mention)--which outperformed competitor coverage Notable media coverage: Sheen Magazine, Money Geek, and Media Feed

Town of Waterford Showcasing Grant Impact and Establishing the Economic Development Commission’s Presence Client Town of Waterford: Establishing the EDC's Presenc e Year 2023 Scope of Work Brand Identity, Brand Messaging Development, Content Creation, Newsletter Creation Industry Municipal Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) In 2022 and 2023, with the help of BRVC’s Operations Management team, the Town of Waterford (TOW) awarded a total of $170,065.01 in grants to small businesses through its Small Business Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. Despite the program’s success, TOW lacked in-house support for marketing and content creation to effectively showcase its impact and position the Economic Development Commission (EDC) as a resource for the local business community. Our Approach BRVC’s Creative Strategy team provided comprehensive support to amplify the program’s success and elevate TOW’s branding as well as storytelling. Marketing Audit Conducted a competitor analysis to refine TOW’s brand identity and identify successful elements of similar programs. Mini Marketing Campaign Developed messaging, strategy, and key performance indicators to promote the program and align with TOW’s long-term branding goals. Content Creation Produced 8 original social media posts, including captions and hashtags, along with a newsletter and press release highlighting the program’s achievements. Visual Branding Designed and delivered a specific EDC logo to establish the commission as a trusted resource for the business community. Our Impact & Client Milestones Delivered high-quality, engaging content (videos, graphics, and written assets) shared on TOW’s website and social platforms, effectively showcasing the First Selectman and EDC’s impact on small businesses. Supported TOW in sharing grant recipients’ stories and highlighting the program’s success, building stronger connections with the local business community. Provided a ready-to-use press release template to spotlight the distribution of over $170k to small businesses. Positioned the EDC as a valuable resource through cohesive branding and storytelling, and a first-ever logo. With BRVC’s expertise, TOW successfully demonstrated the transformative impact of its grant program, enhanced its public visibility, and set the stage for long-term community engagement and support BRVC x TOW & EDC - NEWSLETTER - Small Business Grant Program Cohorts 1 and 2 (2022 - 2023) PRESS RELEASE - Waterford’s Economic Development Boosts Local Businesses

City of Bridgeport Driving Community Engagement for Equity in Procurement Client City of Bridgeport Year 2024 Scope of Work Content Creation, Public Relations Industry Municipal Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) The City of Bridgeport, in partnership with Griffin & Strong, P.C. (GS), conducted a Disparity Study to examine potential disparities in municipal procurement based on race and gender. GS sought BRVC’s support to drive local community engagement and public relations efforts to raise awareness of the study and maximize attendance at English- and Spanish-speaking Informational Meetings and Public Hearings. Our Approach BRVC implemented a strategic outreach and public relations plan to promote the Disparity Study and encourage community participation. Key initiatives included: Community Outreach & PR Planning: Created pre-event plans tailored to English- and Spanish-speaking audiences for both the Informational Meetings (September 10–11, 2024) and Public Hearings (November 20–21, 2024). Collaborated with GS and Bridgeport’s Small Minority Business Enterprise office to identify and engage target organizations, networks, and individuals through databases, research, and personal connections. Marketing Collateral Development: Designed transformative English-language flyers for both the Informational Meetings and Public Hearings to connect with the community. Drafted and launched press releases via Cision’s PRWeb, reaching up to 133 media platforms. Distributed press releases directly to local outlets, including CT Post, News 12, Channel 8, Hartford Courant, Patch - Bridgeport, and event platforms like AllEvents.in. Strategic Online Promotion: Secured calendar placements on local platforms like CT Post, Patch, and others to maximize visibility. Adapted outreach for Public Hearings to target construction-related professionals and service providers for broader participation. Our Impact & Client Milestones BRVC’s strategic outreach and public relations efforts successfully amplified community awareness and engagement for the City of Bridgeport’s Disparity Study, resulting in the following impactful outcomes: Increased Visibility: Press releases reached a potential audience of up to 3.8 million, with 260 placements across both events and numerous clicks driving interest. Secured online calendar placements on prominent platforms like CT Post, Patch - Bridgeport, and AllEvents.in, generating thousands of local impressions. Community Engagement: For the Informational Meetings, 83% of contacted organizations responded, with 33% sharing event details through newsletters and e-blasts. Notable participants included Colorful Bridgeport, Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA) + CCIA Divisions/Associated General Contractors of CT, and ABC Connecticut (Associated Builders and Contractors of CT), demonstrating strong community collaboration. Public Hearings maintained participation, with key organizations like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and others amplifying outreach efforts and engaging diverse community members. Event Attendance: Recognizable attendees included influential community members and representatives from targeted sectors, particularly construction-related industries, as outreach efforts shifted to better align with audience demographics.

Traffix'd Project Insightful Guidance, Renewed Confidence Year 2023 Scope of Work Brand Growth Audit Industry Start-Up, B2C Natalie B. Founder "The (consultation) service was better than I expected. Not because I went into it believing it would not be valuable but because I was a bit nervous and feeling overwhelmed. In addition to Brianna sharing insightful information, she also shared her story which made me feel confident about the direction I am headed in."

"I don’t have to shape-shift in order to grow this brand. I’m literally just showing up. It all works because it’s my brand, it’s me. Brianna’s method has reassured me that it’s okay to use my brand story to keep going, that all the moving pieces in my business will come together, I can be authentic in every stage, and make sense as my business evolves. Her method has made me feel like my brand is such a representation of what I’m authentically trying to translate to the people." April Kelly Mompreneur & Start-Up Founder

Haiama Beauty Co. Project 8 Weeks to Marketing Success Year 2023 Scope of Work 60-Day Pow Wow Industry Lifestyle, B2C "BRVC is an incredible firm! I attended an 8-week course for SMBs/entrepreneurs and I learned how to use TikTok, how to better reach my target audience and identified attainable marketing goals for the next 3 months. Highly recommend!" Allison Shimamoto Founder

Cheryl Grace Changing The Narrative: Former Corporate SVP Turns Full-Time CEO of Her Own Company Client Cheryl Grace: Corporate SVP to Full-Time CEO Year 2022 Scope of Work Brand Messaging Development, Public Relations, Speaking Engagements Industry Lifestyle Here's the Sitch (aka Situation) After working over 25+ years in corporate America, this highly sought-after speaker and corporate pioneer took a leap of faith - and transformed her side-hustle into a full-time executive lifestyle firm--which is committed to coaching women on how to be their best multi-dimensional selves. Transitioning from a 25+ global corporate career to full-time entrepreneurship is no easy feat--especially when you're mainly known for your work and (huge) accomplishments in the c-suite. (Cheryl Grace enters the chat.) But the challenge was no match for Cheryl Grace. After transforming corporate reputations and changing the way consumers and decision-makers valued Black America's spending power and corporate influence, she decided to commit, what she calls her "Career 2.0," to transforming individuals to next level advancement at work, in love and at home. Unapologetic about living a fabulous life and her journey to get there, Cheryl left corporate America behind in April 1, 2021 to level up Powerful Penny LLC (a side-hustle she began in 2017)--and she was eager to share her new narrative. Our Approach While being mindful of the sensitivities of this transition, we started our collaboration with a brand audit and strategy to ensure Cheryl's messaging as well as identity factors were updated to best show why her shift was an example of how corporate women can reclaim their power and live a fabulous life. Then, we used our leading strategy to kick off a 9-month "From C-Suite to Corporate Coach" campaign which targeted visibility opportunities via traditional media, speaking engagements and strategic alliance. Our outreach began local, and gradually expanded to national platforms. Having set the foundation of Powerful Penny's brand awareness, we implemented a follow-up 5-month "Continuing the Fabulosity with Intentionality" campaign in 2022 to solidfy Cheryl's brand as a valuable contributor as an executive lifestyle coach for individuals as well as corporations; and complement her owned media platform (Level Up with Grace LinkedIn newsletter.) Our Impact & Client Milestones Two months into BRVC's collaboration with Cheryl, we met our media goals by 66% (with 75% of coverage being national and internationally recognized) and our speaking engagement goals by 50%. Over our 14-month collaboration, out of the 46 placements earned (Estimated 2B+ impressions): 3 were TV interviews where Cheryl promoted products live, as well as her online store (Cheryl's Shop of Fabulosity) where she sells work and love products, courses, workshops and bootcamps Coverage included traditional and non-traditional online, print and broadcast platforms 52% of the coverage included backlinks to Cheryl's platforms, 38% generated direct traffic 1 resulted in Cheryl writing bylines where her executive lifestyle expertise was consistently exposed to women 40 - 65 years old, who reside in the U.S., U.K., Italy and Australia Notable outlets include: Essence, Yahoo, Sheen Magazine, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, Well + Good, Daytime Chicago, Hustle & Soul, xoNecole, The Sisaundria Show, and Crunchy Tales. 5 months since our campaign ended, our efforts resulted in coverage on the She Ventures Podcast and Today. Below are speaking engagements and strategic alliances secured: 2022 Entrepreneurship Innovator Award Main Stage speaker at 2021 Black Women's Expo, where she provided on the spot executive coaching to 4 attendees; and she also had a booth to sell her products all weekend Panelist and love workshop facilitator at 2022 Essence Fest BAUCE Magazine Masterclass facilitator Power to Fly Workshop facilitator Here's the Stitch (aka Situation) After working over 25+ years in corporate America, this highly sought-after speaker and corporate pioneer took a leap of faith - and transformed her side-hustle into a full-time executive lifestyle firm--which is committed to coaching women on how to be their best multi-dimensional selves. Transitioning from a 25+ global corporate career to full-time entrepreneurship is no easy feat--espeially when you're mainly known for your work and (huge) accomplishments in the c-suite. (Cheryl Grace enters the chat.) But the challenge was no match for Cheryl Grace. After transforming corporate reputations and changing the way consumers and decision-makers valued Black America's spending power and corporate influence, she decided to commit, what she calls her "Career 2.0," to transforming individuals to next level advancement at work, in love and at home. Unapologetic about living a fabulous life and her journey to get there, Cheryl left corporate America behind in April 1, 2021 to level up Powerful Penny LLC (a side-hustle she began in 2017)--and she was eager to share her new narrative.